Family & Fun in Rehoboth Beach

Day 8 – June 4, 2014

Rehoboth Beach, DE

Another busy day!  We kicked it off with donuts and coffee (Dunkin Donuts) in the room and then we were off to meet Grand Ginny for go-carts and mini-golf.   We got to the park early, so I finally let Hunter and Aud ride the go-carts.  Fortunately they were the only people riding – because they were truly battling it out.  Lord help me - those two are so competitive.

Grand Ginny arrived soon after and we played 18 holes of miniature golf.  It got really hot while we were playing – high noon.  The heat produced an element of crankiness in some of the players, who ultimately needed to be ejected from the game.  By the 18^th hole, it was just Ginny and me – she won by two strokes.

Then it was beach time.  We lucked out with the weather, because they were predicting some rain.  It was gorgeous, but the water was cold.  The kids still had fun, even though no one ever truly went into the ocean.  They stood on the shore and watched the waves.  Ginny, Martha and I chatted while the kids buried themselves in the sand.  Then suddenly, Martha says, “Um…Allison, I believe Barrett has something going on.”  Sure enough, I look up and Bear is standing at the water’s edge with his bathing suit pulled down, ready to pee.  Tired calf muscles be damned – I was there in two seconds, pulling up his pants.  Hunter and Audrey were absolutely NO help, because they were laughing so hard.  In that moment, I could have killed them.  Of course, this made Barrett laugh, which made pulling up his pants difficult.  Yes, we left the beach.  Good Lord.

Momma regrouped and we had a fantastic dinner at the Henlopen City Oyster House – highly recommend it.  Then, before we knew it – it was time to say goodbye to Ginny and Martha.  Time just flies byL.  I took the kids to the pool for an hour and then Aud, Cam and I walked over to the bookstore.  I know, I know – but I love it there.

Mini-golf

Walking the Boardwalk

Day 7 – June 3, 2014
Washington DC/Annapolis, MD/Rehoboth Beach, DE
50 miles/50 minutes – 94 miles/2 hours
The Brighton Suites

Many years ago, Rich and I went to dinner in Annapolis with his Uncle Lance – and since it was at night I really didn’t get to see the city.  I had no idea what I was missing.  What a charming city! Restaurants, shopping, and history.

In addition to visiting to our country’s oldest State House that is still in use by the state government, we we also met an old friend, Mary, for lunch.  Mary was the head of the Infant & Toddler’s Program for Howard County Maryland, where we lived form 2003 -2005.  She’s the woman who guided us when we were oh so heartbroken and lost, after the autism diagnosis.  In addition to helping us with pre-school placement (and a crash course in IEPs), she also hooked us up with her son Sean, who would help us out with the boys on the weekends.

Mary retired last year and she looks fabulous!  She just returned from a trip to Hawaii, which included a cruise from Hawaii to Alaska!  Doesn’t that sound like the trip of a lifetime?  We caught up over lunch and then, sadly, we were off.

The kids and I got to Rehoboth around 3:30 p.m.  I love Rehoboth Beach, as do the kids.  My Aunt Ginny bought a house in the area years ago and we visit her each summer during our road trips. Rehoboth is a very cute beach town, with a boardwalk.  The kids love “walking the boards.”  It’s old school style, with candy shops and arcades and it  has people-watching galore – believe you me!
Ginny and Martha met us for a walk and then we took the kids to the boardwalk “Fun House,” where they rode bumper cars and other various amusement rides.  Then it was Nicola’s Pizza for dinner.

Oh yes, we also visited one of my favorite bookstores in the whole world – Browseabout Books on Rehoboth Avenue.  I love, love, love that store! In fact, I predict we will visit again tomorrow and the next day.  Yes, I do have a problem.

The last three days have been jam-packed and I’m truly exhausted.  When we got back to the hotel I had a glass of wine and played Sorry with Aud and Hunter.  Then I spent the rest of the evening watching Friends.  I totally got sucked in for three hours (and I have a book that I have to finish reading, for a review).  Oh, how I miss my Friends!   “We were on a break!”

The kids with Mary.

The Rehoboth Beach boardwalk.