Saturday

On Saturday we took off to Ocean Shores with Maile and her kids. The weather was not super awesome, but that did not deter the kids from getting soaked in the waves.

Of course, being unprepared for soaked children was not a plus. Thinking that it was too cold to actually go in the water, we were not prepared with changes of clothing except for the littlest ones. I mean, it was only 60 degrees outside, who wants to get wet in weather like that?

Well, all of my kids and my husband want to get wet in weather like that. Luckily, I brought lots of sweatshirts since I planned for cold weather.

So with some borrowing from the cousins, and with extra sweatshirts, everyone survived. It was surprisingly warm closer to the dunes once everyone was dry.



We also attempted a box oven to make pizzas in. It was not a success since our "oven" caught on fire. But rather than worry about it, we just called and ordered a pizza. Civilization is nice like that.

But we did have success with a lovely fire on the beach where we topped brownies with toasted marshmellows.











It was super fun hanging out with my sister and her kids. And the drive to Ocean Shores reminded me of being a kid again.

Not because Maile and I fought or anything.

But because in my slightly narcissistic way, I was trying to get a picture of myself, and in Maile's younger sister way, she tried, and succeeded, in photo bombing me.

I will laugh at this picture for the rest of my life.

Ok, things I learned: 1.Don't take a picture of yourself with your little sister sitting behind you.

2. Always, always bring extra changes of clothes when you are far from home. I don't care if you're just taking a tour or visiting a museum. Kids always have a way of needing extra clothes. You'd think I would know that by now.

3.Test your box oven before you rely on it as your only source of dinner.

4.Bring money in case your box oven self destructs.

5.Always bring bathing suits to the beach, even in cold weather. Kids just gravitate toward the water. They might be cold, but at least their clothes stay dry.

6. Do not stay up until 1 a.m. the night before a long car trip. Even Red Bull won't help you then.

7. Do not get mad at your kids for getting all wet at the beach. It took me about 15 minutes of fuming to figure this out. They were a little uncomfortable in their sweatshirt-only attire, but I'd rather have that then memories of a crabby mom at the ocean.

and finally.....

8. Repeat this activity often.