Bethany Beach 2011

I think that it's safe to say that our first trip to Bethany Beach will definitely not be our last. I'll admit to being a little nervous as we left our house Saturday morning and headed to Delaware. This was our first experience renting a beach house and not staying in a hotel. I had only pictures to base pretty much everything on. We also had to consider meals, linens, and so many other things along with all the normal "beach stuff". However, I think for our first time we did pretty well.
We met up with Gram, Pap and Nicole outside Harrisburg and made the drive to Bethany. We encountered TONS of traffic outside of Dover but it only delayed us by about an hour. Before we knew it we were arriving at the beach.

I had promised to take it easy while on vacation so as not to have a "beach baby". Consequently, this was my perch for most of the week. I definitely got my money's worth out of my beach chair. And I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that I didn't have to suck in my stomach at the beach this year!

This picture is taken from a bit of a distance and unfortunately does not include Jon, but....it's one of the only pictures of the whole crew. We were waiting outside the Big Fish Grill for our table. And let me tell you - if you happen to be in Rehoboth Beach and need a place to eat this is the ticket. I'm still dreaming of the meal that I had there.

My little beach bum #1. It's amazing to watch McKenna play at the beach. I remember many summer beach trips where we had to physically drag her to the waters edge while she clung to us like we were going to throw her to the sharks. Now, at 7, we almost have to drag her out of the water.

And for this guy...the bigger the waves the better. Throughout the week he could usually be found standing at the waters edge calling to Earl or Jon because he wanted to go out further in the waves. He loved the big waves that would crash up over his head. I don't know who's kid he really is.

Gram and Pap spent most of their time under the canopy especially after Pap had a little trouble with a few waves and was effectively banned from the water by Gram. It was wonderful to have them there with us and we enjoyed their company.

When we could drag the kids out of the water they busied themselves building castles, serving "tea" and being buried in the sand.

I had to include this picture only because I thought it was so cute!

And because Earl always complains that there are no pictures of him on the blog - here he is. I actually reminded him of that just before I took this picture. I said, "If you want to be on the blog you have to smile for a picture." Seems to have worked. I don't know what we would have done without him this week. He was like a machine most days - up early, making trips to the grocery store or bakery, dragging beach chairs, bags and toys from the house to the beach, playing with the kids. I would have been completely lost without him there.

Stay tuned for more from our Bethany Beach adventures!