a weekend at the beach.

This past weekend we took a 4 day trip to the ocean to celebrate Mother's Day, our last getaway as a family of 4 and just a much needed time away as a family for some relaxation and fun. We had originally planned to go to Disneyland with Matt's parents but when baby #3's due date came along, it just wasn't ideal to fly on a plane and walk 5 miles through Disneyland being 8 months pregnant.

Luckily, Disneyland will always be there and the charming little town of Seabrook still made for a perfect little getaway!

Seriously though, Seabrook really is the cutest little beach town. About 15 miles from Ocean Shores it has these adorable cottages, all beautifully decorated inside and out, a community pool, walking/biking trails, a few cute shops, a luxurious spa and the beach, just a 5 minute walk away. 

Right when we got there we instantly fell in love with the house. 3 stories with the bedrooms on the top and bottom floors (Matt's parents were more than happy to have a bit of separation at times from some louder than life children!) and a quaint sitting room off the main level to look out on the neighborhood while cozying up with a good book. We loved that room!

 Not the best picture of our house but here it is. Centrally located in town and just the right amount of space for the 6 of us.

 Seabrook also has this cute Town Hall which can hold weddings or parties. It reminded me of an old church building.

 The kids loved walking and exploring each time we went out.

 Another cute house!

 The community pool was a big hit. We went swimming every day we were there and had to drag the kids out of the water each time we were done. On our last day we had the entire pool to ourselves, which was so fun!

 The beach was so nice. It was mid 60s all weekend, a slight breeze and no loud cars or horses or mopeds like you'd typically see in Ocean Shores. It was perfect for flying kites and to let a very energetic 5 year old boy run until he was exhausted!

 The kites were so fun....until Lucy was super bored and done. Haha!

 I can't believe both kids ventured into the water. I kept my distance...after all...I wouldn't want to freeze our baby!  :)

 The funny thing was we told them to stay dry and not "too" dirty since we were headed out to dinner immediately after the beach. What the heck were we thinking? Take 2 kids to a huge beach and expect them to stay dry? Parent fail. But lots of giggling and smiles were all around!

 On our last day we headed back to the beach, this time much more prepared with swim suits and towels. Sadly, Lucy fell on the walk down and scraped her knees pretty badly, which then led to her quickly changing her mind about playing in the sand. Grandparents to the rescue! Matt, Carter and I enjoyed some time at the beach while Lucy napped on Grandma Kathy back at the house.

 We had promised the kids we'd make s'mores while we were there, since they have a bunch of community fire pits spread throughout the town, ready to use. Instead of waiting until it got dark (and late!) and then giving the kids endless marshmallows, we decided to make a mid-afternoon campfire to allow time for the sugar rush to decrease well before bedtime.

 Carter wanted to help the big boys so badly with the fire. And, of course, just play in the fire with any stick he could get his hands on.

 Us girls just waited patiently.

 Then it was time to roast! I think Carter ended up with 8 or 9 marshmallows, Lucy at least 6. And lots of chocolate.

 Matt's parents enjoying the craziness of sugar loving grandkids.

 And one last picture of the kids enjoying a snack before a very long car ride home (thanks traffic!).  It was such a fun weekend and a special memory we'll all have before the craziness of baby #3 begins. Can't wait to visit again soon!