Vacation Joys

Here I am on vacation, blogging about our previous vacation. In the middle of the summer it feels like we are perpetually vacationing between our two trips with the grandparents. But the beach with these boys is complete joy. Our trip to Ocean City New Jersey this year was bookended by fevers and rain storms, but in the middle we hit the sweet spot. I just read an article about the scientific reasons being near the water makes people happier and healthier. After wading through our beach photos, I couldn't agree more. Happier and healthier, pure joy!

Our first day on the beach was filled with foot races, paddle ball, and dipping our toes in the chilly New Jersey Atlantic, digging holes, and ice cream on the beach. The air was warm and the breeze was just right. The boys took naps, snuggling with us on beach chairs. We settled into quality family time. And worked up an appetite. As dinner time drew nearer, we decided boardwalk pizza was the only answer. We brushed off the sand, changed into dry clothes and piled in the car towards Manco & Manco's pizza. After waiting in line for an eternity, a hot cheesy pie was ours. We sat right down on the boardwalk and dug in. These boys can pack away pizza and the whole pie was gone in a flash. There is something to the combination of salty air and cheesy comfort food that makes the meal fantastic.

As the air dipped cooler, we stopped for boardwalk fudge and warmer clothes before the excitement Wonderland. Behr loves carousels and this one did not disappoint. Behr also rode his first roller coaster with a huge grin and arms in the air. After he finished, he exclaimed, "That was awesome Mom!" Twenty dollars later, it was time for all of us to head to bed. It was the best kind of exhausted.

With rain in the forecast and a cloudy sky, we planned another boardwalk jaunt. This time by bike. We took the boys up and down the board walk before once again indulging in our favorite pizza. While inside the restaurant, the storm moved in. Taking cover in Jilly's Arcade, we were entertained with skee ball, 11 games for $1. Hudson was apt to throw the ball the wrong direction, studious Behr took his time, and I started hitting the 100 slot, winning a few free games and continuing the fun. After an hour, our skee ball arms were spent and we moved on to mini golf. Hudson and Behr both putted hole-in-ones before me, but my time came and we all celebrated. There was no one behind us for a while so we played each hole a few times, Hudson walking in the path of putts and Behr cleverly learning how to hit it just right to sink the ball in the hole. And then we made a trip back to the rides, because the Ferris Wheel had been at the top of conversation all week. While we waited for the Ferris Wheel to open, Behr enjoyed a few rides and even tried to accompany Hudson on one. Two times around on the jumping frogs and Hudson was hysterically screaming. We had to stop the ride and pull him off, but Behr kept going. Hudson was a bit traumatized, but rebounded for the Ferris Wheel just in time to cap our vacation.

There is that Hudson smile, just before the ride terrified him! Our vacation had its trying moments, lack of sleep, and plenty of not feeling so great. But the moments that were salvaged were pure joy. I can't imagine a better handful of memories to carry us through the winter. Now if only I could figure out how to not be such an over packer...