Seaside Day 2

We had another fun day at the beach although the rain chased us away a little earlier than we wanted!  It actually rained so hard and for so long that we missed our beach photo shoot!  Hopefully it will all clear tomorrow.

This is Chad and Katie walking out to the chairs we have on the beach.  While this is the busy season, it really never feels that busy!

Today Katie really took to the water.  All four of us were in the water most of the time!  We had both of the kids in floaties which made everyone more comfortable.  Katie was even laughing today when she would get splashed by a wave.  I guess she just needed a day to warm up.

We spent the rest of the day inside, spending time with the Broadbents and playing lots of hide and go seek, hide the boppies, and doctor. 

Shoveling sand

Coming up for a break

Playing on the beach

Claire

Julia and Claire

Will taking pictures of his boppies

Seaside Day 1

We had a great first day in Seaside.  The kids really enjoyed the beach and Will really enjoyed the waves.  He and Chad spent most of their time in the water and Katie and I played a lot in the sand.  She was a little skeptical of all the waves - it was a bit rough today.  It is probably a tough introduction to the beach!

An added bonus to our trip is having the Broadbents here too!  We met up with them at the beach and got to play with sweet baby Claire.

We had some lunch at the pizza place in town (that we love) and then came home.  We really like our beach house.  Will loves his room (which he shared with Katie) for two reasons.  The first is that he has a poster bed and he acts like the posters are file poles and he slides down them.  Secondly, and probably a bigger highlight, is that he figured out how to open his floor to ceiling windows and climb out.  Luckily his room is on the first floor!

Beach time!

Will and his swim buddy

It is amazing how much sand she had on her!

Julia and Claire

Will's new best friend, Nick, the guy that drills holes for umbrellas

Nick let Will help him drill.  May be a trip highlight for Will.  I asked Will if he wanted to work at the beach when he was older and he assured me that no, he still wants to work at the fire house on our street.

bliss.

enjoying the waves

Naptime.  Will was exhausted.

Will enjoying a grilled cheese from The Meltdown

Post dinner stroll for ice cream

Traveling to Seaside

We made it to Seaside! 

I made our travel plans last year when Katie was 8 months old.  I didn't buy her a seat because she would only by 17 months when we traveled so she could be a lap baby.

Well, that lap baby is 27 pounds.  We flew on American Eagle.  Katie really needed her own seat!  It worked best to have her in a row with me and Will so she could play with him.  I knew she would sleep.  She didn't, but she really enjoyed the flight.  So much so that she would occassionally shriek.  Good times.

We got to our beach house around 6pm and met up with our friends the Broadbents for hot dogs and grilled cheese. 

We are really looking forward to a week at the beach!

No doors on me!

Today Will and Chad were eating ice cream.  Will was loving it so much that he would go over and ask Chad for a bite of his even though they had the exact same thing. 

I asked Will if I could have a bite of his and he let me know that it was all gone.  I looked in Will's ice cream bowl and he was right.  I asked him where it went and he replied "in my belly!"  I told him I was going to reach inside him and get it, and he replied "you can't.  There are no doors on me!"

Love.

4th of July

 We had a fantastic 4th of July.  It has to be the best one yet since we have had kids.  In the 12 years I have lived in Dallas, I have never been in Dallas on the 4th of July... and I'm not sure I would ever want to be out of town for the holiday again!

We started our morning with the neighborhood parade.  It was awesome, and quite a few of our friends were in it - including some of Will and Katie's friends from the park that he recognized as they passed by.  He watched a lot of it from his dad's shoulders, but then he moved to the front of the crowd to catch candy and treats.  Next year we will go early and get good seats - it would be worth it!

We then headed to our neighbors for an awesome pool party.  We were there for hours - swimming and eating burgers and dawgs.  It really was perfect!  We are lucky to have neighbors that are such gracious hosts!

After the swim, the kids and I took a 3 hour nap.  I think Chad was the only one awake in our house during that time - I was wiped out!  It was such a fun day and I look forward to celebrating again next year!

The ladder truck put the ladder up for the parade festivities!  This was a total highlight for Will - who proceeded to ask a fireman if he could climb it.

the parade

Will's seat for the parade

Bounce house fun - the downside of the post-parade festivities is that every kiddo is wearing red, white or blue so it is really hard to find your kid in the crowd! 

Will getting a tour of the fire chief's car - it was actually really cool to see the white board they use when at a fire.  He showed Will where the chief draws a picture of the house, etc. 

Pool party!

Will loved jumping in with his buddies

Katie

Poolside Guacamole

Tara and Katie

Katie looks way too grown up here

Will and Maddie - Will adores her!

Krispy Kreme

 We used to drive through Krispy Kreme.  I would order a cup of donut holes, ask for an extra cup and split them up for Will and Katie to share.  The other day Will asked if we could go in.  I am glad he did.

It is awesome inside!  You watch the doughnuts go from dough to boxed treats!  The kids loved it!  Will can tell you all about the process - his favorite part is the donut elevator in the beginning where they let the dough rise.  He recounted the entire donut making process to me, and then said "I know a lot about Krispy Kreme."  So proud.