6th Day on Our Beach Vacation

Anne Marie sending LOVE to everyone at home!!!

(Love you Daddy!! Wish you were here)

We ended up on the beach a little late today. We didn't get out there until about 3pm -- however we were sooooo glad we waited that long! Today we went "fishing" for "friends" in the ocean. We 1st played a little bit -- jumping waves & swimming out in the deeper parts. But then the girls found the muscles -- the ones that are just @ the crest of the waves in the sand that furiously start to dig their way back in when the waves goes back. Well, they started a water-bucket to keep them in - then I took the net out a bit to try to catch something for their bucket -- well you wouldn't believe all the things that I found......................

My girl in the sand

The "jump-the-wave" picture of the day (like you needed one every day right? Well, you're getting one anyway!!)

Fishing for muscles....

Oh --- what's this mommy found???? An old sea-shell??

Yes, but it had something in it....

What looks like a lobster. I really don't know what it was, but that's what it looked like!

Ok -- how cute is he?? Anne Marie was not quite sure of him though.

Then, I found another huge muscle -- once we put him in the water he came out of his shell - he was huge! And when we would take him out he would stretch around "looking" for the sand to dig back around it -- Anne Marie again - wasn't sure about him, but Avery LOVED him!

Our little muscle friends we found.

Then, we found a hermit-crab -- full of barnacles & all!

Our "treasure" -- by the end of the day we had 1,158 (just kidding) small muscles - one HUGE one, a sand-crab, a hermit-crab, a "lobster" , 3 (YES 3) fish, and some seaweed. Quite the catch if you ask me -- and the girls thought it was a BLAST!! Lucky I'm not too squeamish -- but I think I might have had just as much fun as they did!!

5th Day of Our Beach Vacation

It was another beautiful day .... ok are you tired of hearing me say that? It was hot again today, but down @ the water it's breezy & the water is so beautiful that you don't seem to notice much.

Today we got out in the water quite a bit. I only wish I could take my camera out there -- I missed so many "shots" that were GREAT! Avery doing a hand-stand - yes, in the ocean, yes, under the water. Anne Marie swam w/out me & the faces she would make every time a wave would come were priceless! Jenn and I couldn't stop laughing at these two today!

Jumping in the waves was again a "big" thing again today!

Two cuties!

And of course a ton of sand-play today.

We ended our day with dinner & ice-cream cones @ the house. What a great ending to a great day! I'm a little burnt tonight --- being in the water does make you get quite a bit more of the sun than just sitting on the beach -- guess it's a "shirt day" for me tomorrow!

Anne Marie is missing Daddy quite a bit -- she looked @ Avery today during dinner & said "I miss my Daddy -- I wish he could come down for at least one day to see us". I let her talk to him tonight on the phone before bed-time & I heard her say to him "I don't know" and then look a little puzzed -- she finally turned to me & said "was I a good listner today?" -- I later told Mike on the phone -- when you have to ask, that is NEVER a good sign!! Haaa!

4th Day of Our Beach Vacation

Today was the most beautiful yet! The sun was out - the breeze was blowing & it was hot, but not so much that you couldn't breathe. Thank goodness for the storm that passed through last night. We headed out right after breakfast again - had lunch at the beach & then came in after a little "extra" play after lunch. The girls seemed ready -- especially after we were out in the surf & a HUGE wave hit us & got them both in the face - their eyes were stinging. So, we got cleaned up & headed out for the afternoon. We did a little shopping & then went out to dinner & "dessert", the girls weren't much on shopping, but dinner & dessert was a TREAT!

My bathing beauty!

Playing in the surf....today was the roughest day for the waves!

We ate @ a Japanese-Steak-House & the girls got their very own "special chop-sticks" (they had plastic extensions on them so they could use them w/out any trouble. They both LOVED the food, the fun man in the "hat" (Anne Marie asked why he had to wear a hat to cook) and Avery said she thought the favorite part of the meal was the sauce they used!

DESSERT!!!!! The light was on & you know what that means!!!!!

3rd Day of our Beach Vacation

Today was another HOT day!! We headed out to the beach early - just after breakfast. The temp's have been so high here, that the water is warm even 1st thing in the morning!

Today we played in the sand alot -- building sand castles. I also took Anne Marie "out to the big waves, just like daddy does" - or so she said. I took her out far enough in the ocean that I could stand, but I had to hold her & we were able to sit as the waves passed over us. I usually make Mike do it since it scares me to go out that far with her, but there was a pack of about 15 college boys out that far & I figured that they could help me if something went wrong. She LOVED it -- she kept saying "you're taking me out like daddy does!!"

We ate lunch @ the beach & the girls were SO tired that they both asked if they could come back to the house...you KNOW something is wrong when that happens. We got back & they both took a 2 hours nap. My daughter NEVER (NEVER EVER) takes a nap -- when they woke up the 1st thing they did was do crafts....

Then, layed on the bed & played computer games....

Then we went outside & rode bikes - under the house since it was raining - there was a big thunderstorm today -- probably because it has been so hot!! The girls didn't seem to mind much & as soon as the thunder was about over they were ready to ride their bikes!!

How CUTE are these two?!?! Matching outfits & all!! (not planned by the way!!)

We finished out night off w/ a few freezer-pops!! Quite a big day for 2 little girls!

2nd Night of Beach Vacation

Well -- we made it!!! We got here -- went to the grocery store & unloaded our TONS of bags, food & beach equipment. We decided to have dinner & then head to the beach since it was still HOT AS EVER outside!!! The girls had such a great time & the beach was so nice after the heat of evening that we stayed until dark! Just to prove it -- the 1st picture below is of the moon. You'll have to look between the orange & yellow light --- it was an awesome moon -- it was a bright orange..... I know it's not a great picture -- but it was beautiful in person!!

Here are the girls -- ready for the beach!

My beach beauty!

Can you tell she's excited about being on the beach??? The water was soooooooo warm!!! It was almost unreal!

And off they went.....................

Jumping over waves...

Then, they decided to spend quite a bit of time digging holes & building "things" in the sand.

All & all it was a GREAT day --- even w/ the driving part of the trip, we were still able to enjoy the beach quite a bit today!!

1st Night of "Beach Vacation"

Ready to ride!!! We decided to stop 1/2 way through the trip -- to save mommies sanity & Anne Marie's too! I don't know if we'll do that on the way home, but since I've never driven to this beach before, I decided it might be safe since it's such a long drive to take it slow.

When we got to the hotel I took a little break to make sure that I left messages for Mike and my mom to let them know we'd made it safely to our destination & make sure I could get an Internet connection. I turned around & saw that she had already broke into her tote-bag, got her books out & started to "read". She made herself comfortable.

After driving around a few crazy "U-Turn" places & going through a "Detour" (ugh...I hate not knowing where I'm going) We finally found a chilis & decided to stop there. Daddy -- you love to know that she got her "normal" mac-n-cheese & steamed broccoli!

When we got back to the hotel they had fresh chocolate-chip cookies in the lobby! Anne Marie was very excited!!! And they were good!

And as usual, we headed to the pool after dinner. She was a F-I-S-H tonight! She swam by herself farther than she has swam EVER before!!!!! I was so sad that Mike missed it!!!!

Time for bed!! zzzzzzzz .... then tomorrow .... BEACH HERE WE COME!!