The Beach...

Well we are back from the beach, I could live at the beach, so I can't say I am happy to be home, but we had to come back so here we are.

We had a fun filled and very memorable vacation...here are some highlights and of course some pictures.

We packed the car in a monsoon. That is to put it nicely...well should I say...Jimmy packed the car in a monsoon. Hurricane Hanna was passing her rain our way that day and it was windy and rainy as heck. Since we were taking the doggies with us, we couldn't pack the back of the pathfinder, because that is where they travel. So we had to fit everything into the travel bag on the roof rack. So we jam packed it full inside the house and then we took it out and put it on top of the car and Jimmy stayed out there in the rain and tied it all down.

We got everything in the car and we were off. By the time we were on the highway for 5 minutes the rain stopped...that didn't make Jimmy too happy after packing the car in the rain.

There was no rain when we got to the beach either. We got everything unpacked and settled in, Charley fed, the dogs walked and I went off to the brand new Harris Teeter and did our grocery shopping for the week. I LOVE HARRIS TEETER. We don't have one here near our house, (they are building one in the city, but it won't be there until 2010!) so I was in heaven.

The next day we met our friends on the beach who were in town for the weekend and had a great day on the beach. Charley LOVES the sand. She wanted to sit on the edge of the blanket or in the sand and play with it, with her feet and her hands. You just had to watch her the entire time, because she kept trying to get a handful into her mouth. Here she is playing in the sand.


A few big things that happened while we were at the beach...one key thing...Charley is growing up WAY TOO FAST!! On Monday she said her first word. I got up with her and the doggies and let Jimmy sleep in. I strapped her into the baby Bjorn and took the doggies for a walk. Well the entire walk she was saying "Da Da" "Da Da" I was wondering if it was a fluke, but when we came back she kept saying it all day long. Jimmy was in heaven. My favorite was when one of the doggies would come near her and she'd say "Da Da" :) I'd just look at Jimmy and laugh.

Then on Tuesday she took my fingers like usual and tried to put them in her mouth to chew on them like she does with everything. Well this time when she bit down it hurt! Her 2 bottom front teeth had popped through!! So not only did she say her first word....she had 2 teeth! She needs to slow down some!!

You can barely see the teeth now, but when you can start seeing them in a picture I will definitely post one!

We went on 2 long family walks every day with the dogs. We also went on a few runs, including our first run with Charley in the jogging stroller. Here is a pic we took of us after the run - don't mind the bottom of the picture, I had to balance the camera on the hood of the car!


We had about 3 1/2 good days on the beach. One day we went to the outlets in Rehoboth and then one day we went and played mini golf with my parents. And I am ashamed to say Jimmy beat all 3 of us...playing one handed with Charley strapped to his chest in the carrier!! It was pathetic!! He even had 2 holes in one! I told him next time we play I get to carry Charley!!

We had a great week at the beach overall. The place we stayed was so nice. And though we went after Labor Day, the pools were closed :( we never really thought about that. But the neighborhood was practically deserted! We could walk the dogs all around and not see anyone else!! The neighborhood was great, lots of trails to walk and our place backed to grass, where we could let the dogs out to run around some. All in all a great time. I want to go back. I can't wait until next year, when Charley can run around and play all day at the beach!

Here are some pictures...there are so many I love. She was just all smiles all week and so cute!!

Enjoy!!

We had a little photo shoot when my parents were there...these are all on the back deck of our place. My mom is great at getting Charley to laugh and smile...while I just clicked away! Here are a few of my favorites!

Daddy's Little Girl

Family Photo :)

After a long day at the beach we headed to Rehoboth for dinner with my parents to one of our favorite restaurants...Nicolas...and it was chilly so we had to buy Charley a little hooded sweatshirt, but the smallest we could find was a 2T! We walked around for a little while after dinner and about 5 minutes into the walk, she zonked out...too long of a day at the beach I guess!! :)

Another family photo...we had an awesome waitress at Mango's on the boardwalk and she volunteered to take our picture...and did a great job!

p.s. to all of you who asked about my job...all is set. I signed on with a new company today. Same job, same pay, same part time hours...just a new company. All is well! Thanks for your concerns!