the beach

The Bixlers at the beach.

We spent a week in South Carolina at the end of May.  We stayed in the same place we did when Theo was a little guy and Eva remembers it now.  She calls it "our beach" and all other beaches are considered a new beach.

It was Helena's first beach trip and she was a fan.  We swam and ate and swam some more.  Met up with some of our favorite friends, found new parks to play and explored the ocean.

There was a jellyfish sting and all Mr. Theodore had to say about it was, "Ouch that hurt."  Seriously, he's a bruiser.  Eva was pinched by a crab and was a little more upset by it.

We had a babysitter and we went out to dinner, alone, for the first time since last summer.  Other than a few trips to meet up with our friends, we barely left the condo.  It was a great way to start our summer.

beach

I only took my big camera out of the room safe once.

The rest of the trip we were toddler chasing, hole digging and splashing in the ocean.

I wondered why I even brought it...

 but I am so glad I did.

vacation catch-up

For our tenth anniversary, we headed to Punta Cana.
Guaranteed sunshine and blue skies.
It was the first international travel for the little guys.

We stayed in a resort.
It was all-inclusive and we never left.
There was a lot of high SPF for us pale folks,
but we still managed to add a few freckles and get a peachy hue.

Our days went like this...
breakfast, beach, pool
lunch, relax, nap
back to the beach and pool
bath, dinner and fall into bed

It was a really good time.

sand and water

The beach.
It was the reason we came.
It didn't disappoint.

Big waves and hot sand.
It was the end of the season and we barely had to share.
Everyday was sunny and begged you to sit and enjoy.

Mr. Theo man did not get the memo that the beach was awesome.
He was the anti-fan.
After a few days of grumpy faces and fussy attitudes, we got a break.
A super high tide that turned the beach into an enormous kiddie pool.

That kiddie pool was great for the Theo-man.
The big waves and bright sun were hard to appreciate.
With the shallow water of the high tide - he finally had some fun.

It was Eva's third time to the ocean, but it was love at first sight.
She would smile and open her arms wide and try to take it all in...
Giggling uncontrollably.
Her joy was amazing...
and contagious.

We love the beach.

the beach house

the new beach house
as Eva called it.

Our friends found the perfect place...

We were steps from the ocean.
The deck had a great view and a huge table to eat around.
Beach exhausted littles pre-gamed their naps with iPad time.
The front deck was littered with toys, towels and swimming suits 24/7.
We watched little girls be besties.
Saw the sunrise a hand full of times.
A little Mr. Theo made sure I had a front row seat to the best one.

It was one of those trips that I looked forward too,
but didn't know how great it was going to be.

One that I wish I could make Theodore remember,
and one that I hope Eva never forgets.