Coach thought it would be fun to take the kids on a day trip to Ocean City. It was Memorial Day weekend and we also thought we'd extend A's birthday celebrations. It was a surprise for the kids, but they soon figured we were going to the beach when they saw the sunscreen, beach toys and change of clothes in the back of the car.
It was the first time for the kids and for myself. I used to go boating on the Chesapeake Bay when I was younger and it was certainly close to OC, but we never did the beach part. I'd lived in the DC area almost all my life and have never visited Ocean City.
We left on Sunday morning at 5 am. Our goal was to arrive in time for the 8:30 am Mass. After Mass we ate at a random restaurant that served all you can eat breakfast. Kids ate for .99 cents - deal! Cha-ching! The kids thought breakfast was the best thing ever.
Afterwards, we headed over to a miniature golf course that had a great white shark hanging by it's tail in the front. It was a sign, according to our son P who loves whales and sharks, that there was the place to play. A kept score, Coach helped every one learn to putt and I took pictures. Not enough, though. The weather was perfect - not too hot. We decided we'd do the miniature golf before it got too hot.
Pink eye had infiltrated our household. It started with T and spread throughout the family. Boys first then the girls. I was the last to get it. I always thought pink eye (the viral kind) was the only symptom, but I was wrong. This virus came with a runny nose and cough of different degrees with everyone. I found it was so interesting how one kid had a 104.5 fever and the others didn't. A couple of us just had mild symptoms of all of the above and some of us have a very loose cough that lasts a couple of weeks. Some of us or should I say, just me, had a sore throat for 8 days and still coughing - going on to week three. Nonetheless, it didn't deter us at all in having a good time. By the time we went to OC, Baby woke up with just pink eye and a cough.
Everyone was in a great mood.
I believe Coach won first place, I won second place, A won third place, P won 4th and T came in 5th. I'm sure I would have been in first place if I wasn't distracted by my kids climbing all the fake rocks every where and almost falling into all the colored water. Coach seemed a bit more relaxed than I was.
We used our minivan to change into bathing suits, change diapers and lather sunscreen all over and then we were off to the beach. I remember seeing pictures of OC and it always seemed so crowded. I prefer the quieter beaches with less people on it however it wasn't as packed as the pictures I've seen. The waves were much more exciting at this beach, but the water was so cold!
The kids didn't seem to mind how cold it was.
B spent her time helping me build sandcastles. She freaked out every time the water came too close. So did I, too cold.
We spent most of the afternoon on the beach. Afterwards we went to go walk the board walk and find dinner and ice cream.
We had some yummy pizza and hot dogs for dinner at a random pizza place. I was looking for the boardwalk fries and perhaps fried dough?
Ice cream got painfully messy for E and P. I don't know why we got cones for the kids! Maybe because they are more fun and delicious? What a killjoy I am. I went back in to get a cup to calm me down a bit. I think I ran out of wipes.
We packed the kids in the car all sandy and sticky and drove the three hours home. They slept well in the car. We got home and showered the kids and tucked them into bed all clean and smelling much better. Sigh...fun day =-)
