Camping on The Beach

In much the same way that Girl's Camp inspired me to write in my journal for that one week out of the year, trips inspire me to blog. I guess it's because I find it hard to believe that anyone wants to read about my normal life and would rather hear about my adventures and my great tan. The other day, I announced on Facebook that we are expecting again, somewhere around September 5th. I am really excited. I get to find out the gender next month.

It feels very different this time around, in every way. I am not nearly as sick, no gallstones, heartburn, less emotional. Which is why I was sure it had to be a boy this time. But a lady at story time at the library told me her second pregnancy was the same way and it was another girl. I would love another girl. Two little girls. But I still have this feeling like it's a boy, and so does Luke. We were right last time. So who knows.

We just got back from camping in Saint Joseph's Peninsula State Park in Florida. It was so much fun! I took Ivy to the beach for the first time and enjoyed the hot showers, real toilets, and electricity provided. I'm not a hardcore camper, and this vacation had all the essentials. I haven't been to Florida since I was little, living in Georgia, and it's beautiful. Nadine and I were brave and drove the 13+ hours by ourselves with 5 little kids, giving us a couple of extra days before the menfolk could come. It went pretty well, but all 7 of us were so ready to hit the beach by the end of that drive.

So Eric and Andy arrived Monday afternoon, Nadine and I on Tuesday, Kristen and Gavin on Wednesday, and Nick and Luke pulled in on Thursday morning. Tragedy struck on Thursday, though, when Eric and Andy's adorable little May (three years old) tripped and fell into the fire pit, badly burning her left palm. They rushed her to the nearest hospital, which wasn't far at all, but we were shocked to learn that they were not equipped to handle burns and recommended that she be taken as soon as possible to the nearest burn center in Augusta, GA - 7 hours away. We had just barely completed our numbers, and now it looked like Eric and Andy would have to leave. Eric decided to rent a car and take May to Augusta, giving Andy and the girls more time with us. It was so sad for May and for Eric, but I am so so glad thee rest of the girls stayed. Friday was the perfect beach day, the best by far, and we spent all day in the ocean.

Driving home, Luke and I couldn't stop talking about how much we loved taking a vacation just for vacations sake. Since we've been married, all our trips have been about weddings, holidays, reunions, or other things, but this was much more informal and unstructured and it also hit that sweet spot of being camping but not camping, appealing to both of us.

Ivy slept in her pack and play, but ended up with us most mornings. 

She loved to run into the waves and then back out again. She also loved to eat sand.

We walked down to the beach every night to see the sunset. It was incredible. Like a postcard, but way less lame. We want to go next year, but Eric and Andy will be moving to WA this spring. Who wants to come?!