Family Firsts: Part 2: Trip to the Coast

Sam was able to take 2 weeks off in May and we decided we needed to take advantage of that time. We planned our first trip as a family to the Coast. We headed down to Newport and would stay a few days. 

Even thinking back on the trip now I think so fondly of it. What was is about this trip?? Perhaps this was one of the first trips that I felt like Jonah was old enough that I didn't feel confined to nursing him the whole trip long, or the ambiance of the ocean- the excitement and joy on my boy's faces when they were playing at the beach- it was a delight. We loved that trip. 

It was strange driving into town we came up over a hill and suddenly it was as if you could drive into the ocean - if, of course, you wanted to drive into the ocean. In this case, we didn't. There was a sign as we were locating our hotel that read: If you pass this point you are in the Tsunami Zone. Craazy! The boys were sweet right as the trip began and they thanked us for bringing them to the beach before we had even gone. Our first hotel was not so good. The people were friendly enough... probably because they were high on drugs! Truly though, it was a drug hot spot. They looked like they spent their days and nights using meth and we did not like the looks of the shady folks. It was the kind of place where I didn't really want my kids to touch anything, and you shower with your shoes on. Unfortunately we arrived too late in the day to make any changes that night so we made the best of it. We made mac n cheese for the boys and soon enough they were fast asleep. We changed hotels for the next couple nights. 

The next morning we got to the Aquarium as it was opening. The weather was perfect, and the boys were so excited. It was pretty cool. A lot of the exhibits were outside and you walked around big rocks to see the animals. The boys did not complain while we were there, and Jonah was a great baby and a good kick off to the vacation. 

 Later we hit one of the beaches. I had forgotten that these beaches, though sandy and beautiful, are cold! Luckily, Sam had thought of this, because if I had planned it out the way I had it in my mind we would not have a had jackets and they are a necessity. Despite that, the boys loved it!! They ran to the ocean as if it were an old friend.  In my mind's eye I saw Megan and I as kids doing the same thing so many years ago. When we played tag with ocean also. Rowan, who is my water boy through and through, was so in love with the ocean. He laughed and ran, and definitely did not want to leave even after he was drenched and shivering from the cold.
We hit the downtown area the next day and went to see the sea lions on the dock, and walked around.
But our trip was all about the beaches. We went to several. We went one night to fly a kite on the beach, we went again the last day before heading out of town, and it was perfect. The last one we had planned a lot better. We had dry clothes at the ready, we had them in the right clothes to start, and we stripped them down walking to the car. We spent the whole time running with the waves as a family. Me, holding Jone Jone, running back and forth with the waves. The last wave was the hail Mary to our trip. It wiped every one out if one fell swoop. In fact, Rowan, try as he did to outrun the wave fell under luckily Sam was right next to him and grabbed him the second he went in. Sam and I laughed and knew that was our cue. It was too cold there to be completely soaked. But, it was a great ending.
We plan on taking the boys again this summer. But, these memories are ones I will hold dear. I loved being with my family, and seeing how happy everyone was, and it made my own overflow.