Aaaaaah, Avalon

Well, we just came back from raiding the Jersey Shore of its clam population and we're still getting over the fact that meals back in the burbs don't begin with a big pot of steamers. We spent last week in Avalon, New Jersey with Barb and Steve and even snuck in a cameo appearance of Allie's Pop, Mumsy and the Ericsons. So what do you do to get over the what-do-you-mean-vacation-is-over-blues? Blog, of course. Here goes...(dig in, if you're familiar with us, you know that beach blogs tend to be very...thorough :o).

Getting her nails done for the big trip. It took a 'Mickey' (Mickey Mouse Clubhouse) to keep her still long enough for them to dry...life's rough.

To be fair, we had been warned by my parents that our Allie, version 2.5 (years, that is), LOVES the beach. She didn't disappoint. She took off running to the ocean before we could unload our umbrellas.

What followed was...

Joy!

Sheer Determination!

And more joy!

Please excuse the tilt, Allie's Grammy is a very artistic photographer :o).

'If I were, a butterfly,'

'I'd thank you, Lord, for giving me sand.'

Lots of sand.

Snack break. 'Keep digging, fellas.'

Alright, fine. I'll help.

I'll just rest this riiiight, here on my back.

Keep going, guys.

Thaaat's better.

Allie's bath baby turned into a beach baby for the week. If you look closely, you'll see sunscreen (or 'sunscream' as our girl calls it) on both of the little mermaids.

What this picture doesn't show is that our girl soon after realized that our big hole was a lot closer than the ocean for her potty break...ah well.

Artist at work.

There was a novel of adventures that went with each sand 'structure' we built. This was a castle for her baby who had turned into a princess. The next day we were building the baby a sand hospital alongside a sand-couch. It all works. And for no fee whatsoever, you can hear all about it, just ask Al.

New hole, happy Daddy.

Allie requested a sand-chair and as soon as it was sturdy enough to sit on, she began reading us a story, quite comfortably, I might add.

As soon as she got to the part in her 'story' that included a princess, she dropped what she was doing and started twirling and singing her version of the Sleeping Beauty song ('I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream'...repeat). If there was a 'freeze' button for parents, we would have hit it.

Family photo, a little less sandy, but still the same amount of goof.

Allie and her Grammy and Grandpop.

Avalon Crew, 2013.

And, we tried to grab a few more...before...we...totally...

lost her :o). We'll take it.

I mentioned clams, and that's because we made sure to start each meal at home with steamed clams. Allie even got in on the fun and we were so impressed that we risked it and let her show us her see-food-face (we made sure she knew that this was a one-time-deal...wish us luck next time we go out for seafood).

Keep Clam, and Vacation On.

Post-clam-feast snuggle with Grandpop.

But, it wasn't all fun and games. One of Allie's favorite shows these days is Doc McStuffins, and we made sure to bring along her doctor's kit just in case any medical emergencies arose. Good thing, because apparently Grandpop's 'heart-beep' needed a check-up.

Mid-beep (and mid-failed-attempt-at-a-nap for Grandpop).

One of the (many) perks of going on vacation with the grandparents is that the house is full of highly-qualified and willing babysitters.

Beach pizza and putt-putt here we come. Suz had three hole-in-ones! (and an unmentionable number of hole-in-double-digits..ah well)

Allie didn't seemed phased by our absence. She was too busy living it up with the her Grammy and Grandpop.

Beach pullover and toy boat. She's officially a beach bum.

We had one so-so-day of weather during the week, but that was just fine with us. We watched Princess and the Frog (again), put on a windbreaker and played outside, oh, and ate clams.

Well, if I can't have the beach, bouncy-balls and slanted roof-tops will do.

One of these days we're fairly certain she's going to take flight.

Fortunately, the sun returned, as did visits from our resident medical expert.

Yep. It's an acute case of beach-itis.

On our last day, we managed to squeeze in a visit and some beach time with the Eicholtz/Ericson crew.

I suspect these two guys may be related...

The ladies gathered round for a picture of our own. Allie did an attendance count to be sure her Mumsy, cousin Lori and Aunt Sue were all present.

Al: Hey, I could get used to being the center of attention...oh wait.

One happy girl and her Pop (she kept close tabs on him the whole visit).

Sadly, it was time for our last beach supper. Not-so-sadly, this included the deliciousness you see cooking on the grill...following, of course, a round of clams.

Ah, Avalon. We hope to see you again soon!

'Sending you love and best dishes, from our grill to yours.'