Beach House Delivered

We are back from the beach house, and boy, did the beach house deliver.

(My people.)

(Singing "The Circle of Life" from The Lion King because hollering the intro to that song is his favorite thing to do any time he's somewhere he's allowed to yell.)

(LOVE a good beach bonfire!)

(Because why wouldn't you hurtle the dune grass?  All boy, baby.)

(Just about eight or nine of my favorite things.)

(Getting everyone in focus is hard sometimes.  Getting everyone to smile is even harder.)

("Happy Birthday, Momma!" ...my boy was wishing me a happy day from the moment he woke up 'til...well, he's still wishing me happy birthday five days later.  I'll take it!)

(That bag contains some adorable throw pillows from Mutte...thanks, Mutte and GD!!!)

(Newbie and Grandad were ALL ABOUT the kite flying.)

(Uncles are awesome.)

(Its a miracle I got him to hold still for this- he was in the middle of a shore-side sprinting marathon.)

We count it a blessing that getaways like this are just a reasonable road trip away.  I don't ever get tired of that blue water or that warm sand- it rivals even the best Florida beaches. So spending an entire week on the water was such a thrill.  We are so blessed to get to stay in a cottage right. on. the water. Each day I woke up next to my snuggly little guy and marveled over the water right outside our window.  And again while clutching a warm cup of coffee while Newbie downed his daily portion of Grandad's toast.  And later while buzzing about the house trying to pack up all the nick-knacks we would need for a day out on the sand.  There are windows EVERYWHERE, and they never disappoint.

There are also spiders everywhere, but I've gotten really good with a flip-flop. SMACK!

In addition to gazing out the windows, our days were filled with chasing Newbie down the shoreline, flying a steal-of-a-deal Buzz Lightyear kite, eating absurd amounts of beach food (read: Pringles, Wheat Thins, dip, dip, dip, watermelon, fruities (Newbie's favorite), and cookies cookies cookies.), and reading while Newbie took long afternoon naps.  We're talking three hour power naps, baby.  It must have been the rhythmic sound of the waves and the hot sun and the promise of an umbrella and a cozy beach chair that did it, but I'm telling you, EVERY afternoon three+ hour naps.  We. loved. it.

("I hold it my binky and blank and nap a while.")

Because chasing a baby down the beach takes its toll and a loooong afternoon nap is a great time to play catch up in the sit-on-the-beach-chair-and-just-SIT department. 

We celebrated my twenty seventh birthday on Sunday, and the Hubs left after dinner that night, but not before giving me a stellar present: one night all to myself every. single. week.  He has always been fabulous about encouraging me to get out and go do, but I always have a trillion other things to get done and rarely take him up on his offer.  So he's officially kicking me out of the house to recharge, recoup, write, sit, think, breathe, dwell, all on my own once a week.  This in addition to cheering me on for signing up for Bible study once a week as well. He's kind of my hero.

And before you start thinking I get to have all the fun....he gets to sneak away to play softball once a week as well, and is hoping to join a men's Bible study. Around here, everybody's getting in on the deal. We're beginning to embrace the "little bits of time away for myself makes me a better wife/husband/mom/dad" gig.  I think it will play to our benefit because I am already giddy about sneaking away once a week to recapture some of that beach house freedom feeling and find myself a nook somewhere in the world to get lost in for a couple hours.  It was a very happy birthday to me. =)

This weekend we've got a bunch of projects to finish around the house.  We're slowly zoning in on our "before the end of the summer" deadline, and time's a wastin'.  The Hubs is actually working in the garage right now, and I only escaped clean-up duty because a certain mother may have over-indulged a little someone while sharing a snuggly bed at the beach house and completely thrown the sleep-in-your-big-boy-bed routine for a tailspin.  Whoops. Paying for it now standing guard outside the door ("you sit at my door a while?") while the Hubs sorts through all the boxes that have maintained an embarrassing home in the garage ever since we moved in in February.  Eep!

The good news is, we're back from the beach house sporting great memories and sun kissed cheeks, and we're sliding into the end of the summer with a shorter to-do list.

Happy Weekending!