Tuesday August 3, 2010
aka Virgina Beach, Part I
How is it that my xanga subscriptions nearly go into hibernation mode until I leave for six days and now I can’t catch up and I want to read every single one so badly?
How is it that my brain composed thirty-seven posts in the last two weeks and not one of them made it to the computer?
How is it that now that the boys are outside with their dad and the house is quiet, my brain is strangely quiet, too?
How is it that six days of vacation can fly by more quickly than one afternoon nap for the boys?
How is it that vacuuming sand out of the car can make me feel so much closer to the beach?
I wish I knew.
We’ve been talking about vacation since last summer. A real vacation where you just go have fun in a fun place as opposed to the go have fun visiting family kind. Last summer got lost in the tsunami of food allergies and fussiness and stay at home try to get betterness.
Then it was winter and who wants to go on vacation in the winter? Not me. Unless you can afford to travel way down south. We couldn’t.
I wanted to use the money I made on my children’s books to do something fun or buy something special with the boys and vacation seemed like the best option.
Then it was summer again so we were talking again. But for awhile it seemed that was all that was going to happen. On the last Sunday in July David said, “You know, we really need to schedule our vacation.” We looked at dates, checked the weather, looked for hotels and decided to leave that Friday. We’d spend the weekend with our good friends, Jonathan and Heather, and then head to the beach for a three night stay.
Monday morning when I checked weather again, the forecast had drastically changed and all three days we’d spend on the beach looked like rain. I called David, fully expecting to put it off for another week. He called back a few minutes later and said, “Can we be ready to go in 24 hours?” Gulp. But why not? We’re getting really close to running into school time and I did. not. want to get to the end of the summer and say, “Oh, bummer. We never got to go.”
Suddenly I was frantically searching for a hotel, calling Heather to make arrangements, and desperately trying to fix enough food for Liam since his freezer stash disappeared during my earlier weekends away. The boys and I packed, did laundry, fixed food, got groceries, went to the library, packaged books, and packed some more. And in a little over 24 hours we were gone. That is so not like us.
The boys loved, loved, loved the beach. It was nearly 8 Tuesday evening before we’d grabbed some food, hauled in all our luggage, and stashed the food in the frig so the pictures are dark and a little blurred from the slow shutter speed. But I love the delight on their faces.
I lived in safe mode and mostly used my small point and shoot. After I got home and downloaded them I was a little sad to have the best week of the year fall a little flat, but it was worth it not to have to worry about my other camera get damaged or worse yet, walk away in the crowd. So when I see pixels and flat images, in my mind’s eye I also see me letting go and having fun with the boys.
Let me tell you, going on vacation with these two boys completely redefined the meaning of vacation. The last time we went on vacation three years ago, Adam was three. He sweetly went to bed a little late, slept til after 8 in the morning, and took nice naps in the afternoon while we lounged on the deck. This time sleeping in was a joke. Both boys were up before 7:00 every. single. morning. They bounced off the walls in excitement. How did they manage to completely avoid my capable-of-sleeping-til-noon genes? The redemptive factor in all of that was that we were out on the beach before the crowds hit. The not so nice factor was that we could not avoid Liam’s naptime as we hoped. Still, it was a small price to pay. And an excellent reminder that David and I need to go somewhere alone for our tenth anniversary two years from now. (Note to self: It is perfectly fine to leave your children at home for a few days. Repeat as often as necessary.)
Liam opted mostly for the sand because the water overwhelmed him. The rest of us had tons of fun riding waves. Finally on the last day I kept him on the wet sand and helped him jump up out of the water whenever the waves came. From then on he loved it. “Me bump ‘aves.” He is just way too cute. Adam was fearless of the waves at two and three and still bold at six. He really started getting the hang of riding the waves in with a board and many times I saw his head covered in the spray of the wave. Every time I waited to see him come up yelling for a towel and every time he surprised me by shaking the water out of his eyes and laughing with delight. So maybe he did miss the sleeping in genes but he sure found a few other recessive treasures.
Virginia Beach got hit with a massive thunderstorm Thursday afternoon. It was insane watching hundreds of people head off the beach at one time. In six hours we got hit with nearly 6″ of rain. Every single one of the dozen pool loungers next door got whipped into the pool by the wind.
I went a little stir-crazy. Worse than the boys. I think David was about to despair with me. But seriously, that’s a lot of being cooped up in a small space. I need to learn how to do that sitting still doing quiet things.
(How many of you can be the platform for your husband????????)
It was sad checking out Friday, but the fun wasn’t over. We took the boys to the aquarium. I wish I could say they loved it. I think they did, but it took a little interpreting. The place was jam-packed with people. Next time I think I’d rather drive down for one day and enjoy it during the winter. You literally had to wait in line at some of the displays and the petting area for the sting rays was two-deep in some places. We never did get to touch them because the rays hung out at the bottom. Who could blame them? I bet they felt exactly like a stay-at-home mom of preschoolers at 5:00. You know, “CAN NO ONE PLEASE TOUCH ME.” We were pushing lunch time and ended up taking the boys outside to eat some yogurt. Whatever the reason, Adam wasn’t enamored with the sea life like he usually is. He just kept saying, “Let’s move to the next thing.” But when we got out, he said he loved it??
When we were finished we watched the 3D imax on dolphins and whales. It was hysterical watching Adam reach out and try to stroke a whale that appeared to be swimming right in front of his nose. 
….to be continued
How nice that you guys could go on vacation! It’s something we’ve been desperately wanting to do for a year now, and it never works out. Maybe sometime soon!
Kierra is sitting right here, and when she saw the picture of “Chelle”, she again remembered that “Chelle took me round and around!” You really made an impression on her!
I like the question “How is it that six days of vacation can fly by more quickly than one afternoon nap for the boys?” It sure seems that way sometimes!!
Oh….the vacation looks so totally awesome. I’m jealous. 🙂 You deserved it, and I’m so glad it worked out for you! Can’t wait to read the second part.
ahhhhhh…… i just LOVE vacations like this. I think I am totally spoiled because we go to the beach fairly often and it looks like we may have to skip this year… i was sort of pouting. Maybe I better count my blessings! So so so happy for you to go and just have fun. just makes me smile to read it!
I have such fun memories of Va Beach and Sandbridge from when I lived in Chesapeake! I’m glad y’all were able to enjoy your vacation as a family. I know exactly what you mean about an away-by-ourselves vacation verses one that is spent with family; they both have their place and make for good memories. I”ve had plenty of the former; I’d like one of the latter… soon! Oh, and I can identify with your second sentence COMPLETELY!!!
I love spontaneous vacations like that 🙂 Sounds like a lovely time 🙂
yeah, it always seems like when I’m all caught up on my subs. and go out of town that’s when everyone updates and when you get back amidst being behind on the home front, your behind on xanga as well 😛
*sigh* I just got a little mini vacation looking at your pictures. Looks like you had a great time! Glad you got to actually go this time. Sometimes I grab my cheapy P&S camera and head off to do something fun not worrying so much about the quality of the pictures but just having a good time and then edit as best I can to get it right.
I’m so glad you got this vacation accomplished!! Looks/sounds heavenly! Looking forward to more. =)
I love spontinaity! And I so know what you mean about 30+ posts in your head that never make it to your blog….
Your vacation looks amazing! Hope you’re nice and refreshed. 🙂
that looks like so much fun! way to be okay w/ your point and shoot pictures
The one little picture of Liam w/ his surfboard, he is looking so chubby and healthy, you must be doing something right these days
Looks like fun!!!! And yes, a vacation where you aren’t just visiting family and friends (fun as that may be) is so nice to do!!
I loved that line about “i need to learn how to do quiet, sit down stuff.” So funny! And after meeting you, I can totally see how you were going stir crazy.
Good for you guys for just packing up and taking off in 24 hours and making it happen. That is SO not like Jeremy or I either, but sometimes I think its good to mix it up a little like that.
Also, totally identified with and loved the line about “its ok to leave your children for a few days…repeat as necessary.” Vacations with kids are NOT the same as the ones without them. Fun, but in a different way. And maybe if i was a little more relaxed of a Mom (and not so selfish about wanting some QUIET and alone and sleeping in time), then yeah, I’d probably enjoy it even more. It does get better as they get older, for me at least.
Your pictures look wonderful to me! Even if they were with a “cheap” camera. Looks like SO much fun. I’ll be waiting for part II.
oh, so THAT is what a vacation is?! yep, know all about the visiting relatives vaca’s but, actual doing what we want to vacations, are just not really something we know about right now. maybe someday…you certainly make it sound delightful!
so glad for you that you guys got away with your little family!! will wait for the sequel!
happy wednesday!
♥~Rb
Wow! Thanks for the trip to the beach!
I can so relate to the part about vacationing with kids being, well, different than you hoped/expected/thought. But after we got home from our vacation, we(Leon and I)are for real forgetting the not so fun times. I am impressed with your flexibility to throw it together in a day. And you’ll treasure these memories..FOREVER!
I love, love, love spontinaity! Not that it happens often, but the few times we’ve packed up and gone for a quick trip, it’s just so much fun! Several years ago we did that without telling anyone else where or when we were going. So fun! Just us, in our own little world!
Your little boys are so sweet,and someday their “drive” in life will pay off. Think of all they’ll accomplish!
Love you!!
Looks like a perfect vacation!!! Your smile on that kiddie ride tells all!! Gorgeous!
The sand, the plan’s, the water, the sounds of seagulls, love it all. Glad you had a beautiful time together, you so deserve it!
Oh the beach!! A WONDERFUL vacation! =) Glad you got to relax!
So glad for your spontaneous good time!
My boys didn’t acquire my most attractive genes, i.e. capable-of-sleeping-in-decently, snicker, either.
And I am totally laughing about the sting rays hanging out on the bottom!
“Who could blame them? I bet they felt exactly like a stay-at-home mom of preschoolers at 5:00. You know, “CAN NO ONE PLEASE TOUCH ME.”
hahaha.
If I were to be reeeeaaaalllly honest I’d admit that I try to hide from my precious kids at times.
Looking foward to part 2…
I like your new profile pic too! You two look fun…
Aaaaaand…about SMBI…
Yeah. Twenty-something years ago I wouldn’t have missed their annual youth weekend, Night of Music, any of it, for nothing! I went there for two terms in chuckle 1988 ( I was the only 10 year old student ) (kidding) And of course I “had” to go with Loren and New Horizons Chorale to Israel and Europe that same year. Which I LOVED.
So there’s a quick version of a part that you missed! lol. Seriously though, how far are you from D.C.? Because we do have some catching up to do, I know!
@down_onthefarm –
Wait, wait WAIT. You sang with New Horizon’s Chorale????????????????????????? That’s not even a quick version, that’s a tease.
Depends which side of DC. We’re an hour and a half from Manassass. When are you planning to be there. 🙂
lol. this is fun. but really am not trying to tease ya.
Hmmm. It takes us about 2 hours to get to Alexandria…I was looking for the map, but it must be in the van. I’m thinking Manassass is below Fairfax, probably 2 to 2 1/2 hours away maybe. I remember attending a Choice Books meeting there back in the day 🙂 and I’m thinking that area screams Civil War history ( yay!) too, right? We’ll be there when YOU are!
Looks like so much fun! And yes, vacation is definited entirely different for us these days too! But it’s okay, right? As long as set my mind that it IS NOT going to be a sleeping-in kind of vacation, but a up-and-go kind. 🙂
Your liner about the sting rays feeling like a stay at home mom at 5:00 CRACKED ME UP. Yes, yes, and yes! 🙂
so fun to live a little beach and sunshine and fun through your pics!!
loved looking through & reading about your time away~