Avalon, Round 4

Well, that’s a wrap. Summer is officially over, Labor Day has passed, and I am up early with the back to school/back to work nerves. So nothing better than reminiscing about our end of summer family vacation, right?

Last year we took a break from our annual trip to Avalon and spent a week in the Poconos, but this year we were back in full swing.

We rented a great house right by the beach (well, technically the second house from the beach) with a pool and five cousins who had the time of their lives.

We all just had a blast. The ocean was awesome, the waves were not small, the pool was wonderful, and we spent a week just hanging out, playing, and eating a lot.

We spent evenings in town getting ice cream…

…and went on bike rides…

…and played games at the arcade.

Jeff and I got to spend some time together, which is always lovely. We went for a walk on the beach, for a bike ride, and one morning we got up early to watch the sun rise.

The kids were self sufficient. As much as I occasionally mourn the baby days of the past, I don’t miss sandy diapers or nap schedules or tantrums.

Anyway, the kids all had the best time. Julian and his cousin Ben (born 9 hours apart) spent hours jumping in the waves…

I love that these kids are growing up with these annual trips with their cousins. How lucky we all are.

One night we went to Wildwood, ate hot dogs and hit all the rides. This picture of Arthur sums up how we feel about Wildwood.

For reference, baby Arthur felt the same…

It was nice to be so close to the beach and to have the pool as well. We just sort of went back and forth and basically spent the entire week in the water. Just the way I like it.

Avalon, we adore you! And I hope that we will see you again next year. Until then!

Avalon, Round 3

We spent the past week at the Jersey Shore at our annual family “beach retreat” in Avalon. This was our third year (year 1 and year 2) there; it’s so lovely to have this little beach town to return to each year. It’s familiar but yet such a change from our every day lives that it feels new and refreshing.

This year we rented a house with a pool – and we can probably never not rent a house without a pool again. We loved it so much.

Here is Julian on the morning of day three at the beach house. He can swim!

Most days were very laid back. Lazy mornings, lots of rounds of Spot it! among the cousins, fresh donuts, and lots of coffee.

Then we would either dip in the pool or head straight for the beach. My brother-in-law and sis-in-law are beach pros and have all the equipment that made for a very comfortable beach camp for all of us. We were 9 adults and 5 kids!

Arthur loved playing sports at the beach. We would set up a goal, and all he wanted to do was play soccer, catch or football all day long. We may have someone who likes sports on our hands…unfamiliar territory.

The rest of us were happy to be lazy, jump in the waves, and dig holes in the sand.

Also: beach naps.

One morning we drove into the neighboring town of Stone Harbor, had giant stacks of pancakes and waffles and let the boys ride their scooters around town. Another morning we borrowed our family’s bikes and went for a bike ride around Avalon. Julian got to ride on the street! He felt like such a big shot.

And then of course there is Wildwood. We went twice, because Arthur wasn’t feeling well the first time around and was just miserable.

That first day/night there, Julian got to ride his first proper roller coaster! He is hooked. He wanted to go again. And again. He has no fear.

We went on some rides…

…and had dinner. Arthur fell asleep right after this photo was taken. His ability to sleep anywhere is both a blessing and a curse.

So Jeff and I took him home and left Julian to roam around Wildwood with his cousins (and a couple of responsible-ish adults) way past bedtime.

But we felt like we needed a do-over, so we went again.

This time around everyone was happy. We played games, went on rides, and ate our weight in corn dogs and fries.

We rode the ferris wheel (again)…

…and drank lemonades overlooking the beach.

Both Julian and Arthur went on proper roller coasters this time around, several times, and as I was screaming “Oh no! Oh no!” they both screamed “YEEEEEEES!” and wanted more.

It was such a fun day.

Most nights the kids went to bed super late. We went for walks around Avalon, had ice cream…

…and ended our nights drinking wine on the patio. We also got our family hooked on our latest obsession, “Stranger Things.”

After a week away, I am happy to sleep in my own bed again and to be in a house with no squeaky doors. Also, not having sand on every surface of the house is nice.

Just kidding. I don’t mind the sand. Being at the beach was awesome. Having family together was wonderful. But I think we were all a bit tired from late nights and early mornings and lots and lots of play. Right, kid?

Thanks, fam, for another great vacation!

Down the Shore

We spent last week in Avalon at the beach for our annual Weston beach vacation. It was a wonderful week with family.

Highlights included…

…The Beach! Obviously.

The boys loooooved the beach. The sand, the ocean, the waves, all of it. We went to the beach every day, except one, and didn’t get tired of it. Each day we dug holes and pools and tunnels for the kids – and one day Uncle Ray created sand bowling. So that was hours of entertainment right there.

…Family Time.

I especially love watching all the cousins together. Julian and Ben, born 9 hours apart, are thick as thieves.

Arthur fell in love with his big cousin Amelia and spent most of his day following her around. “Melia? Melia?”

…Wildwood.

It’s no secret that we love Coney Island. So naturally, Wildwood is right up our alley. The kids hit all the rides.

And towards the end, right before cotton candy and funnel cake pushed us over the edge, we won huge donuts playing whack-a-mole.

…Donuts.

These, and the edible kind as well.

…Lazy Mornings.

No one slept in, of course, ever. Because even though it’s a vacation and no matter how tired children are, they still get up at completely unreasonable hours. But we had lovely breakfasts every morning, lots of coffee, and crazy kids who entertained each other. And a deck to sit on.

…Dates. Jeff and I got to sneak out a couple of times. We went on a bike ride through Avalon, and one night we strolled around the neighboring town of Stone Harbor and had drinks at a bar by the beach. Total highlight was a walk on the beach in the dark with an almost full moon and lightning far away on the ocean, turning the sky orange every other minute or so. It was magical.

Non-highlights included this guy getting car sick on our way to Avalon…

…and whatever it was that happened to that guy. Bug bite? We will never know. But the Rocky references and the “You should have seen the other guy” comments did not get old. Or did they?

Until next time, Avalon.

Life’s a Beach

At least our life was, for a week.

We spent a week in a beach rental in Avalon, NJ with family. There were six adults and five children five and under. So at least we were not out-numbered!

There were many magical moments this week, so why not do a good old list? Who doesn’t like lists, right?

Potty talk

Let’s just dive right in, shall we? The cousins got along great, and right away cousin Benjamin shared with Julian something he won’t soon forget: the beauty of potty talk. At night we could hear them in their beds next to each other talking and laughing for hours. The conversations would go like this, “Poopy butt!” Laughter from Julian. “Poopy on my head!” Laughter from Julian. And so on and so forth. Julian was a very captive, easy audience. Thanks for this valuable lesson, Benjamin.

Sneaking away for dates:

When the kids napped, we napped. Because the beach makes everyone tired. But then we woke up, and the kids were still napping, so sometimes we snuck out on ice cream dates or I went for a run on the beach. Also several trips to the ice cream parlor and a bar at night while Grammy offered to babysit. Good times.

Food:

Other than talking about poop and running away from our children, we ate non-stop. We woke up and started eating, and continued to eat until we went to bed. Scones, muffins, pancakes, bacon, eggs, bagels, fresh donuts, pizza, an assortment of grilled meats and fish. Whenever our bellies were full, our mouths would say, “MUST EAT MORE PRETZEL CHIPS NOW.” and “ONE ICE CREAM PER DAY IS NOT ENOUGH. GIMME MORE NOW.” And so we obliged.

The Beach:

When we took quick breaks from eating, we loved loved loved the beach. Of course I’m kidding. We brought coolers loaded with snacks and beer so we didn’t have to stop eating. One day we ordered pizza directly to the beach. Julian and especially Arthur were so in their element. Arthur just ran and ran and laughed and screamed at the ocean with pure delight. It was so beautiful to see them so free and happy. Blond hair all tangly from the salty air, hands sticky and sand all over. It was pretty much paradise. Except we were in New Jersey and not St. Lucia. I will never forget sitting with Arthur in my arms right by the ocean, nursing and cuddling my baby (He’s 15 months? SHUT UP.). And chasing waves and digging holes with Julian.

The Cousins:

I loved spending so much time with our niece and nephews and watching the boys form friendships with their cousins. They all played so nicely together and took care of each other. There was hardly any fighting or bickering, except for who got to sit next to whom and too many hugs for Arthur and Baby Henry. Other than that: no complaints and much joy.

Wildwood:

Totally the highlight of our trip for Julian. It’s like Coney Island, except so much bigger (and dare I say better?). The cousins went on all the rides. We ate (duh!) lots of good stuff and stayed out way past bedtime.

Bonus:

Every morning I wanted to get up early and watch the sunrise at the beach. Of course I never did and then had instant regret when one of the kids would wake me up anyway 30 minutes after sunrise. Because that’s what kids do. Then Arthur came down with a cold and partied all night, and so on our last morning I got up with him at 5:30am and snuck out to the beach. We walked for about 30 minutes in the cool morning air and then sat down and snuggled and watched the sun rise on the horizon. I chased Arthur up and down the beach in his footie pajamas and then went back to the house for a cup of hot coffee. It was a perfect good-bye to a wonderful week at the beach.