Da Beach

The day before we left for Virginia the boys got to work.  They wanted to earn all the money so they could get the PS5 as soon as they got back home.  They vacuumed and washed my car.  Josiah ushered me into the driver's seat so I could have the full Buc-ees carwash experience.  At Buc-ees they have different colored lights which make it a fun carwash to go through.  Josiah put me in a hot car and told me to lock the doors.  They washed and rinsed, but when the temperature got too much, I tapped out.  I have loved their enthusiasm to work.  It's been a huge help to me.  

We got in the car on a Tuesday morning headed to Grandad and Nana's house.  Caroline took several naps along the way.  It was a good way to pass the time quickly.  But sharing a bed with a not-tired-at-all, restless, little lady was an experience later that night.  At dinner, we got right back into our old routine with the alphabet game. Caroline requested it and the category was female names.  It is always a favorite game at dinner time there.  The following morning, I headed up to the beach to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa, while the kids stayed in Hampton.  Grandad taught them horseshoes, which they really loved.  The boys, of course, kept track of how many ringers they made, always trying to get the most.  

Caroline picked the one tomato the squirrels and birds did not get to first.  They enjoyed good food - the hibachi station at the Chinese Buffet was a new favorite for Caroline and Henry.  They always texted me the sweet treats that Nana was baking.  Needless to say, they enjoyed themselves.

Meanwhile at the beach, Grandma, Grandpa, and I took a shopping excursion each day - the thrift store, the fair trade store, and Japanesque.  We walked the boardwalk and tried not to die from the heat wave that covered the entire country.  The outside shower was my friend.  We had a quieter, relaxing time - I finished one book and put together a puzzle a day.    

On Sunday morning, I headed back to Hampton to pick up the kids.  They were excited to get to the beach, for one, because they wanted to see their cousins, and, two, to see the new house.  They were staying at the house on the corner.  The house with the beautiful air conditioning.  We needed a system for the bathrooms because there were no locks on the doors.  We went with the basic, knock first.  I talked to Caroline to make sure she would answer if the door was knocked upon.  Her comment was that if she heard a knock, she'd respond with Come back with a warrant.  That's my girl.  

Our first day on the beach, Caroline immediately sat down to read the last two chapters of her book.  She had been saving them for almost a week because she wanted to finish it sitting on the beach.  The boys were quick to get in the water and I was not far behind.  It was the only way to beat the heat.  The water was incredibly calm, which made wading in it all the nicer.  

Henry and I angered his siblings that first day.  We decided to walk north to the 'point' on the beach.  We made it, but it took a while, and when we got back there was more than one, Where were you?  Everyone went back to the house already!  Exercising, baby.  

Playing in the sand with their cousins is always a beach favorite.  

Josiah, the shopper, was ready for the stores every day.  The first day he tried on every pair of sunglasses displayed.  Twice.  It turned me into a whiney child, I cannot stand in this store anymore.  I want to leave!

We enjoyed all the regular foods - shrimp and clams, Grottos and Pomodoro's.  Ice cream with the littles was always fun.  This year, the boys opted for milkshakes every day.  Nothing was better to beat the heat, though, than green Gatorade.  Always refreshing.  

Walking back from Will & Meghan's condo one night, we wanted to look at the ocean and we picked the exact spot where Max, Josiah, & Henry were trying to fly a kite.  There was no wind, so they had to give up, but we did get a picture of their effort.

If they weren't trying to fly a kite, they were tossing the football on the beach or playing wiffle ball in the yard.  

Caroline wanted to go to the bookstore with Grandma and Grandpa.  She was on the hunt for Babysitter's Club books.  The used book store was not exactly a thrift store.  The back of the book said, "Suggested Retail Price: 3.99"  Then the book store price tag next to it said $6.  Okay, then.  She was able to find a number of books and she's upped her reading for the summer.

Her reading skills were put to use when she babysat her cousins one night.  After an evening of playing charades and a Lego boardgame with Arthur, Eleanor, and Josiah, too, she read them their bedtime books.   She loved it and she was very good with them.

Aunt Stacie bought a beach Charades game and it was a hit with the bigs and littles alike.   

Thursday afternoon brought the rain and relief from the heat.  It dropped 10° and made the rest of the week much more comfortable.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              For our final day, the kids and I tried out the 'penguin place' for breakfast.  Caroline wanted to try the avocado toast, so she suggested I order that.  She ordered pancakes.  That avocado toast was the best I've ever eaten.  

We had to get in all the traditional things that final day, so we headed to Pirate Golf.  

Aunt Stacie passed out sparklers after dinner.

And the traditional picture on the stairs of the Jordin house.  

When we got back to Grandad and Nana's, the kids had me try my hand at horseshoes.  I never got a ringer, but I got close.  We somehow left without getting a picture with them, so we'll have to stop by again soon.