Beach Day!

My brother-in-law was sent to Chicago for business this past week, so Alenna brought the kids and their dog to NJ for a few days. I was able to work some extra time last week to get ahead at the office, and my boss had no problem with me taking some time off this week to enjoy my visitors.

On Wednesday, their first full day in NJ, the weather was beautiful so we headed to the beach. My in-laws usually spend 2 weeks at a condo in Atlantic City each summer, and Wednesday was the last day of their rental. Thankfully my in-laws are some of the most hospitable people you will ever meet, and they graciously allowed us to invite ourselves down to their condo! We arrived in Atlantic City around 11am and, after layering up on sun block, we joined my in-laws at the beach.

Here's Mom Cundey (Maureen), along with Alenna and Cora.

Cora was so happy to be at the beach!

Dad Cundey (or Mr. Bruce as Aiden and Seth were calling him) impressed the boys by making a car out of sand.

My other nephew, Julian, spent part of the day collecting the dead jelly fish that kept washing up on the beach. (No, you can't get stung by the dead ones!) Alenna and I were pretty grossed out by this, but Aiden and Seth thought it looked like fun and soon all the boys were gathering them in buckets. (Someone had teased Julian by telling him that jelly comes from boiling jelly fish, and the boys were diligently trying to accumulate enough to feed us all! Don't worry, we - eventually - told them the truth and I don't think anyone was scarred for life, though they were a bit disappointed.)

Marney, my sister-in-law, and Mom Cundey encouraged the boys to make sand angels, and Aiden really got into it! He was completely unfazed at having a thick layer of sand stuck to him, though Seth didn't want to get that "dirty".

(Based on that, even those who find it difficult to tell Aiden and Seth apart will be able to figure out which is which in this picture!)

Here I am with Marney and Julian.

Dad Cundey helped Aiden and Seth with boogie boarding and they were so thrilled at the experience! (When we got home that evening the boys kept telling Uncle David that they went "surf boarding for the very first time!")

Even Seth, who is a little more cautious than Aiden at trying new things, had a wonderful time on the boogie board!

Julian, who has been boogie boarding like a pro since last summer (when he was 4!) was very kind with sharing his board with the two newbies.

When it was time to head home we walked back to the condo so that the kids could get baths before our 1 1/2 hour drive. Day trips to the beach are very convenient when you don't have to bring tons of sand home with you!

I had a wonderful day with all 8 family members! Thanks Mom and Dad Cundey for a great beach day!