Avery...and the first night

The first night of our vacation was harsh...Our flight from Denver was delayed almost 2 hours... getting us there after 2:00 in the morning! I still had to pick up the rental car and drive out to the beach... an hour and a half drive. So by the time I had picked up the car and started out it was after 3.

I usually head out there and sleep in the car with the kids for the first night of vacation. I have a few reasons for this, but mainly it's because I am cheap. I don't want to spend any more money than I have too. It usually works out just fine, except this time for Avery.

Dillon and Bailey had gladly piled into the back area of the SUV to sleep, but Avery decided that she was up. At 4:20 AM, I could do nothing that could convince her to try and sleep again. So we played.

Somehow, I was able to keep this up until about 6:20 when she decided that she had had enough of the car and was STARVING! I reluctantly woke up the other two and we headed down to the boardwalk.

It was gorgeous. Quiet. Calm. and closed.

The bathrooms? closed

The restaurants? closed

After walking down something like 13 blocks, we found an open restroom. YEAH!

Then we found a restaurant that would be opening in 13 minutes.

We headed down to the beach and enjoyed the smell of the salt water, and seeing the beach area come alive.

I don't think I have stopped smiling since I hit the boardwalk. Is it sheer happiness at being here or lunacy? At this point, I couldn't tell you.

We walked back down to the car and I get Avery to fall asleep in the back of the car and I convince the others to read a while. I get about an hours worth of sleep maybe an hour and a half.

Then we hit the beach! This is when Avery freaks out.

Avery does not like to be dirty. When she touches the sand it sticks to her hands. She shows me and wants me to clean them off. Then she sits and tries to wipe her feet off. She settles into my lap and watches the other two play in the sand. Finally she tries a little. She walks away and comes back. A few more times and she can deal with it.

I was really worried that I would have a lap and hip attachment all week long! But it works out and by the end of the week, she is a happy little beach baby.