North Carolina Aquarium

Good times inside

We loved the beach.

But, there was plenty of fun to be had inside our house as well...

And I do mean plenty of fun! ;)

The swingset out back was a favorite of C's. 

The customary cousin bath.

Do not be fooled by this picture...

they were not actually enjoying this...

See?

As far as C was concerned, the pool was definitely the place to be.

He asked numerous times each day to go swimming. 

We happily obliged...thankfully we had a hot tub to play in when the weather cooled off.

Beach Bums

Months ago my in-laws began planning a family vacation.  My MIL found a fantastic beach house and we all started counting down the days until our summer getaway.  Last Saturday afternoon we unpacked our bags and settled in for our week at the Outer Banks.

It didn't take us long to hit the beach. 

"I make sun safety look good" ;) 

 I don't know anyone else who could pull off that lobster hat.

The sand was a huge hit...

The ocean was...

COLD! 

Really, really cold! 

Like 'I'm not going in past my ankles because I might get frostbite' cold.

We didn't mind. 

C preferred to stay away from the waves where it was "safe" and I'm not too big on swimming in water where I'm not sure what else is swimming with me.

There was plenty of fun to be had in the sand...

...and we saw DOLPHINS!  I was excited...six year old little girl kind of excited...hubby made fun of me...but, I didn't care...I saw DOLPHINS...in the wild...excitement!

We shared sticky sunscreen hugs and totally rocked our beach hats...

...we watched the waves and dug our toes into the sand...

...we found seashells and built sandcastles...

...we buried toys (and children) in the sand...

...we played and laughed...

We

had

FUN

And the beach was just the beginning...

*sigh*

Bliss
- noun
1. supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment

Yep, that pretty much sums it up.

Sesame Place

Anheuser Busch theme parks have a 'Here's to Heroes' program that allows active duty military to go to one of their theme parks for free once a year.  We knew we had to use our free pass at Sesame Place while we live so close.  Over memorial day weekend we made the short 2 hour drive to Langhorne, PA.  We stayed in a hotel Saturday night and Sunday morning we headed to Sesame Place.  We had such a great time!!  C hasn't outgrown Sesame Street yet, so he really enjoyed getting to see all of the characters.  The whole place was definitely designed with kids in mind.  C was old/tall enough to ride all the rides but one of the water slides.  Not that he would've wanted to try it.  The very first ride he picked to go on was a a water slide.  Things were all well and good until he realized he was going to get drenched!  We didn't revisit that one. ;)  But, he loved everything else he tried.  And so did we.  It just might be worth another visit.  After all, the first one was free. ;)   

Still happy to be on the water slide...

...and hiding from the big splash coming up!

He loved the lazy river because he got to ride 'all by myself'

I think the roller coaster was his favorite!

Two years too long

It's all piles of sunscreen and beach toys around here.  The packing has begun which means our trip is almost here!  We leave Saturday morning for an entire week in a beach house!  A beach house complete with its own pool, jacuzzi, game room, and swingset.  Sigh.  We are so excited about this trip.  It could not be coming at a better time as the past couple of weeks have been full of good old army related stress.  We are still unsure of what the future holds for us as far as hubby's career...but we should know more about where we'll be headed next and when after our trip.  But, let's not think about that shall we?  All I want to think about is how adorable my little man is in a sun hat...cheeks all flushed...sand between his toes...

It's been two years since we've played on the edge of the ocean...

and two years...

is too long...

Bubblegum is for girls...Scooters are for boys

The only good part about getting an ear infection as a kid was the amoxicillin.  I loved that pink bubblegum goodness.  I'm pretty sure the only problem my mom had with me taking it was making sure I only drank it at the appropriate times.  Anybody else?  Just me?  Ok, well I also used to eat cherry chapstick which is a trait my child thankfully didn't inherit.  A love for amoxicillin, on the other hand, I would definitely appreciate.  He started telling me he didn't like it before I even got any into the dropper.  I knew 2 tsp twice a day for 10 days was going to be quite a challenge.  So, I tried to make it fun...singing silly songs about bubblegum medicine going splat on mommy's face and making him go toot.  C thought it was hilarious...for about 1 tsp.  We've tried bribery (if mommy doesn't have to pin you down you can have cookies when we're done!)  We've tried consequences (come here and let's take your medicine like a big boy or your trains are getting put away until tomorrow)  Nothing works. 

Daddy:  Come on C.  You have to take your medicine.

C:  But, I don't like it Daddy!  I don't like it!

Daddy:  Buddy, I know you don't like it, but you have to take it to get all better.

C:  I don't need to.  I got it all under control with my elbow. (we've been drilling the 'cough into your elbow')

Daddy:  You've gotta take it bud.

C:  I don't like bubblegum medicine.  I want the yellow kind.

Daddy:  Next time we'll ask for a different kind, but this is what the doctor gave you this time and you need to take it.

C:  No, I don't like it!

Daddy:  Bud, I can keep taking your toys away, but at the end of this you're still going to take the medicine.  Don't make me pin you down.  Can you come here and take your medicine like a big boy?

C:  But, Daddy!  Bubblegum is for girls!  It's not for big boys.  It's for little girls Daddy!

Me: (grabbing a pen and paper) I'm gonna blog about this.

C:  No, don't blogger me Mommy!

The next day when it was time for me to give C his medicine I asked him if he was going to drink it like a big boy this time.  His reply "No, I'm not grown up to do that like Daddy.  I'm not big enough yet Mommy.  I'm still little for you to pin me down,"  Oh, so you want me to just pin you down and be done with it?  "Yep."  Alrighty, problem solved.  Only 8 more toddler take-downs to go.

Something we aren't having to force him to do?  Ride his new scooter.  He loves it and wants to ride it everywhere.  We're going to the grocery store.  "Can I ride my scooter there?"  Let's go on a walk to the playground.  "Can I ride my scooter there?"  This request I actually granted.  He was thrilled and did a really great job...on the way there.  Mommy actually ended up carrying the scooter most of the way back with a little boy trailing behind me asking to be carried as well. ;)  We both agreed that next time we'd take the stroller.