Our "Pool" Vacation

We had a pretty successful trip to the beach yesterday.  We left home around 9:15 and went to meet Lolli and Poppa at their house.  Avery stretched her legs there, and then we were off again.  We take a good amount of stuff, so Ned and I both drive, and Avery was with me for the ride.  Snacks, a new book, and her Mickey CD cover worked for awhile, but then Mickey hit the floor.  Off and on fussing began until I was able to stop at a detour.  Then, the CD paper wouldn't fold right and that made her mad also.  The last 45 minutes were one big request for the grilled cheese I promised her for lunch.  I was a happy Mama to see Sonic.  We arrived there about 12:15, so for that long in the car without me being able to turn around, pick up things, etc., she did well.  We had a good lunch in the breeze.  I took sweet pictures of her in her beach wagon shirt eating at the big table, but I didn't have my memory card in the camera.  I now have it set so that it won't take pictures without it.

It was past nap time by this point, but we had 20 or 30 minutes to go.  Avery asked for her pie pie and sound no less than 1,000 times.  We got her settled for a nap around 2 or so, and I was prepared for her not to take one.  She was so tired and upset that I sat by her Pack-n-Play until she fell alseep.  I her up about 4 and we all enjoyed some time on the deck.  After dinner we all walked to put our toes in the ocean water, which Avery calls the pool.  Avery enjoyed the beach but wanted to be picked up when the water came.  I think it was more of a game since it was a lot like swinging.  We went back for bedtime, which involved some tears.  Once she was quiet in her room, Ned and I went to the grocery store.  I think that place is crazy no matter when you go.  We saw our friends and landlords, Jim and Michelle amidst all the chaos.  It's not uncommon to see many people we know while here.

Avery woke up a little before 7 Monday morning, and Ned got up with her.  We made our way to the beach a little before 10.  We decided to try Avery without the jogger which worked well, but it leaves someone without the ability to carry anything but Avery across the road.  Ned was left with our beach cart full of stuff and our very large tent.  Avery was ready to go as soon as her feet hit the sand and walked with Lolli while Ned and I sat up the biggest tent ever.  Avery enjoyed putting her toes in the water, finding shells, watching planes and pelicans, playing in the sand near the water, and having a snack in the beach chair.  She was happy as could be, and I can only hope it continues all week.  We came in for lunch, and I stayed with Avery while she napped.  It took her awhile to fall alseep, and a few times I thought I heard her awake.  I managed a quick nap, so I hope she got some good rest.  We didn't go back to the beach, because we were going out to eat.  Ned came in from the beach so that I could enjoy my outside shower.

We ate dinner at one of our favorites, The Lone Cedar.  Avery did great at dinner and only asked for her pizza every 3 minutes.  To hold her off, we had bread, crackers, and crayons.  Nothing new is pulled out until we are sure that the last item is no longer fun or tasty.  Much like her mama, Avery enjoys some good people watching, although Avery waves and I do not.  She ate a good dinner and did not need to be "out" until just before we were ready to go.  Poppa sat with Avery in the middle on the way home, and they "achooed" a lot.  They also had a fun game of pee pie, except Avery keeps calling it pee pee.  She tried to play with me, but I got a little confused and told her that Mama couldn't pee pee while driving!  We were back at bedtime, but I think it should have been an early bedtime night.  Avery said she was ready to get in her bed, but we still had a few minutes of tears.  This happens sometimes at home, so we stick to our cry-it-out plan and know that it will pass soon.  Ned is doing some surf fishing and we are watching The Bachelorette.  I'm not too interested this season, so I had some time on the deck listening to the ocean before I started watching.

We're off to a great start!