We’d been talking about our upcoming trip to the beach for weeks. In preparation, I’d read stories to Carson and Ella about beaches and watched the beachy episodes of Max and Ruby and Spongebob on On Demand. Though they had both been to the Gulf of Mexico when we lived in Mobile, they didn’t remember it despite the photographic evidence.
Everyday Carson and Ella asked, “Is today the day we go to vacation?”
“Not today,” we’d say, “Fifteen/five/two more sleeps until we leave.”
The big day finally came and Carson and Ella vibrated in anticipation from the backseat, packed between beach bags, beach towels, and sand toys. They took turns asking their questions.
“Daddy, are we there yet? Are we at the beach?”
“I wanna play beach!”
“Are there going to be crabs at the beach? I don’t want to eat crabs, but I will eat duck.” (I don’t know!)
“This isn’t going to be a bummer vacation! This is going to be a summer vacation! (Thanks Spongebob.)
“I’m gonna build a sand castle!”
“Is this the beach, Mommy? Where is the beach?”
Finally, over 7 hours later, we arrived in Isle of Palms, SC.
“Is this vacation?” Carson asked, eyes wide in anticipation. The sand and Atlantic ocean in all it’s Bill fueled glory lay sprawled in front of us.
Carson nearly sprinted to the water’s edge, his first (to be remembered) trip to the ocean. Ella took the sight of the ocean in stride, not understanding the significance of what lay ahead. For several minutes they were both content to simply stare ahead as the waves ebbed and flowed.
A few feet past the water’s edge, Ella stepped, but was immediately startled by the force of the incoming waves. It was Carson’s turn to take the experience in stride. Eventually both children hungrily anticipated each wave as it came to shore. As the waves chased them, they’d run inland, other times they’d meet each crash head on.
“Can I get in?” Carson asked hopefully. Despite the red flag and threat of rip currents, the ocean was filled with swimmers both old and young. Tate knowing my usual stance on getting clothes needlessly dirty, explained to Carson that we needed to wait until we put on swim suits.
Carson, tried, he really tried, to stay dry. The weeks of buildup, talking about the joy of swimming in the ocean, eventually beat out his underdeveloped obedient side. He pretended to accidentally fall into the water.
“It’s okay,” I smiled at Carson reassuringly. “This is vacation.”
************
The Knoxville Twestival 2009 is coming up on Thursday, Sept. 10th from 7-10 PM at the Knoxville Zoo. This great event is being held to raise money for the Salvation Army of Knoxville. It will be a great night filled with music, fun, a silent auction, and BEER(!!) and it’s all for a great cause. (To check for Twestivals in your area, check out the Global Twestival site.)
I have two pairs of tickets (four total) to give away to a local East Tennessee reader. To win, leave a comment telling me your favorite East Tennessee restaurant. Make sure you leave your name and a valid email address. I’ll randomly choose one winner on Tuesday, September 1.
Non-local readers, feel free to just comment because you like me.
Julia
August 31, 2009 at 2:47 am
IOP is a great place for a vacation — I go to school in Charleston though, so I might be a bit biased
Julia´s last blog ..An Adventure to Cape Town
feefifoto
August 31, 2009 at 4:46 am
Look at those funny toes peeking out of the water!
feefifoto´s last blog ..Departed Celebrities
Cathy
August 31, 2009 at 5:59 am
That’s awesome.
Well told. =)
Cathy´s last blog ..Chiropractors are weird.
Michelle
August 31, 2009 at 6:48 am
I love the look on Carson’s face.
Like, “It’s real! And it’s better than I imagined!”
Amo
August 31, 2009 at 6:49 am
Not that I live there any longer *sniff* but the best restaurant in Knoxville was Tomato Head. I loved that the boys could play in the fountain (where the homeless probably bathe) so we could eat a peaceful dinner.
Amo´s last blog ..Kindergarten Ugly
Fairly Odd Mother
Twitter: FairlyOddMother
August 31, 2009 at 7:54 am
I love this. Who can resist the ocean? (although we could the last time we went b/c of the massive amounts of crabs washed up on shore—-your beach looks much less “crabby”)
Knot
August 31, 2009 at 8:02 am
Your images are nice. They seem very “cool” as in not warm or “blue”. Interesting. I’d like to talk about that.
Knot´s last blog ..I have’t even had time to talk about the Dead Kennedy’s
Jennifer
Twitter: playgroupie
August 31, 2009 at 8:23 am
Knot, Thanks. That day was incredibly cloudy, no sun at all. When I edited the photos, I bumped up brightness and messed around with the white balance to make the pictures a little less dreary.
rachel-asouthernfairytale
August 31, 2009 at 8:29 am
awesome. simply awesome. I love those pictures!
YAY for vacations and moms with cameras!
rachel-asouthernfairytale´s last blog ..Garlicky, Veggie Rotini Pasta Toss
C @ Kid Things
Twitter: kidthingsnet
August 31, 2009 at 8:58 am
The beach looks wonderful! I don’t blame him for “accidentally” falling in, I probably would have too.
C @ Kid Things´s last blog ..Weekly Winners Vol. 5: Zoo Edition
mpotter
August 31, 2009 at 10:12 am
the expressions on their faces is so what it’s all about!
i can’t wait to experience this myself.
but in the meantime, you captured it very well.
enjoy!
mpotter´s last blog ..ciento
Michelle
August 31, 2009 at 11:05 am
I love the beach! So do my kids. Looks like you guys had a lot of fun.
knoxvillepixie
August 31, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Our favorite East Tennessee restaurant has to be the Mellow Mushroom. We heart their TONS of beers on tap, their family-friendly environment, and of course their awesome food!
knoxvillepixie´s last blog ..Taco night
Beth
August 31, 2009 at 3:52 pm
There are no rules on vacation!! Way to go Carson! Love the pictures.
valerie
August 31, 2009 at 5:11 pm
Our favorite Knoxville restaurant is Nama. It’s a bit more expensive than anywhere else we go, but it’s totally worth it to have good sushi.
If there’s a special occasion to be celebrated, we do it with raw fish.
valerie´s last blog ..You all need to see this.
Nap Warden
August 31, 2009 at 7:51 pm
So fun…Yay vacation!
Nap Warden´s last blog ..Oh, My Blair Witchian Nightmare
Katie
August 31, 2009 at 8:14 pm
Yay for IOP! I’m from Mount Pleasant, SC originally and have spent many weekends and summers on the Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island. Can’t tell you my favorite restaurant in Knoxville, but in Mt. Pleasant, I love Gilligans for fried shrimp
Katie´s last blog ..1000 words
Corinne
August 31, 2009 at 9:57 pm
What great pictures!! Dry clothes never last long at the beach
Corinne´s last blog ..A little slower please
Rachel
August 31, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Sounds like you guys had a great time. Love the pics!
My favorite Knoxville restaurant is Chesapeake’s. I could eat a pound of their Crab Imperial!
Ashlie- Mommycosm
Twitter: Mommycosm
September 1, 2009 at 8:05 am
Yeah, so not a local.
But I really, really love that picture of him jumping. Nice shot!
My daughter kept saying “This is life, Mommy” on our vacation. I wish our vacation was real life…4 adults to 2 children, maid service, spa downstairs…
Ashlie- Mommycosm´s last blog ..Life is??
Stimey
Twitter: Stimey
September 1, 2009 at 1:44 pm
So fun! And I am very familiar with that “accidentally falling into the water” thing. I can count on zero hands the number of times I’ve said, “We’re not going to get wet, okay?” and emerged with dry children.
Great photos! It looks like a really fun time.
Stimey´s last blog ..Scenes From the First Day of School
Maggie
September 1, 2009 at 8:34 pm
What a fantastic sounding vacation! So glad that a good time was had by all…it was well deserved!
Maggie´s last blog ..Medical School – 3 Weeks In
Jane
September 1, 2009 at 9:05 pm
What a beautiful, well told story. I love the pictures. And your vacation comment at the end reminds me of something my dear mother in law says, “A messy boy is a happy boy” (speaking of my boys and hers, obviously) I try to remember that when the boys come in all covered in goodness knows what! Looks like you had a wonderful time!
Jane´s last blog ..Tunes for Tuesday
the planet of janet
Twitter: planetofjanet
September 1, 2009 at 10:56 pm
awesome photos. the one of carson leaping in the air is fabbo.
and yeah, it’s vacation …
the planet of janet´s last blog ..She can see clearly now …
Vicki
Twitter: TwinsMa
September 2, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Ok. As far east Tennessee as you can get…Bristol…Tokyo Japanese Steak House…awesome food and lots of it for the price.
I love the pics. I’m glad they had such a great time.
Carrie @ Who Knew?
September 2, 2009 at 6:54 pm
I’m not in TN so no tickets for me. I’m just commenting to say enjoy your vacation. And my daughter has the exact same sunglasses as your daughter and I felt pretty sure you’d want to know that.
Carrie @ Who Knew?´s last blog ..Dear Hairy-Backed Neighbor Guy,
Headless Mom
Twitter: HeadlessMom
September 2, 2009 at 11:54 pm
Oh! I’m so glad you went! I hope you loved it as much as I talked it up!
Headless Mom´s last blog ..We Interrupt Regular Posting…#2
MommyNamedApril
Twitter: MommyNamedApril
September 3, 2009 at 6:42 pm
loving the sunglasses!
MommyNamedApril´s last blog ..Deep Thought for the Day…
rabbi's wife
September 4, 2009 at 7:36 am
Not local, But love, love, LOVE! the pictures and the accidentally-on-purpose falling. great attitude about it, too. You had plenty of extra clothes, right?
rabbi’s wife´s last blog ..Wow…time flies!
patois
Twitter: patois42
September 4, 2009 at 9:07 am
What an absolutely fabulous attitude that boy has. “This is vacation.”
patois´s last blog ..I’m Gonna Respectfully Disagree