martinzoo

Wow! Today is Tuesday. We left for vacation over a week ago and came back late on Saturday evening. I * am* worn* out! I spent Sunday parked on the couch vegetating with my favorite TV shows that I had taped. I could not have moved if you told me that the house was on fire. Yesterday I put the house to rights, got the laundry done and washed my shameful floors. I was not ready…… << whine >> I should have waited until, hmmm, maybe today or tomorrow. Should vacation wear you out that bad? I think not. But what would I have skipped. It was all fun and exciting. So I guess… nothing. But still. I will repeat…. I * am * worn * out!

Our trip to Sandbridge (just South of Virginia Beach) was easy and uneventful. The kids all played video games on all their outrageously expensive toys. Yeah, I know, we are suckers, and so are the kids friend’s parents. But it kept them entertained and relatively quiet…. That’s all I care about, people!

Our beach house was small for 16 people, but it did have the advantage of a pool and a hot tub and lots of decking. And most importantly to my dh, it was on the sound with a dock, so he could bring his jet ski. So it gave lots of different places for people to go if they didn’t want to partake in beach activities. Personally, I will never get another beach house without a hot tub. I would seriously LOVE to have one of those suckers….sweet!

Some of the “men” of the house!

This is my SIL and her son, J-man. In the background you can see J-man’s new girlfriend, whom we like VERY much… Please hold on to her J-man!

Almost every night we would all enjoy a family game night. What hilarity! This will be one of my fondest memories of the trip, because I love games, but can’t get my dh or older children interested. It’s a whole lot more fun with a passel of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends!

Aquagirl and her friend, Gymbabe, got up at the crack of dawn to get this photo. Isn’t it exquisite?

Here is Doc Bish, who’s commented on this blog many times, and his mother, T. Notice him reading Connie Lapallo’s book, Dark Enough to see the Stars in a Jamestown Sky. I loved the book and recommended it to him. He loved it, also. So much so, that he read this book before the Harry Potter book! Gasp! Granted, he’d already started it AND his wife was engrossed in Harry. But still.

Btw, we all got the new Potter book done in a week. Now that is money well spent! Good job, Ms. Rowling! I loved it!!

This is Doc Bish’s wife, R. That’s my Christmas present to them in the background. We all made use of that stylish cooler. Go Hoos!

My Dh and Jabem on the beach in a rare father-son photo.

This is one tuckered out little boy. Aquagirl and Gymbabe taught him how to dive under and over waves, and he spent a huge portion of each afternoon practicing the art.

Awww! This is J-man with his new girlfriend. Did I say I love her? Well I do. She’s great! And what a bonus…. she got along great with the whole clan! She didn’t even get mad when my husband dumped her and J-man overboard, off the tube, while jet skiing. Twice!

Speaking of jet skiing…. my dh has wanted to get me in the tube, which hooks to the back of the ski and gets pulled crazily along the water. I am not a fan of jet skis. To me, they are like motorcycles on water. Ok, I’m a little scared…. I didn’t want to buy it, but he loves his jet ski and I want him to be happy. So this week, after much delaying on my part ( only 4 Summers), I did it. And I have sore biceps to go along with the memories. I held on for dear life and did not get dumped into the sound. And I only let out two ear-piercing screams…..maybe three. It could have been worse.

Now that it’s over, my obligation is fulfilled, right? Right? ….. Say “right”…..

Here is Aquagirl on the right and Gymbabe (she’s big into gymnastics) on the left. Best friends since 4th grade. They consider themselves to be “soul mates” and I don’t think any guy will ever be as close to either of them. They are the kind of friends that know each and every thought, and action, that the other does, or will do in any given situation. Best friends!

Here they are playing pool volleyball. This game got much more serious as the week went on, with a real net across the pool, a purchased volleyball and 6 people on each side. Games lasted HOURS! This is a serious volleyballing family!

Here is half the clan eating under the main deck one evening.

We went on a dolphin watching cruise while we were at the beach that was really FANTASTIC! We saw dozens of dolphins. But you know what? Those suckers are hard to photograph….too fast! I took about 50 pictures and only a few turned out. I finally got desperate and took a video…. should have thought of that earlier.

Here, my dh and I are double teaming GB with the Tide-to-go sticks. He had a popsicle on the boat that made a colorful pattern on his nice, white shirt. I think this photo (taken by Aquagirl) is SO funny!

GB posing within the giant shark on the dock. Can you see the ‘anguished’ look on his face? He doesn’t usually pose for pictures. So this was kinda funny to me.

This is the little bed I created for GB because the house didn’t have enough beds for all. So, I gathered up all the un-used comforters and piled them up, and covered them with his Spiderman sheets. He was very comfortable and snug in his little pallet.

GB is hugging Scooter. How cute is that?

I like this shot of Jabem on the beach.

Look at the competitive look on Aquagirl and Gymbabe’s faces!

GB and Random Short Guy (Jabem’s friend… hey, he chose the name, I’m just repeating it) take on the dinosaurs of Jurassic Park.

There is a free aquarium on the boardwalk of Virginia Beach. My dh had to give GB a lift so he could see properly, but GB thought this was well worth it! I still want to go to the aquarium in Baltimore. It’s on my list.

As if a beach trip were not enough… our crazy group decided to stop at Busch Gardens on the way home from the beach.

This is Garebear! He’s my dh’s brother and tried really hard to stay out of the sun all week, but we coaxed him out a few times!

Now, can you understand why I’m so tired?