Life. It [Continues]

-(20)-I didn't write the weekend of the 14 and 15 because we didn't do anything. We left for the shore on Monday the 16 and got back Thursday the 19th. I didn't write yesterday because I had gymnastics and we were unpacking. So I've got today to update.

Monday, August 16 (The Ride Down)
It takes so much to get out the door in this family. It is definately one big struggle. We were getting the van packed, no piled, down with bags and stuff. Everyone is all over the place. Riley runs around making messing and we're running behind her cleaning them up. Dad was whining about how we have too many bags so mom went and packed the van to keep him quiet. It went well. I helped with that. Finally, we got everything in and jammed Rachel's big bag in where ever it could fit. It was a pretty packed bag to say the least. Reid and Rachel were also bringing a picture of the dog, Presley which I thought was pretty funny. We took her over to my aunt's earlier that day so she could stay with them.
Here is where everything gets a little complicated. That is getting into the car and being able to close the door without having to run in one last time. Doing that is just literally impossible for us. Rachel started it by bringing out a chocolate bar. Riley saw it and of course she wanted one. Reid wanted a water bottle and Rachel had to get out for something so, naturally, I hopped out too. It turns out, Riley never got her chocolate (thank goodness) and Rach came back with nothing. I did the same. After all that we did actually manage to clear the driveway this time without any worms in the back seat.
-(21)-So, Rachel and I were in the back loaded down with stuff in front of us and behind us. Reid and Riley had the middle. I lent Reid my CD player so he could listen to Elvis. I never use my CD player anymore anyway. It didn't bother me. Rachel was singing Ashlee Simpson and Riley was watching the Rugrats. I entertained myself by reading the Good Earth. Although it wasn't too entertaining I did manage to read a good 20 pages or so.
We arrrived at the Charlroy around 1:45 and checked in for 2:00. It was so nice to be back in the room again. I missed seeing it. Last time I was there was with my nana and hop pop almost exactly a year ago. So yeah it was nice to be back. Everything was exactly as we left it with the execption of a bunch of animals on top of the TV.
The first thing we did after bringing eveything into the room was eat. We all had Hop pops tuna fish which tastes soo good. Chips and soda on the side. Oh how healthy we eat at the shore. Riley figured out how to turn the TV on almost right away and Reid found the channel for cartoon network. I claimed my corner where I would set up my Aerobed airmattress. I felt so lucky to have my own bed. Normally, it's Rach who gets that privilege but since it was MY air matress, I got it!
We decided on going to the beach after we all ate. It would just be a short visit. Rachel and mom brought the video camera and taped us walking so we could show nana and hop pop when we got back. Actually, we're going over tonight to show them the tape and visit. (It's the second day of me writing this. I stopped yesterday) Anyway, we went down and sat on the sand which was directly across from the motel. All we had to do was walk across the street. Reid brought his boogey board and attempted to ride the waves but he ended up crashing every time and gave us a good show of getting sand up his shorts. We decided on walking the board walk for a bit after that. I wanted to win my sour patch kids like I do every year so we stopped and played the candy wheels. Nana gave us each 50 dollars and I tell you I used it sparingly. My last quarter was spent on our last minute at the boardwalk. I only used 10 dollars of it the first night. It was spent at my favorite place, Lucky Leos. It's a casino and arcade where I spent most of my time playing the animal machines. Only the quarter ones too. I've grown up playing them with my nana. That's probably why I was so attached to them. I probably spent over half of my money there. But I'm not going to get ahead of myself. I'm still on the first day here.
-(26)-So like I said, we were at the boardwalk that night walking around. We played wheels and stuff occasionally. Rachel bought a sweatshirt. We won a big stuffed Princess Fiona from the giant animal crane and all the other details are fuzzy. (Why did I wait so long to write this? It's been exactley a week since we've come back now.) Later that night, mom and I walked over to the Sawmill and got dinner to bring back to the room. The guy there was very friendly. He gave mom a free soda and sat us down at a table even though we were doing take out. I was impressed with the place. I always have been considering the pizza is the size of my head. No joke. Plus it tastes good which is always a plus. Not all pizza places taste good you know...
We ate in the hotel room and I have a very good image of that in my head. Rachel got it on video tape. She was always taping something. Now that we're home, I'm fond of the tape because I can easily remember the trip when I watch it. (Maybe I should do that to get my details back) Closing up the first day there (actually only half a day) I have to say that it was one that stuck out in my mind. I remember the way it felt when we first arrived and those first minutes spent there are the ones that stand out the most. The next 3 days we were there have now begun to blend together making it difficult for me to remember EVERY SINGLE THING. Of course, I would love to write about EVERY SINGLE THING but I don't think my brain remembered it all. I only have the main points now being that I waited so freaking long to finish writing this thing. So anyway, this brings me to.....

Tuesday, August 17 (Our Beach Day)
I slept on the aerobed that night. MY aerobed. Mom, Riley and Rachel slept on one double bed and dad and Reid took the other. Riley was bouncy that night. She didnt' fall asleep easily and mom got mad. I stayed in my corner. Reid and Rachel were (excuse me for this) farting up a storm, blowing the tiles off the ceiling and yes I stayed in my corner. I didn't sleep too well either mainly because my blanket was too darn small for me and I ended up using a sweatshirt for extra warmth. Plus my air mattress was too firm. (Or maybe it was too soft...) The point is, I didn't sleep as good as I could have. I think we stayed up watching the olympics that night too. Actually I think we were up watching the olympics every night. It was men's gymnastics so yeah that was exciting.
Today was beach day! The plan was to spend the whole day at the beach so we woke up and started getting ready. Mom and Dad were the first ones up. They walked down the street to a coffee place and left us, the kids, sleeping in the room. I wouldn't have known it if mom hadn't come right up in my face while I was sleeping and let me know. She got right down face level and might as well have screamed in my ear because it sure as anything scared me a little. That's okay. I fell right back asleep when she went out the door.
-(29)- So mom brought donoughts back for us that morning along with the paper. Everyone got up and started moving. I folded up my aerobed for the day and got dressed. Mom, Reid, and Riley headed down to the beach first and dad, Rachel, and I would meet them down there. Prepared with our sand shovels and castle makers, we made our way across the street and onto the beach. In case the person there asked, I was going to be 13 and get in for free. Luckly, they never asked. So I don't know how I can really describe the time now. We went in the water, layed in the sun, and ummm yeah did beach stuff. I brought the Good Earth to read, which I am done reading now anyway. It was a perfect day. So around lunch time everyone but my dad and I went back to the room for lunch. I went back seperately a short time later. Mom and Dad went back a short time later while Reid was in the pool and Rachel and I were in the room. We occupied the time by bouncing between the hotel beds. I never realized how much fun that is. The day went by fast. One minute I was waking up and then all of a sudden I'm back in the bed again. We went to the boardwalk after mom and dad got back. Reid won me my sourpatch kids. Oh yeah!! We went into lucky leos again and played the animal cranes. Reid gambled his quarters for points. I want to work there someday. That is if I ever get a beach house.
Later that night we all walked down the street and ate at Ryan's Deli. Yeah I have my own deli. It was good too because I had a meatball parmegeana sandwhich.
We were planning on doing rides tomorrow. Reid wanted to do the sling shot ride where they launch you into the sky. I don't think I would do it.
So back at the hotel that night I went to turn on Big Brother but because we got a different kind of cable, the baseball game was on and Big Brother was rescheduled to 1:36 in the morning. I can't believe they would do that and I was pretty mad. Truth is, I didn't stay up to watch it. Mom was up and tried to tell me but I was soo tired I couldn't keep my eyes open. She watched it and told me all about it in the morning. So yup that ends day 2. It wasn't as long but like I said, the details are getting kinda fuzzy. Good thing I remembered a lot about these last two days. I'll probably never forget them...

Wednesday, August 18 (A Day of Rides On the Pier)