The Newest Members of the Ocean City Beach Patrol...

Friday was our last day in Ocean City and we gave Brian a choice.  We asked him if he wanted to spend the day at the beach playing in the sand and water... or on the boardwalk playing games and going on rides.  I am not going to lie... I was so happy (and surprised!!) when he chose the boardwalk.  Don't get me wrong, I love the Ocean City Beach (and that my iPhone can take cool panoramic pictures like this!!)

 But it's no secret that I'm not a beach girl!

So off to the boardwalk we went - and the four of us had so much fun!  

Brian and I hit the bumper cars (no pun intended - ha ha!) and I let him drive.  He told me that his cousin Brendan taught him everything he knew about driving - I was impressed with his skills!!

And we made it out of there in one piece!

We went on the swings together, too.  They were different swings than the ones at Wonderland.  These swings had single AND double seats - so we got to sit next to each other, which was really fun.  

Check us out!

Brian's next request of me (I'm the main ride parent!) was... the LOG FLUME.  There was NO way I was going on that.  I have a thing against log flumes - the water part just grosses me out.  But lucky for me (and Brian) - Daddy saved the day!  Daddy also lost his hat when it blew off on the way down the flume!!

Back at the ranch, Hope had another "first!"  I decided to let her practice trying to feed herself with those little dissolvable "puffs."  They are easy to pick up (well, easier than - say - a slippery piece of banana or yam) and I don't have to worry about her choking.  And they force her to "chew" which is good practice!  She took to it right away...

This little girl loves to eat!

On Friday evening after dinner, I decided on a whim to take the kids to the beach for photographs.  Earlier in the day (okay - pretty much every day of our vacation) I was in an adorable store on the boardwalk called "Bangles n Bows."  I went on a bit of a shopping spree for Hope and Brian and had so much fun!  The owners of the store were so kind and friendly - and one of them gifted Hope with a flowered headband made of twine and silk flowers!  I brought it to the beach with me - along with a red headband I bought there, too.  It was bedtime so I really expected this little impromptu photo session to not go well at all.  I was wrong.  The children were angels and I ended up capturing some of my favorite photos of them.  Take a look...

My favorite shot of Brian...

You'll need to prepare yourself for the next series - it's over the top cuteness... 

The newest members of the Ocean City Beach Patrol!  

How could you not feel safe with those little faces watching you?

Our little princess in the sand.  The next day she would turn 33 weeks!

Here she is with her flowered headband.  I think she looks like she could be a royal flower girl!

If the pictures make it look like Hope idolizes Brian...

...and that Brian adores Hope...

That's because it's true.  They do.

Saturday morning came and it was time to head home.  My sister, Bean, and the triplets met us at "Uncle Bill's Pancake House" - a place I have always heard so much about, but have never been.  We had a bit of a wait outside... but it was worth it!!  One word:  Scrapple!!  (If you're from the Pennsylvania area, you are smiling.)

Today was super-busy.  I did about ten loads of laundry... Brian had Science Camp at the YMCA (he loved it!!)... and he started his first "Swim Fast" lessons this evening.  They are strict that the parents need to wait in the lobby, but lucky for me - they have two windows covered with venetian blinds.  I am not against spying through those blinds!  Near the end of the class, we were all allowed in (yay!) and I was able to snap one picture.  He's learning how to float on his back without help.  Lessons will be every night for two weeks straight.

Tomorrow is a big day!  Brian and I are going to get him fitted for his school uniform.  I can't believe my little boy is headed for Kindergarten.