Vacation Breakdown

The kids had so much fun at the beach that they forgot they were wearing the dreaded sunhat. YAY!!! Almost every day they had their morning snack on the beach, followed by a nap in the shade of our umbrella. Now that's some good sleepin' I'm hear to tell you! They explored the beach house from top to bottom. They played with buckets of sea water and sand and collected lots of shells. They loved looking at the birds, boats and babies that were out and about each day. And they loved the wide open space. However, there were a few things they didn't especially love.

Addison didn't enjoy stepping on the sea grass that had washed up. It was plenty soft, but she spent lots of time evaluating how to step just so that she'd only touch sand. She looked like a little crab dancing her way around it all.

And neither kiddo liked to stand in the ocean water. Well, let me qualify that. The loved it and ran right into it when they first saw it. Pop was there with Caden and Dad was with Addison. I mean right there. Hands on the kids. But the motion of the waves going in and out must have messed with the babies' sense of balance (and distracted the adults) because they both promptly fell in. Caden, twice. And Addison only once, but head first. After that the ocean wasn't as much fun for them. Maybe next year!

Being the first vacation we've taken with kids, this trip was very different than all other vacations prior. There was no sleeping in. No throwing a few things in a bag and taking off. No leisurely making up our schedules as we went along. But it was, for me, nonetheless heavenly to share the experience with the kids and to have a serious break from our normal routine. Like cool mountain streams after a long day's hike. Like a long breath after swimming under water. Like a hug that you just melt into.

To have a whole week with grown ups to talk to all the time... to never once have to grocery shop or make dinner... to always have other people on hand to watch or entertain the babies... to have, thanks to Gram Z and Pop, several hours on the beach without baby responsibilities each day... well, I almost cried to leave it all. And I really wasn't expecting that. It just sort of hit without warning as we rolled out of town.

What a precious, priceless gift... to share life with those you love. And to be loved so well by them in return.