LBI 2022

After driving home from Missouri and spending the night, we were on the road again in the morning driving out to Long Beach Island! We arrived around 6:30pm on Monday night and enjoyed a relaxing evening with Mimi Jane. 

The next day was Curtis's birthday! We spent the earlier part of that day at the beach! 

Graydon attempted to write, "Happy Birthday Curtiz" in the sand. 

Officially 12-years-old!

This body of water was way too cold for me to get into. But the weather was absolutely perfect. The sun was hot, but there was a nice ocean breeze. I was completely comfortable sitting in my beach chair, reading. I read four books this week! 

After cleaning up and drying off, the kids and I played Long Beach Island-opoly. Throughout the week, when we'd drive through a certain area or see a certain store or restaurant that showed up in the game, someone would almost certainly say, "I owned that!" 

Our birthday boy was looking forward to his seafood dinner. He got a whole lobster this year! 

I tried cod for the first time that night. I'm not a huge fish fan, but when at the shore, I will always eat some seafood. One thing I do particularly enjoy about fish is how tender it is. 

Curtis saved part of his lobster's claw!

There was a beautiful, new sunset every night. 

After dinner, we finished our game. Our birthday boy was the big winner! 

Present time! 

Curtis's favorite basketball team is the Milwaukee Bucks and he's become a big fan of Giannis, so we got him a jersey and some shorts. He's still got some growing to do to fit into them. With how fast he has been growing lately, we didn't want him to outgrow these too quickly. 

Mimi Jane got Curtis a cake. I remembered the birthday hat and some decorations. But I forgot to bring candles. And I have so many at home! We used this little light-up contraption instead.

Andy switched off the light after Curtis blew on it! 

We ate lunch at the Holiday Snack Bar the next day. This is Andy's favorite restaurant on the island and we always enjoy eating there.

We borrowed some paddle boards and the kids used them in the bay. I wasn't sure how deep the water was, so I wanted the kids to wear life jackets. 

If you look to the left of the photo below. That little speck in the water is Bella. Way out there. And the water is barely above her knees! I guess life jackets weren't exactly necessary. I didn't realize the bay was so shallow!

We ended up at the beach later that day. I did some more reading and even wore a sweatshirt. The ocean breeze felt pretty chilly to me on this late afternoon. 

Bella loves her morning bagels! 

Another day at the beach!

Not the greatest photo of myself. . . but proof that I was there.

A little more paddle boarding before returning them to the Conyers.

That evening, Andy and the boys went bowling and Bella and I did some shopping in Bay Village. We caught some more beautiful sunsets that night. 

What day are we at now? Maybe Friday. They all start looking the same! I think Bella is really cute in her bucket hat. 

Several years ago, Bella bought a kite here with her spending money. Each year since, she likes to fly it on the beach. It started off well this evening and the kite flew for a while. But then it fell into the water and after that, it hard a harder time staying up. But it was a great night to fly a kite.

We didn't go to the beach the next day. Instead, we drove up the island to Barnegat where there is a big light house. It's under construction right now and hidden by that scaffolding. We knew this ahead of time, but still wanted to head up that way anyway. 

We stopped for ice cream and spent some time in Viking Village on our way back down the island.

The next morning, we packed up the van and said our goodbyes to Jane. The last morning of any trip is always the WORST. Goodbyes are always hard. We weren't heading back home just yet, though. We were off to Ocean City to visit with some more friends for a couple of days. Before arriving there, we stopped at McDonalds. I got a coffee and sent this photo to my dad since McDonalds coffee is his favorite.

More beach time, this time in Ocean City instead of LBI. This beach is a little bigger and definitely more crowded. 

We celebrated the Fourth of July while we were there. There was a cute bike parade that we attended that morning.

We spent the better portion of that day at the beach again. 

A relaxing nap on the beach for Graydon. 

We've spent a few Fourths of July with the Krott family. Here are the kids back in 2013. 

We spontaneously decided to re-create that photo. They've changed a bit! 

And one with them smiling.

That night, we watched fireworks on the beach. They were being lit off all over the place - some right above our heads! I didn't take a great photo, I just wanted to document the event. 

The next morning, we packed up yet again and drove back home to Hope. This time we are staying put. Well, until next week when Bella and Graydon head to church camp!