Another staple of beach week is mini-golf.
The monkeys love it, but I think this was the best moment of this year’s game.
July 8, 2010
Mini-Golf
July 7, 2010
Little Slice of Heaven
It ma not look like much to you, but believe me when I tell you that this outdoor shower is a little slice of heaven.
Every beach house we’ve ever stayed in has had an outdoor shower.
Some, better than others.
This year, however, I feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven.
There is a little “dry” changing area where you can undress and hang your towel.
Then you step into the actual shower.
There is no roof, so you can feel the cool breeze as opposed to the hot water.
When you look up to rinse your hair, it’s just clear, blue sky.
I told Real Man that I think we should install one for ourselves at home.
I don’t think he’s down with that.
So, for now, I’ll enjoy it while I can!
July 6, 2010
Me and Him, Him and Me
Vacation is a time for rest and relaxation.
For sleeping in and waking when you want.
Unless, of course, you happen to be the mother of Monkey in the Middle.
5 am.
Every morning while we’ve been at the beach.
He’s an early riser at home, too, but I kinda hoped the surf and sand would help him sleep in.
Nope.
But, then he comes to get me and we strap on our sneakers and head out for early morning walks so we don’t wake anyone else.
Just the two of us.
We talk about everything.
We talk about nothing.
We hold hands and giggle.
And suddenly, 5 am is my favorite part of the day.
Just me and him, him and me.
July 5, 2010
The Great Equalizer
The beach is a study in human dynamics.
All walks of life, all races, all economic levels, all types of families and personalities.
You can find them all at the beach.
Fourth of July weekend is a particularly crowded beach weekend, thus the perfect opportunity to people watch.
So there we were.
On the beach.
And then, they came.
A pack of about 20-30 dolphins, right off the shore.
Beautiful creatures, jumping through the waves.
And every person on that beach jumped up and races to the water line.
Everyone.
Thongs, tattoos, piercings, pregnant bellies, big bellies with no babies, silicone body parts, young, old, teens too cool for anything, people too old to swim.
Everyone stood at the shore line and jumped up and down like we were five at the sight of the dolphins swimming off the shore.
After a few minutes, we all went back to pretending to be who we thought we should be.
But for that moment, we were all together.
July 3, 2010
Switzerland
It doesn’t matter how much they’ve annoyed each other during the day.
Who hit who.
Who took the other’s toy.
Who got more milk in their glass.
It just doesn’t matter once they get here.
The bathtub is like Switzerland.
It’s the neutral zone.
The land of happiness and sunshine.
Five minutes earlier, they can have been fighting like you wouldn’t believe, but once their toes hit that warm water and the bubbles start bubbling, all is well.
I have to admit, sometimes, if they are both tired and grumpy and just can’t get along…
They might be in the tub by 3 pm.
And, there’s always a peaceful aftermath of a bath, as well.
Lasts for a few hours.
Like the goodness of Avon bubble bath has seeped into their skin and soothed their aching little psyches.
If only for awhile.
Imagine if we could get Obama and Bin Laden in a tub together.
What a world, what a world.
July 2, 2010
What Gets You Going?
Even if we are all grumpy.
Tired.
Sick.
Sad.
I know that if we play this particular song, the whole family can’t stop moving.
Baby Monkey sings along in this high pitched squeal.
Monkey in the Middle plays the heck outta the air drum.
Monkey Girl tries to pretend she’s too old for this nonsense, and by the end of the first 30 seconds, she’s boppin’ along with the rest of us.
Give it a listen and I dare you not to start tapping those toes!
(You may need Quick Time to listen…or not…I haven’t mastered the audio thing yet)
July 1, 2010
Reality Check
Lest you think all is rainbows and butterflies around here, let’s talk about yesterday.
After I got home from work, my Mom took the kids and I to meet Real Man at the local diner for lunch.
That was great.
When we were done, Real Man went back to work and the monkeys and I came home.
We decided to walk to what we call “the Big Park.”
It’s a nice walk, uphill, to a park with something for everyone, including basketball nets, and our county-wide path system.
Usually, we can spend hours at the big park.
We no sooner arrive than Monkey in the Middle says, “Mommy, I have to go potty.”
I said, “Okay, let’s head into the woods and you can go there.”
He shakes his head and says “Not tinkle, Mom.”
So, we head back down the hill in a ridiculously fast walking pace.
As we get near our neighborhood, I toss him the key and he starts running.
By the time Baby Monkey and I catch up, both Monkey Girl and Monkey in the Middle are chillin’ in separate bathrooms.
Baby Monkey and I play a card game, and the other two finally emerge.
I’m a little wary, now, so we pile in the car and decide to drive to the big park.
As we head down our hill, Monkey in the Middle yells from the back seat, “I gotta throw up!”
I pull over as quickly as I can and he unbuckles, races to the door, and as he tries to pull it open, throws up all over his arm and the floor of the van.
Oh, don’t worry, a little bit got outside.
I search through the car, but I have no wipes or tissues or anything of the sort.
However, there were socks.
There are always socks.
My kids take their socks off everywhere, and never remember to pick them up.
The result?
Socks everywhere you turn.
Even in my glove compartment.
Anyway, I clean him up with some socks and we come home.
The kids couldn’t understand why we had to come home and couldn’t continue on to the park.
I muttered something about having to clean up the van, and the first two attempts weren’t fantastic and bad things happen in threes and because I said so, that’s why.
We wound up spending the afternoon playing card games and board games.
No park.
In fact, I may not take the monkeys anywhere ever again.
Of course, I may change my mind.
June 30, 2010
A Toy or Not a Toy?
4 hours.
They played with the measuring tape for four hours.
When I left this morning, they were playing with it again.
I think Home Depot could put Toys R Us out of business!
June 29, 2010
After Dinner
I’m not sure what your family does after dinner.
Mine?
We do this.
And this.
And this.
June 28, 2010
Family Day
Every year, to celebrate the 4th of July, our town holds “Family Day.”
Because so many people travel for the holiday, they have begun to hold it the weekend before.
So, when Real Man and I returned from the Mets game on Saturday, we all piled into the car and headed to the local park for Family Day.
There are bouncy castles, rock climbing walls, a train which is nothing more than a few seats attached to a motorized thing that looks like a train.
The boys love the train.
They talk about it all year.
They are SO easy to please.
Excuse the blurry picture. That little train moves fast!
Note Monkey in the Middle with his arm around Baby Monkey to ensure he doesn’t fall out.
Love it.
As it got dark, the band began to play and we rocked out to a few songs, as we waited for the fireworks.
And then they began.
Every year, we say that the fireworks were the best show ever.
This year, though, we mean it.
Seriously.
You know a good firework display when you can feel it booming in your chest.
When you need to shield your eyes from the brightness.
When you keep thinking it’s over, but it keeps going.
The fireworks were awesome.
They were truly incredible.
I don’t know how anyone could have failed to be impressed.
