A Last Hurrah!

The last two days of our July Ocean City vacation were rainy, so we came home with rides tickets that we were unable to use.  Eliana was devastated that we did not get to end our trip with rides, but the remaining tickets were a promise that we would have to return to OC at some point to use them.  We figured that the weekend after the first week of kindergarten might be our last chance for a return trip.  We kept an eye on the forecast, and decided to book a night at the absolute cheapest hotel within walking distance to the boardwalk.  Pete kept his promise to wake up early on Saturday morning, and we embarked on a weekend road trip.  The weather was absolutely perfect so our first stop was to the boardwalk for some fries, and then to the beach!

Curly's Fries and lemonade

We are very impressed by the ingenious ketchup holder!

Eliana is ready to hit the ocean as soon as her feet touch sand

Leah prefers burying her feet and relaxing

The water is a lot warmer than it was in July!

Leah finally decides to frolic in the waves too

After we had our fill of the beach, we went to the hotel to change out of bathing suits and get ready for our evening on the boardwalk.  Our hotel was the "Coral Sands," and being an avid reader of trip advisor, expedia, and hotels.com, I was well prepared for "friendly staff, clean but dated rooms, no frills but worth the budget price tag!"  The place met expectations, and served us well for our first family hotel experience!

Coral Sands

After we returned to the boardwalk we were all hungry, and Eliana had her heart set on barbecue chicken pizza.  She had tried it for the first time at 3 Brothers Pizza on our July vacation, and had not forgotten about it!   We returned to 3 Brothers, which also boasts the world's largest pie, and advertises for their pizza eating contest.  Pete and Eliana both felt that they could eat an entire pie in less than an hour and win the contest.

After dinner we returned to the rides to make good use of our remaining tickets!  We kept the kids out late, feeding them sugary treats and watching them marvel at how dark it was outside.

Leah rode her own bumper car!  She spent a lot of time stuck in the corner.

Eliana got stuck a lot too, and almost ran over the ride attendant's foot.

Leah's favorite ride is the choo-choo train.

Daddy steals a kiss on the train

Possessed by Cotton Candy

Eliana reunites with an old friend (while Leah clings to Daddy)

After a heated argument about who was going to pilot the chopper, the girls enjoy a peaceful ride

Mommy is mildly terrified on the Ferris Wheel

Double Trouble

 

 

 

Everyone was tired when we finally made it back to the hotel room.  I was treated to a relaxing foot massage before we started our bedtime routine.  The girls slept peacefully in their bed, although we were paranoid about them falling out the sides and Pete kept rolling them towards the middle.

The next morning we woke up and went out for breakfast, before hitting the beach again, and finally heading home.  The trip was a great way to bring our summer to a close, and I was also grateful that the kids have grown up enough that they are now portable and adaptable!  I know many people who vacation with babies, but we never bothered.  Between the gear that babies require, the need to maintain a nap schedule, and the idea that they don't really care where they are anyway, it never seemed worth it to me.  However, a 3 year old and a 5 year old require no naps, have no additional gear, and are absolutely thrilled with the idea of being away from home!  I was always mindful of enjoying the moment when the girls were younger, but I also tucked away a fantasy of them at 3 and 5 years old.  In the exhausting, monotonous, and often mindless days of babies and toddlers, I was confident that 3 and 5 years old would bring a new dawn!  And, thankfully, this fantasy actually did turn into reality!  Obviously they still require a lot of work, but now I am able to also enjoy them as kids . . . as actual people, instead of as babies.  This weekend trip felt like a celebratory entry into a welcome and exciting new phase of parenting!

Eliana and her favorite doll (Her name is Princess, but she is NOT Princess Tiana and she is NOT from the Princess and the Frog)

Leah and her pal Spike