Beach Babe

The unofficial start to summer is finally here!!  We were beyond excited to head to the beach for Memorial Day weekend this year.  It was the first time Claire got to experience a beach day and we were a little nervous she would hate it since we pretty much live for beach days.

We couldn't have asked for better weather.  It was 80s and sunny every day.  We just hoped Claire would let us enjoy that nice weather on the beach :)

It started off looking good.  Claire was loving her bathing suit...

And hanging out in her coverup before heading out...can't believe how old she is getting.  She looks like such a toddler to me in this pic :(

 

Seriously can't get enough of this sweet little face... 

After the photo shoot, we FINALLY made it to the beach.  We had to take video of her first reaction so here goes...

She did NOT seem to be a fan of the sand as we feared.  Let's go down to the water to see how she does.

Uh oh.  Were we in trouble?  Just when we thought we might be...she eats some sand and realizes she LOVES it.  Now we have a different problem.  All she wants to do is eat sand.  Seriously.  


Hey Claire, whatcha doin' behind that stump?  

 Oh just about to...

Eat some sand!

Crazy girl.  We had to try to keep a pacifier in her mouth the entire time on the beach so she would stop trying to eat fistfuls of sand.  She was on a mission.

She finally saw what a good time her big cousins were having jumping waves...

And decided that walking in the water and yapping away was pretty fun too.

Thank God.  All of that walking and sand eating must've tuckered her out.  Time for a beach nap.   

I always loved taking naps on the beach but getting to do that with Claire has made them all the better.  By far my favorite time with her over the weekend. :)

Saturday night we did what everyone in OC, NJ does at night....goes to the boardwalk.     

Claire wanted to walk...

 But wanted to get there before Tuesday so she rode with big cousin Luke.

 First stop, Wonderland Pier.  Ooh so much to look at.

 Claire got to go on her first ride...the carousel!  

She didn't seem too impressed...probably since Daddy has her jumping off of refrigerators at home but we'll save that for another post.


After rides, we grabbed some pizza with Nana, Aunt Colleen, Luke, and these lovely ladies (love this picture so much!).

 After such a busy day, the two littlest were zonked.

 How stinkin' cute?

Day 2 at the beach was much more enjoyable.  Claire was stoked to be there from the beginning.

 We checked out the water.

 And did lots more walking and playing.  

I usually try to post only one picture of each shot but couldn't help myself with these...

She just had such a blast, I couldn't choose.  


After the beach, we spent the night hanging on the porch in our hoodies...the best.

Monday morning we woke up bright and early to go get some of Brown's famous donuts with all of the cousins.

 

The line was ungodly long so we hung out in the shade while Nana, Aunt Colleen, and Uncle Chad waited.

After what felt like an hour, we headed back to the house to enjoy those delicious donuts on the porch.

Claire REALLY loved them.  She ate an entire powdered sugar donut all by herself!  Piggy.

 After breakfast Claire hung with the girls.

And their matching Toms :)

Then explored the kitchen a little...probably looking for more food under the table ha.

 Before heading up to the boardwalk for one last walk before going home.

Again, I couldn't decide which one of these to post so I had to include them all.

Love this one :)

 After such a wonderful weekend Claire was really sad to go home.

We officially have a beach baby...YAY!