Beach Vacation, 2008 - Part 5

Posted July 28th, 2008 by Mom |

We had a really fun time on the Dolphin Cruise. The dolphins were in fine form jumping in the wake of the boat. C wasn’t feeling well, a side effect of his shortness of breath and strong cough, plus he was very tired from not taking a rest time. C contented himself listening to Nana’s story about dolphins. J on the other hand was enjoying watching the dolphins and showing the real dolphins his new stuff dolphin apply named “Big Dolphin.” (J had a stuffed dolphin awhile back, but we haven’t been able to locate it for a few months. I had told J that I would get him a new stuffed dolphin when we went to the beach. The hotel gift shop had a really pretty stuffed dolphin that I saw when we went to the pizzeria and I got it for J.) I told J that if the stuffed dolphin went overboard that I wasn’t going to get him another one. Pop or I ended up holding Big Dolphin for a big part of the trip. The other part of the trip, J had Big Dolphin stuffed between the railings of the boat.

After we had the boys confined to the boat for about an hour and a half, they were quite restless. It was around 6pm at this time and we were hungry for our dinner. However, on the way to the restaurant we passed an awesome park. Once we arrived at the restaurant, the restaurant was very crowded. I knew that the boys would have a hard time waiting patiently, so I talked to Nana and Pop and we went back to the park, knowing that having a later dinner would be better if the kids had some free play time.

This awesome park had a great tire swing. However, both boys passed it up for time on the regular swings with Pop pushing them. I even got on a swing and B got a good picture of me swinging high and almost turning upside down. It was lots of fun. C then attempted the tire swing. He laughed so hard and so loud that J had to have a turn as well. They took turns for the better part of a half hour. After they were dizzy and on to the monkey bars, I had to have a go at the tire swing - the boys made it irresistible! I heaved myself onto it, not expecting my dad to give me such a strong push - I held on for dear life, laughing all the time. It was great! I don’t think I have ever been that dizzy in all my life! But it was great fun! I think all the adults got a good laugh out of me making myself act so child-like.

After C had a little accident falling from the monkey bars, we realized that we were all very hot, tired, hungry, and in need of some calmness from all the afternoon activities. We went to the hotel for dinner. J was extremely tired and irritable, so B kept him in the hotel room while Pop, Nana, C, and I went downstairs to the hotel restaurant for a delicious dinner. This was the evening that the chef made the peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich for dinner and C got the ice cream with mini M&M’s on it for dessert. It was a good time for Pop and Nana to have some conversation time with C, as J is prone to monopolize any conversation, any situation, any room, etc.

Morning dawned and we all went downstairs for the delicious breakfast buffet and then changed into our beach attire for beach time. The waves were great! Of course, J didn’t want me to hold him in the water, but was content to hold my hand and direct me either towards or away from the water. He likes being in control. Pop and I decided that the best job for J, when he is a little bit older, is for him to be the dictator of a country. He would fit that role very well. Anyway back to the beach. While Nana and Pop were playing with the boys making sand castles, B was busy taking pictures and avoiding the sand - wow, I have never met a human that detested sand as much as he does! I, was enjoying wading in the water and feeling the push/pull of the waves. Oh, no - Here comes a huge wave and knocks me over. No worries, until the next huge wave knocks me over and carries my glasses away with it. Stupid me! I realize that I can’t see further than my hands, but didn’t even give it a second thought about my glasses getting lost. Stupid, Stupid, Stupid!

We get back to the hotel and B finds a Lenscrafters in Pensacola. He set me up with an appointment with their independent eye doctor and we get showered from our time on the beach and got ready for my eye appointment. Now, this is not how I planned on spending my last day of vacation! J came with me and B and C went with Nana and Pop. J, B and I enjoyed lunch at Chili’s (J amazes me how he loves broccoli, so he got that and a plate of macaroni and cheese). I enjoyed the Southwestern Egg Rolls - my favorite, and for dessert J and I shared the chocolate shot and cinnamon shot desserts.

Before my eyes were dilated, B and I looked at the glass frames. I wasn’t impressed with the lady that was helping us and after the eye doctor (excellent doctor, I had - would go see her again, if she were near our hometown) game me my prescription, we walked down to EyeMasters and got my new glasses there. J was so tired by this time that he fell asleep in my lap while we waited for my glasses to be made. (Thanks Pop for paying for them - Pop said that they were a vacation expense, so he wanted to pay for them. He did ask me if I was going to go near the ocean with this pair on, though… )

Back at the hotel we are all hungry. While we waited for everybody to get ready, Nana and I enjoyed a drink on the balcony. I got a mudslide and Nana had a strawberry daiquiri. While this relaxed me some, I needed some alone time, so B, C, J, Nana and Pop went to the Pizzeria and I went to the cafe and ordered my dinner for me to take back to the room and enjoy by myself. I was still beating myself up for my stupidity and B wasn’t exactly pleased with me and the wasted afternoon.

While I waited for my food to be ready, I went to the piano bar and ordered a bushwhacker beverage. It is similar to a mudslide (both have kahlua, vodka, Bailey’s Irish Creme) but a bushwhacker also has a shot of rum on the top. Ooooh. Very good. However, after the mudslide and then the bushwhacker, I don’t think it really mattered if I ate my dinner or not. I was quite content with life. Dinner was delicious, though. I had fried shrimp, baked potato, steamed veggies and a slice of heaven, um, toll house pie for dessert. Bed, pillow, soft spot is all I need now…

The kids and grownups came back to the hotel rooms just as I was finishing my dinner, and only had 15 minutes of CSI: Las Vegas left (it was a repeat, so no worries… not like I cared about anything after the 2 drinks anyway…). Nana and Pop corralled the kids into bed and B and I sat up awhile and looked over the pictures from the week that he had taken. Then, blissful sleep.

Next post will cover the last day of our vacation/Friday. J’s roller, ferry boat and the Topless Bar.

I’m off to fold yet another load of laundry. C told me this evening as I was putting him in bed that he is out of underwear. No worries. I washed the kids’ laundry this afternoon and just haven’t put it away. I will put it away before I go to bed.