Joy

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Beach Trip




We just got back from our annual beach trip.  We went with my parents again this year - we had so much fun!


The first day, my mom and dad drove straight from AZ to visit their friends from yesteryear, while we drove straight to the beach.

The girls were ecstatic.  It seemed like a LOOOOOONG drive.  Everyone did pretty well  -  minimal screaming from Jack.





We spent the afternoon at a beach near San Diego and then continued up the coast to our hotel near Huntington.  The hotel was very fancy.  It had a beautiful atrium and glass elevators which the girls loved.

There were big fish and turtles swimming in the little ponds and you could feed them if you asked for fish food at the front desk.

The only bad thing about the hotel is that it was FREEZING inside.  The rooms temps were contolled by the hotel and apparently if the weather is between 50 and 70 they don't use the air or heater!  Anything below 78 warrants a jacket in my mind.

Luckily, I packed everyone 1 jacket or sweater so we wore those whenever we were in the hotel. Silly Arizonans!


 We had a suite so these three slept on the pull out bed while Josh and I had a room with Jack.

In my experience few things are as terrible as a baby in a hotel room but Jack was great!  He only woke up once each night and needed to be fed but went right back to bed.  (at home he sleeps through the night)

The next morning we enjoyed the hotel's free breakfast and got ready to go to the beach with Nana and Poppy.  After the first beach day Josh decided we HAD to get one of those beach wagons.  We just look like a circus trying to carry everyTHING and everyONE across the long expanse of sand between the parking lot and the shore.

 I was glad, because although not shown, I also had two tote bags and a chair on my back and Jack on my front.
 Added bonus!  The wagon made a perfect little bed for Jack.  He slept for many hours in there.


Jack was a little cranky this day.

The younger girls kept busy for hours hopping in the waves.

I love watching Joy's antics as she runs on the beach.


Claire mostly stayed out in the ocean.  She LOVES to boogie board.
 
She looked for sand crabs with Poppy for a while but there weren't very many at this beach. 
 There were lots of sea shells though!  Joy liked to hold them up to the sun to see if any were see through - because one of them was.....
Josh and Claire found some big snaily-type shells that were still intact.  
Paige listening to the ocean...even though it is right in front of her.

The whole gang

Before we left I took this creepy picture.  Joy literally stood there like that without moving for the longest time - just staring at Claire.  

After cleaning up at the hotel, we grabbed some pizza for dinner and enjoyed chocolate and coffee while watching tv in the hotel room.

The second beach day was the most fun.  It was Monday so the beach was pretty much deserted. 
 
It was chilly in the morning

. 
 
But it warmed up nicely and was a beautiful day.
 
  There was a weird water outlet just down the shore from us so we walked down there and it was so neat!  Josh found crabs in the rocks 
 
and the girls enjoyed the shallow water.
Close to the rocks the water got deep and had a strong current going out to sea.  They liked to ride in the current.
 

Late in the afternoon the tide went WAY out and the shore became shallow pool with tiny waves rolling in. 





We then went to the hotel, let the girls swim in the pool and spa, then got hamburgers for dinner.

Paw Patrol was on so everyone was happy.

The last day we were on our own since my dad had to be back at work that afternoon.  They left early in the morning and we nabbed a few hours at the beach before heading home.



It was a quick trip but well worth it.  We can't wait for next year!