Beach Trip to Topsail

Last weekend we finally drove to Topsail to stay at Grandmama and Grandaddy's beach house. Maddie was so excited to see the beach. She doesn't remember the other times we stayed at the house, even though it was only a little more than a year ago -- it was all new to her. She liked the short drive to the beach from the house and we were able to eat some yummy seafood and play at the cool park at the beach. We even saw a couple get married at the park (on a dock by the sound).

Mason's first ocean walk. He was less than excited with the water.

So I plopped him in Maddie's little beach chair.
He loved chillin' with his "drink" and watching the people go by.

And eating his Gerber cheetos -- double fistin' it!!

Maddie sand surfin'.

She couldn't get enough of the water and was in it almost the entire time we were at the beach.

Love this photo of Maddie. Note the sand-eating Mason in the foreground.

Just like I knew he would, Mason dug right into the sand and licked it off all the sand shovels.
He even licked his hands.

I covered Mason's legs with sand. He thought I was serving lunch!!

It was no use trying to get him to stop, until he got a huge mouth full at once.

Day two at the beach: Mason sits in the shade of the tent and enjoys raking and digging. Maybe he learned his lesson about eating sand??


Maddie and I made a sand castle and decided to put her mermaid in the castle. "Now let's cover her up with sand," Maddie said. Uh, ok. Poor little mermaid.

After the mermaid burial she's all smiles...

I was on a photo-taking mission to get a "matching" pic of Mason on his first beach trip. My favorite pic of Maddie during her first beach trip had the same pier in the background. A funny outtake below.

Little more hair and little less fingers next time. What can I say, he loves his mommy.

After six tries, finally the shot I want. My sweet little beach boy!

A beach veteran, Maddie takes a rare break from playing in the water. She became really brave with jumping over the waves and letting the waves splash all over her. We held her hand almost the entire time, but she gradually became more independent and let go in very shallow (barely covering her feet) water. A little five-year old girl came up and asked her to play, so they splashed together until her family left the beach.

We had a lunch picnic at the beach and then headed back for naps. After naps on the second day, we drove to see my brother David's new house. He has two chihuahuas -- one calm and one not so calm. We were sure Maddie would finally pet a dog since these two were so tiny. She finally touched one of them and was so proud of herself, but she is still afraid of them.

Mason on the other hand, was totally enamored with them. He chased them around the house and kept petting and touching the calm one. So sweet! He wasn't afraid at all -- even when they yipped pretty loudly.

Mason petting Coco.

Family photo in David's backyard. I think Mason is still reaching for the dog :-)
Frank says it's the way I'm standing, but I think I look like an inflatable Smurf.

Grandmama and Grandaddy met us for dinner with David.

Thanks to my cousin and his wife for letting Maddie borrow his son's inflatable toddler bed. While packing up on the third day, we pulled the bed out into the living room and this is what happened. They went wild rolling all over it. Anyone want to know what to get the kids for Christmas?? This bed was awesome and Maddie slept really well on it. Thanks Brendan!!

On the way back home, we stopped at Maddie and Mason's Great-Grandmama's house to visit with her. Mason warmed up to her, but Maddie was too busy showing off.

We left there with just Mason -- Grandmama and Grandaddy kept Maddie for almost an entire week!! She took rides around the farm on the golf cart and watched hay being baled in the fields. Did I mention that she ate tons of butter beans and anything else that came out of the garden?

Frank went to a jam, I had a girl's night out and we had a (gasp) date night also. All in the same week! We tried to make the most of just juggling one kid as opposed to juggling two ;-)
We missed Maddie, but gave Mason lots of extra attention. Maddie had a blast during her visit and got to see Great Grandmama a few more times.

Now the work week has started up and we are all under the same roof once again. We are getting ready for Frank's parents' visit in a few weeks and Mason's first birthday. Hard to believe he is almost one year old!!