We started out for our annual beach trip on Saturday, August 8th. This is our first year driving to the beach from Tri-Cities so we had all new scenery and a longer drive. The new scenery was fun. The longer trip was not (more miles). With 2 babies, it felt very long indeed.
The view from my seat in the front. Livy fell asleep early in the trip, legs up on the back of the chair. She only slept for maybe an hour, if that, and didn't sleep again. She was not very pleasant and Jocie had a rough trip too. Traveling can be hard!
We stopped at Bonneville Dam in Cascade Locks, Oregon, located in the Columbia River Gorge. It was about the half way point of our trip and it was a good place to stretch our legs and break up what felt like the longest beach trip ever.
We bought fish food for the kids to throw into the water. It was a hit.
J loves the front pack!
Seeing the massive fish in the underground viewing tank was fun.
Livy with two of her favorite people!
We ate lunch after the dam, then back on the road. I gave each of the kids a melatonin to help them take a nap. Within minutes of swallowing it, every single one was asleep. It didn't last long, but the quiet hour we had was fabulous.
The kid who almost NEVER falls asleep in the car finally did- sitting up. As an adult, it's so hard to understand why kids fight sleep when they are tired. And Mitch gets pretty upset when we tell him that he has fallen asleep anywhere. He doesn't believe it.
All of the kids were very excited to be at the beach house! We were at a new house this year, as the one that we have gone to for the past 2 years, which we love, was already booked. It was a nice house, but not the most kid friendly. There was no back yard (unless you count a forest that went down a steep ravine) for the kids to play in and not much room to run around inside. And the beach was not as accessible or close as we're used to so even getting out to take restless kids to the beach was more difficult. But it was still a great time and a fun week.
Chloe and Stella brought their beauty supplies again for more spa time! The back deck was the prefect (and really only) spot to do it. Check out the great view of the beach we had from the back of our house!
Ben came alive and hosted his body as a jungle gym for all willing kids.
Grant especially loved the flip over the legs move.
KC saw all the fun and wanted a turn too! :)
He was a little over Ben's preferred weight limit, but they made it work.
After church on Sunday, Jocie and I got in line for a spa treatment. With it being chilly outside, the warm foot bath felt fabulous.
The foot rub after didn't feel too shabby either.
On Monday we had our first official day at the beach! Olivia, who wasn't even walking last year at the beach, was loving everything about it this year. It was her happy place. After a rough summer with her it was sure nice to take her someplace where she could roam free and be happy for hours on end. Nights with her at the beach were a bit rocky, but I did finally have an epiphany one night when she woke up screaming that she was afraid of the dark, especially being in a strange, new place. If I just whispered to her in the dark that I was right there and close to her (which I actually was) she went back to sleep pretty quickly.
Bethany is our favorite. I love watching her with any and all of the kids. Her genuine love for each and every one of them is amazing and sweet and so wonderful. She shows her love by spending time and playing with them. Livy and Grant think she is the best thing ever.
KC always builds a spectacular sand castle contraption at least once during beach week. Preston was happy to help.
It was so fun watching Mitch this year as just last summer he was petrified of even the swimming pool. To watch him out body boarding in the ocean was fantastic. He's come a long way!
6 month old Weston and 4 month old Jocie.
How sweet is this? These two adore each other.
Without much indoor and no outdoor space to play, the kids had to find quieter, low key activities to do. I was glad I had brought a few games for them to play.
Baby play time!
Monday night was our traditional Family Home Evening night given by Nana and Papa.
Nana's lesson was on some of Elder Uchtdorf's messages. The first was not the "Forget me not's." She told us not to forget that: 1. The Lord loves us. Heavenly Father loves ALL of his children." 2. To be happy right now! Be happy with what you have right now and don't wait for your "golden ticket" to come along. With building a house and wanting very much to just have that be done and in the house, this was a great reminder for me. I can be happy now while I wait for the house and not wait for the house to be happy.
We are a big group. I love it!
After the lesson Nana and Papa gave each of the kids a clothes pin that had "Forget Me Not" written on it with a forget me not flower and a heart. They each got a gold wrapped chocolate candy too to remind them to be happy NOW!
Lexi and her Golden Ticket!
Then we headed for the garage to hit the piñata! Livy was one of the first to hit it (youngest to oldest!)
Leah gave some fierce hits on her turn!
Stella, being the oldest, gave the last hits that burst it wide open. There was a mad scramble for the candy.
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