worth it?...totally.

I'll tell you what...getting everyone ready for the beach every morning is rough. We even had Christy helping us, and it was still hard. Swimsuits on, sunscreen slathered, snacks packed, strollers loaded, chairs hanging from every limb on your body, trekking 10 minutes to the sand dunes, then UP and DOWN the dunes, pick your spot, hurry though...your feet will burn...relax. It is so exhausting. SO worth it though. Each morning I would think...uugh...I can't do this today, but I did, we got there. As soon as you spread out your towel and stick your feet in the ocean, your cares are gone. I think that is how a lot of things are in our lives...especially with kids. SO MUCH effort. I always try to convince myself that it's not worth it...the stress, sweat, headache...but it is. It always is.

Forgive the size of these next 2 posts. I totally understand if you don't want to spend the next 30 minutes flipping through my vacation pictures. It's OK. But I really wanted to do it. I needed to. So I can remember everything. Since I already introduced you to everyone a few posts back...I'll spare you a million captions. I'll only talk when I have to. Sound good?

I do have an awful lot of pictures of Molly...her 1st REAL beach experience though. We can let it slide, right?

We had GOBS of beach toys. GOBS. But you know what they wanted? Shovels. Big shovels to dig big holes.

Our first 3 days were like this. So much mist and humidity you felt like you were in the middle of a cloud. I wouldn't have changed it though. Hot, but not NEAR what it could have been.

I have a lot of these far away shots. I realize they aren't portrait quality, but they are my memories. This is what I would see all day long. These details are the kind I don't want to forget.

Lizzy was so jealous of Alex and Annie out in the water with my niece and my brother. She just stood there (a bit pitiful...but CUTE pitiful) until Joe finally came and got her. Where was her Mom, you ask? Being lazy in a beach chair a few feet away. Really though, I had been in all day...I needed a rest. :)

I have a lot more where these came from! Can you believe it? I know, I am ridiculous. I had such a great time. I felt like the only way to make this experience last longer was with pictures. If I saw something I wanted to remember...click, click, click.