Last week it was time for our 2nd annual beach trip with the McNeely clan to Amelia Island, Florida. We waited a year for it to come around again and it was here and gone in the blink of an eye. It's really all still a blur. Small house, 4 adults and 3 small children mostly up daily by the crack of dawn: it was a whirlwind. You may recall the debacles of last year's trip, where everyone was sick, fever-y or rash-y every single day, not to mention the days without air conditioning in the Florida summer heat. Fortunately, this year presented us with no major obstacles. Only the humors of daily life with small children...times 3.
Upon arrival to the island, the rain was coming down in sheets and we could hardly see in front of our cars. The weather channel was calling for lots of rain during our trip, but in actuality it hardly sprinkled a drop and most days were sunny and clear with plenty of opportunity for fun in the sun.
Actually lots of chances for fun in the sun with no possibility of shade, when the large canvas tent that had been used in my family for beach trips since Hudson was small was blown away on our first afternoon. When Ben went down to retrieve it for the evening some jerk was trying to steal it. Punches were close to being thrown. Over a beach tent...
Our first morning, the kids were ready to hit the beach. They were geared up and ready to get in the ocean. The next day or so they were more timid but that soon gave way to utter fearlessness, and some nervousness on the part of the parents as we hovered nearby to try to prevent potential drownings. And while at 4 against 3 we still outnumber them, it's getting a bit too close to tied. I think as more kids are added to the picture in the future we might need to consider hiring some help!
Early in the week we took the ferry over to Mayport to have dinner at Singleton's Seafood Shack, a new yummy and deep-fried beach trip tradition. The kids loved the boat, if not the wait to board the ferry, but the wait was worth it. What kid doesn't love a boat ride?
One morning while Ben went to finish a proposal at a coffee shop the rest of us headed to the park for the morning and Brian gave the boys a plane ride through the air. And I think the boys may have given him a hernia in return. And while the park was hardly a break from the heat at least we got a bit of break in the shade.
Last year I had been bound and determined I was going to make the kids the sand pail dessert that Mom and Jen used to make for Hudson on beach trips. A yummy vanilla pudding dessert you serve layered with pulverized Nilla wafters to look like sand. Served in a child's sand pail with a shovel to feel like you are eating sand right off the beach. So yummy! I just wanted to say I finally made it at the beach one year and Julianna was probably my biggest fan! Brian probably my least-est fan after he knocked most of it on the floor one night after dinner and had to clean up the pulverized cookie crumbs. Oh well, no used crying over spilled pudding.
While the kids really loved the beach this year, much more than last, we still were regular fixtures at the Putt-Putt course down the street. The kids all went at least twice and Brian and Caroline even went after their date night for a round one evening. Not to mention, now that they serve ice cream, there were many evenings at least one parent was headed that way for soft serve for the boys after dinner treat.
I still have yet to go through and upload my pictures from this trip. But I wanted to share of few of the ones that Caroline took. Our last night we did a photo shoot on the beach so each family could have some good family photos. I don't want to share too many because I am certain this is where I will pull our Christmas card picture this year, but had to conclude with at least one.
Thanks Caroline! I love the pictures and the precious memories made!
