Beach Life

Ahh the beach . .  the smell of salt water, the breeze, WINGS stores, sand in my shoes and blister - I'll get to that in a minute.

For three summers now, my entire family (parents, siblings, neices, spouses, Phillips farm) has packed up (these people have it down to a science) and headed to a beach.  Let me give you a few things you can just count on:

Traffic to the beach - check in for most vacation rentals is Saturday afternoon.  So who wants to wait?  Pack up the car and go, go, go and sit on the two lane highway, with a very long bridge for two plus hours.  Each year I have looked over at Curt while he is wiping his right hand over his face in frustration, turning the air conditioner on high, glancing in my directions with a look of less than love.  We have gone early and now late and still can't figure it out.  BUT . . . once you arrive it is so worth the wait.

Vacation, relaxation, lazy, . .  none of those words apply to this family.  Internal clocks begin ringing at 5:00 a.m.  Hostetler exercise routines begin.  Last year I was a member of the walking club and I felt fulfilled.  This year my membership was revoked and I was responsible for running with my sister whom I now refer to as JR - Jack Russell.  I cannot begin to imagine what it would be like to have a portion of this woman's energy.  5:30 - she is hauling a@$ down the driveway like a dog who has been in a crate too long.  We ran for almost an hour every day.  I would become lightheaded because I couldn't breathe.  All the while, I have to look at her stupid grin and white teeth.  One day she biked afterwards!!!  If she ever decides to figure out a blog and cleans up her infected computer - you will read her version.  We have one thing in common - sweat, tons of it.

On with the schedule  . .  this blog is not long enough to contain every story I want.  I'm accepting it at this moment - this could be a two parter.  I'm so enjoying the moments currently.  Above is Sebastian.  Is he having a blast?  Nope, not here.  Each year we have a "brilliant idea."  I think my sisters are extremely bright and talented on their own.  When we come together as a group brain cells just diminish.  Last year, my running friend J.R. thought it would be swell to buy each child a real life hermit crab!  She swears that the cost isn't much, the lifespan can't be that long and what a great memory of our time together.  This moment of togetherness cost each person $23.  Sure the crab was only $.99 but everything else the creepy thing needed was unbelievable.  Well our crab bit the dust after a few months and J.R.'s two crabs didn't make it a month? - but our sister who almost killed the clerk over her sheer lack of interest in us, still has her crab lovingly referred to as Joe.  Rumor is this guy is headed for a big time aquarium purchased by his big papa.  So this year  . . . our kids are older (with the exception of Mia) how about boogie boards!!!  In all fairness my oldest sister who has been had by the crab incident, didn't fall for this purchase - they had one already.  But the rest of us hook, line and sinker.  Above is Sab after one experience, his vision of a full stand surfing expedition didn't occur - go figure.  Bye, bye $16.99. 

This is Curt giving Sab a little pep talk.  Much later we used the boogie boards for pool life.  Every year Curt gives the speech about spending time in the pool vs the ocean.  We could just stay in a holiday inn, yada, yada.

So, so many stories I could share.  I laugh as I think about it and I would love to post a picture of all the kids but J.R. is sure bad people are reading this blog and someone will steal the picture . . .she needs to get out more.  Anyway, this little person here loved, loved, loved the beach.  In this photo she is posing for us on a log.  She was delighted with her female cousins and all of the extra attention she received from them, her aunts and her Nana.  She talks to them each day on her pretend phone and even adds conversation pieces to her Uncles James - she is quite taken with him.  One day she propped her sippy cup on his face so she could drink and be next to him.

I love the beach.  Currently I have seashells all over the house and a whole roll of black and white photos waiting for me to pick up at Walmart.  I hope we go again . .  I keep saying to Curt - who knew Virginia Beach is so close now?

Oh, the sand blister.  This is by far the most disgusting thing I have ever seen on my body.  I mentioned running with JR, - my whole body ached afterwards.  I mean everything did.  My feet were blistered and honestly I try not to look at them on a daily basis.  Genetics and feet are God's joke on us.  Anyway, our last evening there (everyone is ready to leave and get on with real life), I felt pain in my foot.  I was hoping to ignore it but I noticed as I came out of the shower (OUT!), my foot had a huge green bubble on the bottom of it.  I almost passed out.  Normally I try to hide these things from Curt, trying not to ruin the magic :), but this clearly was a problem.  He didn't bat an eye - "Dawn your blister is somehow full of sand.  Puncture that and get it out." Not a lot of sympathy, just matter of fact.  I should have taken a picture.  My mom was clearly taken away with disgust and motherly angst.  I wish I had taken a picture because it's hard to adquately describe  . . . I'll leave you with a better image

This is a small porton of us who decided to climb the Currituck Beach Light Station.  214 steps up!  I thought for sure Sab would be airborne somehow.  Love the beach!

A Blogging Fool

That's me today!  No words, I'll just share some of my favorite photos I have not written about it.

Teeth or Lack of Them

Isn't it funny that some day Sab won't want to leave the house because he looks "weird" or has braces or has a pimple.  He could not be happier about his current look.  I love it.

The tooth is just hanging out at this point.  There is blood - I sat down.  Enough said.

Now it's out.  If you randomly pass by our house at any time he will run out and show you.  He and the cashier at Walmart had a lengthy conversation about teeth.  Don't look too far in the background, the playroom is a disaster.

This is a nutty pic of Mia.  She wanted me to take it because she is sure her teeth are falling out.  Can you see her best friend London right beside her?

I Missed My Calling . .

People from Butler - say there's nothing to do there.  Or I've heard the phrase this town is so stagnant. While Orange is lovely, I'm fairly sure I can challenge that statement.  Don't get me wrong - Culpeper is 25 minutes away (Target, Walmart, Kohls), Charlottesville is 45 minutes away (the closest bookstore - this kills me.  Yes I know I can purchase online but I still love the smell of a bookstore) and Richmond is about 1 hr and 20 mins.  All of this has led me to find my true calling - tada FARMING!  If my dad reads this he will be in their kitchen shaking his head wondering what planet I have come from.  Anyway, the wonderful thing is an employee from grounds crew came in and plowed a spot.  We discussed location, amount of sun this patch will receive, and truthful expectations.  I have been so excited.  There were doubts about creatures invading my plantation (it's a 12x12 square!), but it has thrived without any disturbance.  A wonderful gardener here in the woods recommended an electric fence - his garden is edged - I am so envious.  Well, we are too cheap for the fence, so they kindly suggested Irish Spring soap shavings to ward off critters.  Well the proof is in the pudding boys and girls because here are some photos:  I might add I have watered religiously and stalked this garden.  Sab has said many of times - "Seriously Mom, you are looking at it again?".

Ahhh the zucchini!  We had a ton of it - I snuck it into everything.  Curt and Sab are afraid of excessive green things so I had to be a little creative!

Look at this!  You can't tell me that this zucchini is not farm show quality!

And today, maybe my proudest (is that a word?) piece of produce!  Ta Da!

I must add that I had some farm doubts.  My tomatoes were not coming in.  Two very gracious friends dropped off tomatoes to me.  I felt the failure - until today.  Please look for my future produce stand as Dawn's Delectables.  Even though that sounds a little shifty.