June 6, 2008 | Mama Smith

then and now

Beach vacations 10 years ago…

Wake up at 10am. Drink a full glass of water with my perfectly proportioned, nutritious breakfast. Pack my mid-morning snack, lunch and afternoon snack in the cooler. Fill my slim beach bag with a good book, some SPF 4 oil, sunglasses and towel. Lay on beach from 10:30am until 5pm. Making sure to equally time back time with tummy time to acquire perfect tan. Boogie board with siblings. Chat with mom & dad. Head home for an evening run with sister, then dinner. Enjoy a relaxing night of games, movies and laughter. Head to bed around midnight. Start process over again next day.

Beach vacations now…with the addition of 2 children…

Wake up to Brighton crawling in our bed at 6am. Hear Levi screaming in other room to be release from the confines of his pack n’ play. Smell the overwhelming odor of 2 dirty diapers. Change diapers while attempting not to breathe. Stumble downstairs to start coffee maker while children whine for breakfast. Pour 2 bowls of cereal and 2 glasses of milk. Clean up 2 bowls of cereal poured on floor and 2 cups of milk spilled on clean pjs. Chug my coffee. Release children to run around my feet while I grab a TLC bar. The new breakfast for moms. Somehow I forget to eat anything until 2pm when boys go down for nap. Wrestle boys into swim diapers, bathing suits and crocs. Spray down 2 wriggling boys with SPF 50. Spray myself down with SPF 50. Fill overflowing beach bag with snacks for boys, water bottle for boys, toys for boys, towels for boys, change of swim diaper for boys, hats for boys and tshirts for boys. Last minute grab an apple for myself and sandy water bottle. Stumble down to beach at 11am. Wipe suntan lotion out of crying Brighton’s eyes. Grab sandcrab out of Levi’s mouth. Tell Levi to stop eating sand. Help Brighton build sand castle under the shade of umbrella. Fondly remember a time when I used to actually sit in the sun…peacefully alone. Fond memory interrupted by crying Levi who just had sand thrown in face by Brighton. Dole out sandy snacks. Give in to Brighton’s pleas to go home. Tote overflowing beach bag and sandy, wet boys home at 2pm. Shower and change boys, then put down for nap. Fall into bed myself for 2 hour nap to reenergize for relaxing vacation. Wake up, feed boys dinner. Go to bed at 9pm to be prepared for 6am wake up time next morning.

It is quite a different vacation these days. But none the less, we are getting some rest and are able to relax thanks to the help of my amazing family. Every night someone offers to stay with the sleeping boys so Matthew and I can enjoy the life of being kidless and actually going out in the evenings. Callie stayed home last night so we could all take the proverbial beach putt-putt trip.

Emily gloating in crushing us all

John retallying scores in his favor

Mom finally beating Dad at something

Excited for fireworks on the beach post her putt-putt victory

The rest of pictures are now on my flickr siter here.