Thursday, August 28, 2008

Ocean City--Fun in the Sun!

This year our "big" family vacation was a mere two days in Ocean City, MD. My sister Amber had to remind me that they can't all be month-long road trips to Sacramento and back. Even though our vacation was a quick one, we still managed to have a blast!

We loaded up the car last Wednesday morning and drove to Ocean City. The biggest highlight of the drive over was Michael's eagle-eye spotting of a Sonic on the way. Cherry Lime-aids for all! What could be better than that, dear friend?

Once we got to OC, we went to our hotel, grabbed a key to the bathroom and changed into our swimsuits. We were a little too early to get our room key, but we didn't mind because our plan was to head to the beach anyway.

Before we went, Maia had told us that she was nervous about the waves. You see, none of my children had ever been swimming in the actual ocean before. Pathetic, I know! We've been to the bay lots of times, but never the actual ocean. Anyway, leave it to Maia to get all worked up about the thrill factor of something new. She wasn't sure if she wanted to give the ocean an try.

Thankfully, she decided to give riding the waves a whirl and....loved it! Seriously, the waves were actually quite rough and the life guards weren't letting people out very far at all, but Maia was fearless. (Michael even made a comment about a certain someone lacking "good sense" as she fearlessly threw herself into strong wave after strong wave.) She fell in love with boogie boarding and quickly caught on to timing the waves so that she rode them all the way in to the sand each time. We couldn't get her out of the water! That's my Maia, get her in the water and she shines.

Mason also tried his hand at boogie boarding. He couldn't get the timing quite as well as Maia, but he still had a grand time. He also enjoyed making "sandballs" (instead of snowballs) and digging to China in the sand. Maybe he wanted to get to the Olympics?!



The rough waves were quite violent to our little girls (and to my favorite sunglasses, for that matter, which were lost at sea while I boogie boarded with Maia...). Mackenna never quite felt secure enough to enjoy the ocean and preferred to spend her time making me countless sand "pies" which I pretended to consume with abandon. Teensy tried on and off to enjoy the ocean waves and by the second day learned to enjoy the beach most by staying either in her daddy's arms or in the mostly shallow waters. She even boogie boarded backwards, refusing to turn her back on those treacherous waves for even a moment.


After several hours on the beach, we walked the half block back to our hotel and officially checked in. Everyone bathed and attempted to de-sand. I was the last to get in the shower and by the time I got out, sweet Kenna had fallen asleep sitting up on the couch! I guess missing a nap and being in the sun for four hours had really drained the poor child.


We went to Phillips for dinner where we ordered the calamari with sweet chile sauce as an appetizer. We had all the kids try it and then waited until each one had said how delicious it was before we told them what it was! It was awesome! Mason kept right on digging in, but Teensy and Maia weren't quite as enthusiastic about second helpings. I had a delicious crab cake and filet mignon (don't judge me, my vacation was only one night and I was going to make it count!).


After dinner, we returned to our hotel where everyone got ready for bed. I was the first one asleep! I guess a missed nap and four hours in the sun had taken its toll on me, as well.


Thursday morning, we got up and ate breakfast in our room before heading out to the boardwalk. We ended up renting a bicycle built for six, otherwise known as a surrey with a fringe on the top! It was so fun to ride together up and down the boardwalk and look at the beautiful waves and interesting people.




The rest of Thursday morning was spent checking out of our hotel and then playing at the beach. After lunch, we hopped in the car and drove over to Assateague Island. Neither Michael nor I had ever been there and we thought it would be a hit for the whole family to see those infamous wild horses. We were right! The kids were fascinated with the horses that just roam the island and don't pay any attention to all the humans oggling them.

Of course, we had to test the beach on Assateague, too. It was all about the wildlife. Michael scooped the shell of a horseshoe crab out of a wave and had all sorts of people ooh-ing and ah-ing over it. I showed the kids how to watch after a wave hit the shore and see the little tiny creatures in shells (like little clams, but I don't know what they are, exactly) dig their way back into the sand. The kids were mesmerized by this activity and would scoop those little creatures up time after time after time. Michael joined in and scooped up a bigger creature. We don't know what it is either, but again, the kids really liked looking at it. They just loved seeing all these different creatures!



After spending a couple of hours at the beach, we attempted to rinse the sand off ourselves in the shower (that stuff just sticks like glue, doesn't it? I had forgotten my baby powder...) and changed into clean clothes before heading home. It was a quick little trip but very memorable. Mason told me on Wednesday, "This is the best day of my whole life!" and I think he meant it. Just two days ago, he was filling out a questionnaire for school and listed Ocean City as his "favorite place." Vacation successful!

20 comments:

whitney allison said...

Love the action shot of Maia. All the ocean creatures are very facinating and to me, much more terrifying than the waves.

Mary said...

Yes we were at the beach, but we were at Bethany Beach, 10 miles north of you. Upon reading your blog I understand your ocean thing. Wednesday was the worst day all week. As on Tuesday a new front had blown in during the night. Bella also was anxious about the waves, but never got comfortable unless accompanied by Travis or me. Wyatt was a star. The other two were also too young to enjoy them. I guess it is the age.

Meg said...

I never knew there was such a thing as a six person bike. That is cool!

Rachelle said...

Our family vacation this year was also a short trip to the beach on the opposite coast. It was only a half day. But we did get to see dolphins just a few hundred yards out from us.
Lia balled the first time she saw the ocean waves. I could barely get her to step onto the beach.

Brandon and Jen Jensen said...

Wow that is a beautiful place. I love the surrey with the fringe on top. Too fun. Isn't it nice to live that close to the ocean? What a life!!!

Melodie said...

Oh, that makes me miss OC! We had a wonderful summer with some fun trips, but nothing can take the place of the beach! How fun that you rented that surrey.

We have only been to Assateaugue once, and couldn't find a horse to save our lives! But it was such a beautiful, peaceful island, that I used it as my "special place" when I was in labor!

It sounds like a wonderful family adventure that they will always remember.

Cami said...

I cannot picture a more perfect beach day! Hooray!

Tracy said...

So glad you finally got your kids to the beach -- man, I thought I never went anywhere. What a fun trip! So glad Maia loved the ocean. And so glad you didn't leave for a month again.

Mike said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mike said...

Alright, so I hadn't read this post yet. I guess the one I had read was about our trip to West Virginia ("Wild, Wonderful", "Open for Business", ... ). Anyhow, you distilled the fun and excitement of the experience quite nicely in your post. I especially appreciated how you focused on the children's experience and wrote about them each individually. While it is all happening I always think I will remember what they are thinking and feeling forever, but then the days pass and the demands of now make me forget what we experienced then. Thanks for doing such a good job of recording not just the events, but the full experience, so that we can relive it and appreciate it later. In general, I find that you do that well with all of the posts in your blog.

Amber said...

My favorite part of your post was the white streak in the front of Mackenna's hair. I simultaneously love it and am jealous of it.

I'm glad your summer vacation was such a fun adventure for your family. Looks like all of your practice at the pool every day paid off!

Corinne said...

I have eaten at that Phillips!! Crab au grain. MMMM :) Your trip looks like SUCH fun! I love boogie boarding backwards :) Assateague is so awesome, I'm glad you got to visit there. I haven't taken my kids since they were little. I need to go again!

Deb said...

there is a sonic within driving distance??? you have to tell me where. that cherry-limeade story is making my mouth water.

glad you had a fun mini-vacation. sometimes, those are the best.

Beckie said...

I just love fun in the sun!

Kellie said...

Great pictures, glad it was such a fun time. Sometimes lots of little trips are just as nice as one big one.

erin sheely said...

How fantastic!! I love the pic of McKenna passed out on the couch. I am glad you had such a great time at Assateauge. The last time I was there the jellyfish were so bad I wouldn't even get in the water!! Sounds like a great vacation.

Jenni said...

What an awesome beach trip!! Sounded heavenly! I am going to rub in the fact that I live only 5 minutes from a Sonic right now, but that is only to make myself feel better because I am so far away from the beach!:) I had no idea about the wild horses there! How neat!

laura said...

so funny that someone referred to the bike surrey with the fringe on top that's exactly what came into my mind when i saw it. good times!

Melissa said...

WOW! I can't believe you packed so much fun into 2 days!! I love the surry with fringe on top-is that really what it is called?

Jennifer Lovell said...

Mendy, I was skimming through the blog in search of a picture or two of you, but didn't find any...I'd love to see you on here a little more! Nevertheless, I got the next best thing--photos of Maia always fool me for a moment into thinking that it's you! Especially the shot of her with the red, white, and blue Phillips hat on. It was fun reading all of your journal entries here though...love ya!

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