VA Beach, BABY!

We have started an awesome family tradition. In the fall for my birthday we went to VA Beach for the weekend. We had so much fun on this little mini-vaca with just the three of us that we have decided that this is going to become a bi-annual trip. Once for my birthday in the fall, and another time for Brad's birthday in the spring. This year was particularly nice since Brad's birthday also happened to fall on Mother's Day, so we celebrated his birthday and my mother's day that weekend.

The day before we left Brady got sick and puked all over the table at the IHOP...other than that, he seemed fine and didn't appear or act sick at all. We thought that we were in the clear, but spent many hours in the hotel room over the weekend with an "under the weather" Brady. I must admit, though, that it is much easier taking care of a sick child when your looking over the sand and the Atlantic Ocean rather than back in your house with a million projects that you feel you should be doing. Despite the sick times, we still managed to pack a lot of fun into three days.

We didn't manage to beat the weekend rush down to the beach, so it took us almost 5 hours to get down there when it typically takes three. The trip started out all smiles......and ended up exhausting...We were tired by the time we got there, but ended up at our first stop (as always)...GUADALAJARA'S! Only the best Mexican restaurant we have ever experienced. I encourage everyone to go just for this restaurant (located in the shopping center on Laskin Rd. behind the Outback and in between JoAnn Fabrics and Trader Joe's). Sounds ridiculous, but it is amazing!My favorite is the "white salsa". I have no idea what it is, but I've never tasted anything like it, and it is amazing. One of those things that can't be explained, only experienced.We immediately headed down to the beach after dropping our stuff off in the hotel room. Brady had a fun time walking and running down the beach......then he got closer to the water......and then fell in! Completely clothed!This was the beginning of day #1. After puking up breakfast, Brady took a long nap in the hotel.We thought that an IMAX movie at the Virgina Marine Science Center was a fairly low-key activity that could get us out of the hotel....but Brady insisted on Jungle Golf......and he was pretty much wiped out by the afternoon. This was how he spent the evening...until......swimming! Once he woke up from sick nap #2, he was all smiles and we were pretty sure that whatever bug he had was gone......until he puked at Mother's Day/Brad's Birthday lunch on our way out of the beach. And we spent the evening here...in Kensington after-hours care trying to get the puking under control. He was pretty much out of commission for the next few days, but we were still able to enjoy our weekend at the beach.