Family Vacation Part 2

We spent the next three days at a different hotel at the beach.  It was our first trip just the three of us staying at a hotel.  Coordinating naps/bedtime and meals was a bit challenging and certainly different than the old days sans Charlie but he was a great sport and we all had a lot of fun!

Unfortunately, the beach was not Charlie's favorite thing.  He enjoyed it last summer but for some reason he struggled to relax and enjoy the sand.  We went only two times and both times he played (but only with mommy very nearby) for 30 minutes or so but then wanted to leave.  I snapped two pictures though in the moments he wasn't upset.

Day One

Day Two

The hotel pool was much more fun though!  They had a nice outdoor one that was pretty cold but luckily they also had a nice indoor one too that Charlie enjoyed.

Having a snack at the pool

Swiming!

Splashing!

Because he wasn't digging the beach we found some other fun things to do like...

Bike rides!

All done... Look at that windblown hair!

The Aquarium!

"Dad, what is that? Please hang on to me!"

A fish tunnel!

Turtles and Sharks!

Charlie's first movie!  And it was 3-D, and he wouldn't keep the glasses on... we stayed a good 25 minutes (20 longer than I expected).

Played in the room!  Strangely enough, Charlie really enjoyed the hotel room.  He checked out every crook and crany and was very excited to sleep in the same room as Mom and Dad.  Here he is doing a little grooming.

Easter!

We woke up Easter morning in our hotel in Virginia Beach.  Luckily the Easter bunny followed us there and left a few eggs around the room for Charlie as well as outside in the courtyard.  It was a gorgeous day. After some Easter fun, we headed over to the beach and our other hotel for the next few days.  Of course I took a "few" pictures :)

Finding an egg in his shoe

The one real treat (besides O's and raisins) in his eggs

Heading out of the swanky hotel

Family Vacation Part 1

James' Spring Break is this week and we very-last-minute decided to get away to Virginia Beach for a few days.  Even though the beach is only an hour and a half from our house, we decided to "break the trip up" by spending the day in Norfolk at the zoo, spending the night outside of the actual beach part (at this funny old hotel we found and thought would be fun for Easter) then heading to the beach Sunday morning.

The zoo was small but was just the perfect size for an almost-two-year-old who didn't nap.  We were planning on Charlie sleeping in the car on the way there but of course that didn't happen.  He hung really well though and really loved seeing all the animals.  We even got to ride a train around the zoo at the end which was the highlight of his day.

Little Monkey

Checking out the giraffes

Elephants!

Riding a rhino

The "T" (Charlie's word for Train)

The kid exhibit :)

It only dawned on us when planning it that this is our first time staying at a hotel with Charlie.  He seemed really confused when we set up his stuff but then was quickly very so excited checking out what was in all the drawers, checking himself out in the many mirrors and wandering around the hallways and grounds.  Another thing about staying in a hotel together is that post-9PM is a little slow... Hence the updated blog :)

Goofing around

A new bathtub!

April Fun

Charlie found the mail slot!

and his pockets

He now uses keys to start his car

And can even match Dad's shoes to his outfit! (the hair is out of control in this one)

Anniversary Weekend

This weekend was our big 5-year anniversary!  We took Friday off and went down to North Carolina for a long (and busy!) weekend.  We had a nice night out in Chapel Hill on Friday, James ran a 10-mile race there Saturday morning then we headed to Charlotte for an Avett Brothers concert Saturday night.  We didn't take too many pictures but below are some of Charlie playing in Grandpa and Granny's backyard and then in Chapel Hill after the race: