This morning we had a family day and spent the morning getting out of the noise of the city to the country of Chesapeake at Northwest River Park.  Both kids did great hiking, Brooke walking almost all of it (minus about a mile on Daddy’s shoulders), and Alex doing well being carried even taking a 20 minute cat nap.  We hiked over 3.5 miles!  It was good for everyone to get back into nature!

Recently, we have had 3 beach days.  I attempted to take both kids on my own ‘just to play in the sand’ after running an errand for a friend.  However, they both ended up in the water.  Taking two children under 3 to the beach by yourself is not a good idea… a second parent is needed or one less child.  Therefore, while Alex was taking his long nap one day Brittney stayed with Alex while I took Brooke to the beach by herself for a mother/daughter date where she could play in the water without stopping.  We played in the water for two straight hours!  She loved it.  Then this weekend AJ was home and we attempted taking both kids to the beach again (after our failed first attempt).  Alex made it about an hour before we had to head home, calling it the last beach day of the summer.  He did a great job for being a baby at the beach, it’s just a hard place for little ones.

Tonight we went to dinner at The Hub at the oceanfront.  The Hub is a cool outdoor area with outdoor bar that has several different food trucks that come and park in the ‘backyard’ looking area depending on the day.  After dinner we had ice cream and played on the playground at the beach.