Beach Day!

Yesterday we dropped the hubby off at his parents house so he could hang out with them and the kids and I met up with my parents and brothers for a "surprise birthday" trip for my youngest brother Joe. We were going to the beach!

We got on the freeway and drove and then we drove slower and slower and then were barely moving along with five million other people and I really think that wasn't really an exaggeration on how many people were on the freeway.

Twenty miles from our destination my one brother decided he'd had enough and we rearranged cars (adding my Dad to ours) and he left to go back home. I was really sad that they gave up but it was totally understandable with a baby strapped in a car seat for hours. Oh did I mention that it was like a hundred degrees yesterday?

We had left around ten thirty and finally arrived at the beach around two thirty. So four hours for a usual MAYBE two hour drive. We got lucky and found parking only a few blocks away (and later we thought how dumb we didn't just unload next to the beach and THEN go park the cars in stead of lugging everything for blocks).

I had never been to this beach before but it was pretty nice. It seemed really small compared to the last one we went to but it had much nicer bathrooms (although they were still disgusting by the end of the day) and outdoor showers to get cleaned up.

The kids had a ball playing in the ocean and the sand. I dipped my feet in but that was about it. Brrr that's some cold water! I'm a bit scared of playing in the ocean too. I just know a big wave is going to come up and sweep me away! My kids though? No fear.

My niece loved the water too.

The kids also spent a ton of time playing in the sand. They took turns burying each other and just having a good time.

My sister-in-law's dad brought a kite and before long he had it flying high.

and I got a few nice pictures of my parents

Oh and can't forget my sister-in-laws vodka gummy bears.

It seemed like way too short of a time before it was time to pack up and hit the road for home. There was a bit of traffic but thank God it wasn't as bad as on the way there. The kids are all asking when we can go back and my answer is "when there's less traffic!"