Summer's Last Hurrah!

Just before Labor Day, when the comics were in back-to-school mode, I remember reading Denace the Menace one day- Denace was staring puzzled at his mother who was holding up a calendar- Are you sure there's not another one in there? he asked.

Seriously, Denace, I hear ya! While I'm feeling very blessed with all the good memories we made this summer, it IS hard to believe there's not another month in there somewhere!

In an effort to avoid traffic, we left for our "summer's last hurrah" Saturday morning instead of Friday evening like we usually do.  Six hours later, we arrived at Water Country. It may not have really been six hours, but it was way more than the 2.5 it should have taken- lesson learned- there is no good way to travel to the beach on a holiday weekend.

Fortunately, the kids (all four of them) were very cooperative, and we arrived at Water Country with plenty of time to play.  Thankfully, MaMa & PaPa met us there and took the dogs, saving us a good bit of time.

Water Country was a blast as usual, though we didn't get any pictures this time. We visited many of the same sections as before, and Daniel, like the last couple times, loved, loved, loved going down the "big" slide.  He was so funny on the way there- kept saying how BelleBelle was "too young" to ride the big slide and that maybe she would do it next year.

On Sunday, we were on the road by 9 am, determined to beat any other beachgoers, southbound for Virginia Beach! We were on the beach before 10am, even after parking in a garage and navigating around marathoners running in the Va. Beach Labor Day marathon. Besides some street closures, and seriously having to SPRINT across the boardwalk, it was all and all a very easy trip, thankfully.

The elevator took a while because we needed it empty for our
family of four and the beach cart of provisions for a family of eight!
Oh, how happy we are that Mommy insisted on buying this beachcart
that a certain someone called "great on paper" and now admits is
worth its weight in gold! 

This little gal sat right down and started in on the sand- she was
so excited to use the new princess bucket that was one of her "goodies" from
MaMa.

Daddy, I think Daniel has this one! 

DC headed back for his "surfboard" (which I actually remembered to pack this time)

Anabella had a little friend who joined her.

Surfer Boy

Woohoo, Dan Credle, riding the waves!

He wanted BelleBelle to join him. Isn't that sweet?

Look, BelleBelle, it's fun!

She wasn't much interested, preferring to play in the sand.
Next, he tried his swim ring.
This is what we really had fun with- we all four got in and rode the waves-
the kids in their swim rings (with us holding them, of course). Had a blast! 

Isn't that sand castle "decorated" nicely?

For years, when Chip and I went to the beach pre-kids, we'd always
go to WaWa and get subs to take with us to the beach. Since subs and sand
don't agree with 3-year olds, this year we tried our luck with finding somewhere along the
boardwalk to eat. We found this great little sub shop, which happened to serve ice cream as well.
Now subs & ice cream, that suits our new lifestyle. :) 

Anabella likes chocolate ice cream with sprinkles.
Daniel likes "white ice-cream" (a.k.a. vanilla) with sprinkles.

Man, after all that eatin' and walkin', we all needed a rest. 

They were so funny- we didn't suggest that they sit after
returning from lunch. I think they were just really tired.
They sat there for a good five minutes or so and just took it all in.
Does Dan look like a little man, or what?!
I just love that Steelers doo-rag; I need to find another one for Daddy. :) 

We've had a lot of fun at the beach before, but I have to say this was probably our best trip yet.  Seeing the delight in Daniel and Anabella's faces and hearing their little voices mimic our expressions, "oh, it's a big one!" as we outran and jumped the waves is one of those memories I will forever treasure.  And, while it was our last hurrah for this summer season, I cannot wait for what it's in store for next season- time to light the autumn candles and get the pumpkin coffee a brewing!