"This is Not the Beach!"

.... And we're back! With my Mom in tow, we set off last Saturday for a little beach vacation.

It was simply delightful.

The End.

Just kidding. Oh, come on. I'm fully justified in the pictorial assault that is about to occur. It was Eliza and Henry's first trip to the ocean. And, as I already mentioned, we were fortunate enough to have my Mom as our special guest. Therefore, this post will be fraught with images of children frolicking in the waves, sandcastles towering high above the competition, skin - whiter than snow - and...

Oh, hey there, Henry! What's the smirk for? (pause) I see. You're still laughing at your sister. Is that right? Yes, yes. I remember. I'm that bad Mom who let her daughter play in the sun for the first 1/2 hour of the trip,

Broadway at the Beach

before bathing her in sunblock. A sunburned face ensued. Her little face swelled like a balloon. Her eyes seemed to shrink. Her face, I'm ashamed to say, became a great source of laughter.

Exhibit A:

Mama & Eliza with their twin swollen faces. Sad news is, Eliza's went away and mine hasn't.

After boycotting a nap on Saturday afternoon, we took the kids out for their first taste of the ocean. Henry couldn't get enough of the beach. Exhausted, he fell asleep while making the rounds on the lazyriver.The night concluded with a return to Broadway at the Beach. We fed ducks, had dinner, window shopped and enjoyed fireworks; with the exception of Eliza. She spent the majority of the show with her head buried in Andrew's chest; plugging her ears and complaining about the noise.

Sunday was somewhat blissful. The weather was the right amount warm combined with the perfect touch of wind. We began the day with plans to make pancakes and scrambled eggs. Enter the problem. I neglected the PAM!

• Pancake Mix (check!)
• Eggs (check!)
• Pam and/or butter - CRAP
  

"Andrew! Hit the breakfast buffet. See if you can weasel us a few packets of butter. Take Henry. He's cute. They may be more inclined to give it to you."

"Butter? We need butter. I have an idea." This was his idea. Introducing, "Movie Theater Pancakes." We hijacked the butter out of a microwave popcorn package. And you know what? It worked fabulously. As my Mom and I worked the pancake experimentation, Andrew and Henry were successful in their hunt for butter. And, as I predicted, his cuteness scored him a free beach ball from a generous little girl in the elevator. After a morning on the beach/pool, the kids took a serious nap. Following which, we broke the Sabbath as we paid three bucks to walk the Apache pier. That evening, we bid farewell to our beach that night during sunset.

Before hitting the road Monday morning, we made a stop to Ripley's aquarium. It was impressive. A good time was had by all.
As we pulled in the driveway this afternoon, Eliza peered out her window.

"Hey!" she shouted. "This is not the beach!" After four hours in the car, Eliza was shocked when we ended up in our driveway. Thinking she'd be thrilled to be free of her car seat, she clenched her hands and informed us all,

"I WANT TO GO BACK TO THE BEACH!"

*Cue tantrum.