Twenty Five years ago, my grandparents first started going to the beach every year for a month in June (the year I was born!). They had bought a time share and we've been going to the same condo in Ocean City every year ever since.
For my family growing up, that was our "big" vacation every year. We spent our days on the beach and the rest of our free time on the boardwalk, playing put-put, etc. It's a two bedroom condo and my grandparents always got one room for themselves. The rest of the family (aunts, uncles, cousins, etc) all spread out through the living room and the spare bedroom. It was cluttered but always fun!
We haven't been down the past few years, so I wanted to go down for at least a day this year! Ryan couldn't get off work, so we kinda put it off and I thought maybe I'd just head down myself during the week. At the last minute though we were asked by my brother Bryan to go down on Sunday night. Of course it doesn't really seem like it'd make sense for Ryan to go down since he had work on Monday, but there was a special reason!
A few weeks ago Ryan and I had gone with Bryan and picked out a ring for Katy! He had some elaborate plans that got slightly adjusted because of some guests, so he decided to take her to the beach and propose instead! He asked us to come (and needed us to get/bring the ring down) so we did!
When we first got there we went out for a quick bite to eat. When we were heading out to eat, my grandparents asked if I wanted them to watch Jude. The question caught me off guard since I had been expecting to take him with us. Ryan told me to go for it - so I did. I was a little reluctant because I had never left him with someone (other than Ryan) and even though I trusted them 100% it was a big step for me! All in all it went well though. I think a quick dinner was the best way to transition into leaving him with someone!
After dinner we went back to the condo and took a trip down to the beach. We covered it up saying that we wanted Ryan to be there for Jude's first time on the beach, when really we were all going for the proposal. I grabbed my camera and headed down. As we were standing on the beach we weren't really sure whether Bryan wanted us to be standing near them... or give them some space, so Ryan got a little awkward and we retreated back a little.
However, not too much later Bryan was down on his knees asking Katy to marry him! It was all very sweet and she seemed totally surprised!
The next morning Ryan left bright and early for work and I was left with Bryan and Katy to get home. Unfortunately the weather was pretty crappy, so we weren't able to go to the beach so we did a few things on our way home.
We hit up the outlets, some little stores and got a quick bite to eat. All in all, it was a good day! Ryan luckily didn't miss Jude's first 'real' time on the beach - so hopefully we'll be heading back some time later this summer.
The closest thing to a smile that could capture on camera:
Uncle Bryan and Aunt Katy bought Jude a bathing suit for the beach. I went back and bought him the matching shirt and hat. While at the beach the weather didn't work out to use the bathing suit, but I couldn't resist the hat:
She does.
Jude's first time on the beach.
Cheering on the Phillies
Josh went with us to the game so I put on the sweatshirt he bought Jude. Obviously it was only to be funny because he won't fit in it for quite some time.
His great great g-mom:
sleeping with his little wrist rattles. Adorable.
