Camping, camping and more camping!

We've just finished our 10 day stint of camping at the beach. We were at Carpinteria State Beach June 8-12 (M-F), then home for the weekend and back again the following M-F. Jeff and I wondered if we'd be completely camped out by the end of this but we both agreed that we could do it for a month straight! I mean, what's better than having beach front property without the property taxes or mortgage, being outside all day, watching the waves by day and sitting around a campfire at night with the sand between your toes...drinking beer? Ok, so mine was "beer" (thank God for O'douls), but it still was nice.

Getting into Carpinteria is a joke. We made these reservations 7, yes 7 months in advance. And that required Jeff and I to both be on our cell phones, landlines AND the computer all at the same time...I swear, you'd think the Pope was coming to town! We considered ourselves lucky that we got "beach row" at all in the summer. Camping is no longer what it used to be. You don't pack up the car and show up at a campground. You'll almost be guaranteed a smug looking guard at the guard shack telling you you should've made reservations 7 months ago.

But, it is what it is.

So, the first week we were there, we camped with our friends Joe and Julie and their two kids, Luke and Riley, ages 4 and 2, respectively. They were across the way from us but they spent all their time at our campsite since we were on the beach. It's nice, too because it's a very safe beach, with a shallow slope, no big waves breaking right at the shore, so we could sit and watch the kids from our campsite. That is until one of them took off running...one of them being MY kid. Zach of course, l-o-v-e-d the beach. He woke up every morning at the ungodly hour of 5:30am and as soon as his eye popped open he'd say, "let's go to the ocean". I would of course dress him in pants since it was early and the we didn't see much sun (darn June gloom), and he would immediately run directly into the water and ruin the outfit. The next week I got smarter (hey, only took a week) and put him in his bathing suit right off the bat and a heavier sweatshirt. Much better.

When we weren't playing in the water Zach would play on his scooter on the hills. The hills had to be the little walkway that housed the dumpsters...of all the places to play! But, there was a nice little slope at each end which he loved riding down. Over and over again.

Zach is still in his pack and play in the trailer, and I would start him in there each night. That would last until about 2-ish and he'd wake up and cry....to where as the fully trained mommy would arise and retrieve him from his cage and bring him to bed with me. I didn't mind...he's turned into a great cuddler...although can be a bed hog as the night wears on. By the last night he just stood up and said, "Hey! Get up!" And, following orders, I did. He'd zonk back out within 22 seconds. Crazy.

All in all it was a great trip. Uncle Pat even came out for a day and went boogie boarding for the first time ever! No one got injured, including the kids. No major meltdowns except for Zach trying to take anything that belonged to Riley, to which would send Riley into a raging conniption fit. Sharing does not happen well with 2 year olds.

Some pics of the first week with the Walkers:

Waiting for the perfect wave

Jeff and Joe
Daddy giving Zach some surfing tips My little Cassanova. Riley wanted nothing to do with Zach...much as he tried to make a pass...
He's saying, "Come on, look at me. I'm adorable. How can you resist?"
"I'll even stick out my tongue so you don't have to move..." Can't you see how his charms are working?


After being denied, he goes on his merry way alone, in his quest for Ms. Right.More pics to come in the next post...

The next week, we met up with our friends Brett, Renee and their 3 girls, Madison age 9, Taylor age 6 and Mia age 2. They were at our site most the time as well since we again got beach row and they were in the next row off the beach. My parents also came for the week! We had planned to put my dad in a tent on the sand because his snoring can wake the dead...and I didn't want him waking Zach. Well, we tried him in the trailer to see how he'd do and would you believe the man didn't make a peep?! I think he really didn't want to sleep in the tent! Uncle Pat also came down again for a day and spent the night, so we had 5 adults and a 2 year old and it worked out perfectly! I must admit, I had my doubts...huge, weighing doubts, but I sat and ate my helping of crow when it all turned out ok.

The oldest girl, Maddy, was such a big help and would keep her eye on Zach when cooking was being done or I needed an extra set of hands. My dad and Jeff boogie boarded one day, so Jeff popped two boogie boarding cherries in the last several weeks! My dad loved it but was surprised at how tired you get. We had gorgeous weather this second week...blue sky, 69 degrees...hard to know if you were getting sunburned. Just ask my dad, who thought it's be a great idea to lay all day on the beach without sunscreen so he could get "some color". He got some alright. A nice shade of scarlet. His face is now peeling off he told me. Ha!

One day, everyone except my mom, who stayed at the campsite to watch the dogs and to relish the promising quiet time (I don't think she's used to 4 kids running around...some screaming...often...NOT mine), we all took the train from Carpinteria to Santa Barbara. It's a 15 minute ride and the train drops you about 2 blocks from the pier. I'd never been on an actual train before and Zach was beside himself. He now says, "Next stop, Carpinteria!" "All aboard!" and of course, "Choo-choo!" While at the pier, we went to the small aquarium there, which is nicely done and has lots of touch tanks. We then had lunch and an ice cream cone, and then before we knew it was time to catch our train back. We were there for about 4 hours. Which is about all this pregnant momma could handle. My feet swelled up to resemble snapping turtle c laws and I definitely needed to sit for a bit.