Jennifer Woodbury

We couldn't totally escape real life on our spring break vacation last week.

There was that first day, after we had already spent four carefree hours at the beach, when Matt mentioned that my back looked a little red and then asked "Wait, did I ever put sunscreen on your back this morning?" Um, that would be a no. Too bad I don't have a picture of my face when that realization sunk in. I'm sure it would have been priceless. If you talk to Ella, she'll be happy to tell you all about Matt putting cool paper towels on my back that night as penance.

There was the one morning when it rained.

On the last night, after we had promised Ella a special shaved ice treat after dinner (it was her birthday the next day), it turned out the shaved ice place was closed. You better believe there were tears. It didn't help that Matt and I had talked this place up to her all. day. long.

My stomach didn't enjoy eating out every day quite as much as I did.

Oh, and it turns out Lucy still hates sand.

No, those moments weren't perfect, but all the moments in between came pretty close.

There were lazy mornings spent playing card games (Old Maid was the family favorite) until it was time to head to the beach.

I was able to finish reading two great books in one week.

The hardest decision we had to make every day was where to eat dinner. Pizza Bar won out most nights because the girls loved their pasta with butter and cheese. (Apparently one of the charms of vacation is paying eight dollars for something I can make at home for one.)

We built sandcastles, hunted for seashells, caught a crab (and let it go), and spotted dolphins out at sea. Lucy even ventured out into the sand a time or two (with shoes on), and let the ocean waves lull her to sleep four out of five days.

At the pool, Matt and Lucy took turns blowing bubbles while Ella played "swimming teacher" with Claire.

And it turns out that homemade birthday cake ice cream on a cone from Blue Mountain Beach Creamery can make you forget all about shaved ice.