Its official. The Sanders Family, with our newest addition, has now had our
FIRST FAMILY VACATION.
We headed to Virginia Beach over the weekend.
The trip has potential to take as few as 3 hrs, but with traffic, well, can take as long as 6!!
The kids and I kept busy with Library books, Lucky Charms
and animal flash cards on the way down. They did stupendous, and we were thrilled when
it took just over 3 hours.
We couldn't help but make the most of the lounge chairs provided!
We stayed in a FABULOUS beach front hotel.
Greeting the morning sun, although at this point was well beyond morning.
This is the site I came to find after my glorious sunrise run on the beach.
Thanks to the thick shades you can pull over the windows the kids slept till nearly 8 every day.
I was nervous about sleeping all of us in one room
(Luce in her own bed and the boys both in pack n'plays)
but everyone did superb! They all sleep through the night anyway, so it was just a matter of us all sleeping in the same room.
Anxious to hit the waves.
Neither Luce or Chars took to the sand as I had hoped.
They naturally are not messy kids, (don't like to be dirty. I ask, what kid doesn't like to get messy? Really.) so the sand is their worst nightmare.
That didn't stop me from building a man hole for them though.
Perfect beach food! I always crave fresh foods while on vaca. so lucky for us
I had prepared ahead!
Here he is, the man himself. Neptune.
They have an AMAZING sand sculpting contest in Sept. called
the Neptune Festival.
Check it out, and perhaps we'll see ya then!!!
Miles and miles of glorious beach! We had great weather, all but the day we were to leave.
Warm days, cooler evenings with a great breeze (oh, and no mosquitos!!)
Making some sand castles. Our hotel is the one just behind us.
This was just after we'd seen about a DOZEN dolphins swim past for the second time!
Magical.
Our hotel was a DREAM. It had 4 swimming pools! Two of which were kid pools, equipped with tube slides and two lazy rivers! SO FUN!
They had a theater, kid zone (free babysitting) and free dining for the kiddos!
It was a delight.
Are you KIDDING ME!??!?!
We spent lost of our time down at the board walk.
After our dinner out on Saturday, we strapped the kids into one of the beach bikes!
SO FUN!
There were hundreds of people out. Walking, dancing, biking, swimming, dining..
it was a total party. There were bands, magic shows, and a great deal of laughter.
This bike was so much fun. The kids had a blast, and we all enjoyed the wind in our hair.
(well, everyone but Henry)
Trying to get a better view of the ladies.
Doing some people watching and running on the boardwalk.
On our way home we stopped in Richmond.
This is the ORIGINAL sculpture and ONLY sculpture George Washington allowed
plaster to be placed directly on his face.
This is the original, of which hundreds have been casted after.
Oh the way home...well, what happens in the car stays in the car,
but for a brief moment, this is what it looked like.
Yes, we did hit traffic.
Yes, the kids had snacks, snacks and more snacks.
So many that Lucy said "we're having a lot of snacks today"
We made it though, with so many memories of our first family vacation!!!
7 comments:
I love how Henry is "checking out the ladies".
It was great, thanks for making it so fun!
Who was the HOT MAMA in the suit? What a fun vacation, I LOVED all the pics and all the details on all of them. Isn't it awesome to know our kids really can sleep in the same room with everyone else and do awesome! I am always amazed how well they do at hotels. I really think I must have gotten your kids and you got mine. Mine would have been going hog-wild in the sand and water-the never go thanks to ME!! Henry looked awesome checking out the babes.... Only Jackie's daughter would have Jerusalem sandals at such a young age. Send Luce our way and we will make sure she has snacks all day long and she will soon know how the rest of the world lives...those who snack all day and don't eat at meals. I am so glad it was so fun and went so well and that the traffic was not too bad! Way to go, it all looked awesome-even your food you packed-you smart mama!!!
Love me
Henry does look like he is concentrating very hard on the ladies! You guys look like you had a blast. I can't believe your kids don't like to get messy, how did you manage that one? Teach me your wise wise ways Dead Jax.
I seriously don't know how you do it!! You make me tired just looking at all the things you do with 3 little kids!! Looks like fun!
What a fun trip! We haven't been to VA. Beach in forever. Doug is from Newport News, so we visit every so often. Next time we are out, we will have to get together and play. From your post it looks like we will be needing to make a trip to the beach ourselves. The hotel sounds fabulous. I wish that you were still out here to play with us, but it looks like you are having a wonderful time in the east.
Jackie-you are one brave woman; I don't think I would have attempted a real vacation until the kids were a few years older! Way to go! You have a beautiful family and it is fun to keep up with what's happening in your life. You are wise to take advantage of all the great places around you. We miss seeing you.
Love, Kim
You guys are awesome. We miss you guys. It hasn't been that long since you have been gone, but your kids are huge. And that is "huge" in the good way. Great to you see you all having so much fun. Those bikes looked awesome.
The Vances
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