Beach Bums

This was our third family trip to the beach and the best one yet. Why? There was minimal whining and crying. Everyone slept. Everyone ate what was on their plates (mostly). Everyone had fun. Every day.

We stayed at the same Pine Knoll Shores condo we rented last year with three bedrooms. The girls stayed in the bunk bed room in the back. No one fell off the top bunk this year. Yay! Grandma and Grandpa Bench were in the other back bedroom, and Eric and I were in the master.

We had pretty much the same routine the first three days - wake up by 7:30 am, breakfast, beach, and then the pool. Lunch, nap, and afternoon activity followed.

The girls got to swim in the ocean for the first time this trip since there was no hurricane offshore. Lily went first and held on to a kickboard we had with us. She loved bobbing over the waves and told me that "this is the most fun ever." Madeleine also had a turn out on the waves, and she loved body surfing the waves in when we came ashore.

We braved Wings again and Madeleine can be seen here lounging in our $2 purchase.

We also tried water wings in the pool this year. They worked pretty well along with the noodles.

Here Lily is burying Madeleine and turning her into Ariel.

I also purchased these floatation suits on sale at Toys R Us, and these worked great since the two pools we visited were over our heads.

In the afternoons we visited Lost Treasure Golf, where we did the bumper boats, go karts, and played miniature golf. The girls had more patience for golf this year and pretty much played the hole ahead of us the entire time. We hit Dairy Queen in the afternoon as well as visiting our friend John who had a 6 bedroom rental down in Emerald Isle with its own pool.

Tuesday morning we packed up to come home in the rain. We visited the aquarium again this year, and the girls really enjoyed the Live Dive in the shark tank.

I can see clearly now...

The girls got their glasses today from Dr. Tucker. Don't they look studious? Dr. Tucker was out so discussion of the drops/patch will wait until post-vacation.

Long time, no post.

Crazy stuff going on at home, only some of it girl-related. We spent three nights putting together an IKEA desk, I did two years worth of Trailblazer taxes, and I prepared for the Fall/Winter TMOTT consignment sale.

Just when everything's under control...

Thursday Madeleine complained of a stomach ache in the morning. I told her I'd make a doctor appt and took her to day care. They called me around 9 saying she was hysterical. When I got there she was smiling and eating a bagel. So I took her home. We went to the doctor at 2:45. Madeleine said she was fine, and the doctor couldn't find anything. So we picked up Lily and went to visit Mommy's work. While there, Madeleine said her stomach was hurting again.

She fell asleep in the car on the way home. We stopped off at Time Warner's grand opening so the girls could meet Wags (from the Wiggles). Madeleine just wanted to go home.

During dinner she was still complaining and promptly threw up all over the place. This continued until about midnight, and she passed out on the living room floor around 2 am. No fever at all through any of this.

So Friday I stayed home (as I had a half day off anyway). Lily complained of a sore throat in the morning, but we shipped her off as we were more concerned with Madeleine. While she napped in the afternoon, I took all my stuff over for the sale. When I got home, day care had called about Lily. I snagged another pediatrician appt and headed to pick her up.

She wouldn't let them do a strep test. But they said since she was hoarse, it wasn't strep. By the time I got her home, she was feeling awful and 101. She's been this way most of the weekend.

But, I am a horrible mom and schlepped them to the Wiggles show today. Madeleine was super-excited and danced the whole show. Lily was entertained and happy (fever kept under control), but wasn't her usual self. No dancing, only moderate clapping.

I had remembered to buy roses for Dorothy the Dinosaur, and both girls were happy to present them to Sam. Big kudos to him for making the effort to accomodate the little girls in the very middle of the row and coming back to us by the time we made it to the aisle. While I know the Wiggles can be very annoying to adults, seeing them live is something entirely different. They put so much energy and humor into every show. I can't imagine what it's like to do that two times a day, every day, but those guys are amazing.