In mid July, we took some good friends up on a long standing invitation and spent a long weekend at the Jersey Shore. We joined other families that we are friends with and made a crowded but really fun time of it. Until they retire and turn their Jersey home into their forever home, it is just a perfectly lovely little beach house. As a result, 4 families made for a crowd. Therefore, the Warners (Trent, myself and the boys) pitched a tent in the back yard, the Shamblen and Rehanek boys pitched two tents in the side yard, and the Shamblen and Rehanek adults stayed in the Shamblen's pop-up camper. The girls had a fabulous time in the house. How do I know this? I know, because I could hear the 3 ten year old girls giggling and talking through the open window until close to midnight.
Saturday was a fun day spent at the beach. We were staying in Pine Beach, New Jersey, which is on the Toms River. The river flows into Barnegat Bay. There is a long thin barrier island which separates the Bay from the Atlantic. We went to the ocean side of the island to Island Beach State Park. It was fabulous. The weather was perfect, and the kids (of every age) were having a blast. It was Owen's first time at the beach, and in true Owen form, he did not stay on a blanket. He was fine trying to crawl into the sand and even ate a bit. Yuck. Fortunately, it was NOT April's first time to the beach nor her first time taking little ones to the beach. She brought a small blow up pool along. The kids filled it with water from the ocean and a little sand, and Owen had his own contained personal ocean, which he loved. Ashley spent the day boogie boarding. Jon, after learning there had been a shark spotted off that beach earlier in the summer, spent time jumping in the waves and eagerly hoping to see a shark. Four and half hours later we were ready for a shower and some food and, in Owen’s case, a nap finally. He refused to nap at the beach. We went up to the bath house and showered, which was so much easier than 20 people trying to shower at the house. We then took a short drive up the beach to Seaside where those who wanted to could see the Jersey Shore house (from the television show). We then returned for a quiet and fun evening with friends.
The next day, there was just enough time before packing up and heading back to Maryland to go over to the Pine Beach Yacht Club on the Toms River and pull out the kayaks and small sail boats. The first time Jon took a kayak out by himself, I thought one of us was going to need to go in and steer him back to shore. Not only was this not the case, he went out successfully another 4 times. I love it when they find things that they love to do. Our New Jersey friends who are planning a big camping trip out West to visit when we are all retired from Coast Guard life joked that we would have to plan on visiting them as they were turning our children into East Coasters. I don’t know that that is true, but I can say that after this weekend, my kids do love New Jersey. We had no fist bumping, no drama, no Snooki and company (thankfully), just a perfectly lovely weekend at the Jersey Shore.
Saturday was a fun day spent at the beach. We were staying in Pine Beach, New Jersey, which is on the Toms River. The river flows into Barnegat Bay. There is a long thin barrier island which separates the Bay from the Atlantic. We went to the ocean side of the island to Island Beach State Park. It was fabulous. The weather was perfect, and the kids (of every age) were having a blast. It was Owen's first time at the beach, and in true Owen form, he did not stay on a blanket. He was fine trying to crawl into the sand and even ate a bit. Yuck. Fortunately, it was NOT April's first time to the beach nor her first time taking little ones to the beach. She brought a small blow up pool along. The kids filled it with water from the ocean and a little sand, and Owen had his own contained personal ocean, which he loved. Ashley spent the day boogie boarding. Jon, after learning there had been a shark spotted off that beach earlier in the summer, spent time jumping in the waves and eagerly hoping to see a shark. Four and half hours later we were ready for a shower and some food and, in Owen’s case, a nap finally. He refused to nap at the beach. We went up to the bath house and showered, which was so much easier than 20 people trying to shower at the house. We then took a short drive up the beach to Seaside where those who wanted to could see the Jersey Shore house (from the television show). We then returned for a quiet and fun evening with friends.
The next day, there was just enough time before packing up and heading back to Maryland to go over to the Pine Beach Yacht Club on the Toms River and pull out the kayaks and small sail boats. The first time Jon took a kayak out by himself, I thought one of us was going to need to go in and steer him back to shore. Not only was this not the case, he went out successfully another 4 times. I love it when they find things that they love to do. Our New Jersey friends who are planning a big camping trip out West to visit when we are all retired from Coast Guard life joked that we would have to plan on visiting them as they were turning our children into East Coasters. I don’t know that that is true, but I can say that after this weekend, my kids do love New Jersey. We had no fist bumping, no drama, no Snooki and company (thankfully), just a perfectly lovely weekend at the Jersey Shore.
Owen's personal ocean
Plenty of friends to play with
Sammy enjoyed the sand and surf equally
Playing in the waves
Lots of boogie boarding for Ashley
Back from the beach. Just hanging around.
Ashley and her friend Leonora. Who knows what adventures came out of this bit of reading.
Sammy found a jellyfish
Ashley and her friend Abby
Owen finally decided it was o.k. to nap while we were out and about
My handsome little kayaker
My handsome little kayaker
Trent tried out the paddle board. He didn't fall in once. Trent has great balance.
All the kids at the Toms River
My very favorite picture from that weekend.
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