Vacation - Family Time

Although our beginning evening of vacation had its rocky moments, our time at the beach was time well spent.

Family from afar (four different states) was joined in one house. We all ate dinner together, which was a fun affair. The table only had chairs for six but had room for at least ten. By the time the end of the line got their food, seats were opening up. Remember we were a family of 23. The couches were kept busy at meal time, too. But don't worry if there was a spill, they were vinyl. Easy wipe up.

A typical day for us went like this - woke to the musical sound of our daughter chiming "Out. Mommy out. Daddy out." Or she just would babble on about things she had to say. And once she knew we were awake, she would be more fervent in her pleas to get out. And then she learned that if she positioned herself just so and grabbed the bed, she could climb out of her portable crib. She would crawl upon us in our waking slumber.

Once ready for the day, we would head up for breakfast (our room was downstairs.) Breakfast choices abounded. Once breakfast was consumed thoughts of the beach were upon us. Suits were donned, skin was slathered, towels and other beach gear was gathered. Our trek to the beach was short - just down our walkway and steps and across the cool dry sand to our spot at the edge of the never ceasing ocean.

After gear was set up and umbrellas positioned for ultimate shade coverage, the hard decision of relaxing in a chair, playing in the sand, or going in the ocean had to be made. For us we had to decide who would hold our daughter, for if her feet touched the sand, cries of alarm would sound. Yes, our child wouldn't walk in the sand willingly. She had to be stuck in it crying. She eventually realized that the sand posed no threat and enjoyed herself. She did not however, become enamored with the ocean. She did tolerate it from the safety of an inflatable boat. We also came to realize that if there was a bucket of water nearby to rinse off the offending sand, our girl would be more willing to touch feet and hands to sand.

Soon rumbles in our tummies told of our food needs and some things were gathered, and the trek back to house would occur. However, the once cool dry sand had transformed into a scorching hot expanse, and the walk across it was cut in half if no shoes were worn. The outside shower was very helpful in washing away some of the pesky sand that insisted on clinging to skin. Young children were stripped of suits and if present, diapers, rinsed thoroughly, rediapered if necessary, and clothed.

Another chaotic plentiful food time ensued.

Nap time for our girl was now upon us. Sleep my child, sleep. We could now relax. Sometimes we got to, sometimes not.

After nap, we sometimes followed the morning suit up routine, or we decided to just stay in the house for the afternoon. Dinner would follow, then sometime much later, bedtime.

That was a typical day. We did have some other interventions occur, though.