As a child I went to Pismo Beach every summer with my grandparents. They would pack up us grand kids and take us for a week. We usually went in their motor home and stayed at Pismo Coast Village. I have some great memories of that beach although I was very young. We would do crafts, hunt for sand dollars, feed the ducks, swim, and I even took my training wheels off of my bike there. I can't remember the last year we went but I was probably about ten. That would mean it would be about twenty years since I had been there.
This time the trip would be a little different than I was used to as a child. A year ago my in laws thought it would be a fun idea to go to Pismo and rent a beach house. I was thrilled. It had been so long and I was so young I had trouble remembering what the little town looked like. So it was decided. We would spend a week in Pismo with my parents, my In-Laws and our good friends the Normans who also have two kids.
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| The whole crew in front of the beach house |
I don't know whether its my personality or whether most moms feel this way but trips with my four kids are always a lot of work. Getting the six of us out of the house with everything we would need for a week is no easy feat but I managed. After hours of packing and loading the car we were set to go on Friday afternoon.
I have to admit the first night we got there was pretty emotional for me. I am hoping I hid it well. My grandparents were very important people to me and both have passed away. After checking out the house we decided to walk down to the beach to let the kids play around. As soon as I got close to the beach the smell hit me. It was most definitely the Pismo beach smell. To me its not the same as other beaches. This was Pismo. I don't know if its the plants that grow in the area or the type of sand but it was a clear memory as soon as I walked down to the beach. The sand is fine and softer than any other beach I have been to. We had a beautiful sunset and all I could think of was how much I missed my grandparents and how I felt like they were watching over me. This trip I was going to get to share all my childhood experiences with my kids and I was excited.
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| Lilly and I enjoying the beautiful sunset. |
We of course spent a lot of time on the beach. It took my boys a little bit of time to warm up to the waves but by the last day they were running in and out of the water and getting pretty brave. Lilly spent most of the time at the beach being held because she loves to eat sand, rocks, sticks, seaweed and pretty much whatever she can get her hands on. We tried several of the beaches near by like Avila beach and Grover beach. We visited the sand dunes and of course we searched for sea shells.
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| Baby Lilly at the San Dunes |
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| My boys running from the waves |
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| Where is James' body, Grandma and Papa covered him completely. |
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| Learning how to listen for the ocean in a conch shell |
You have to have a bit of know how and some luck to get the best sea shells. And we were always on the look out for the elusive whole sand dollar. The best time to go is early in the morning as the tide is going out. If it is already low tide you will be too late and the darn birds will have beat you to the best shells. If you walk along the waters edge as the waves go in and out you can see imperfections in the sand where shells and rocks are buried. This is your best chance at finding whole sand dollars. But beware you will get wet and its awfully cold in the mornings. Our friends gave me the nick name the Sand dollar whisperer since I had the insider scoop from my grandma.
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| On the hunt for the best shells at 6 in the morning. It takes dedication. |
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| We found lots of whole sand dollars. |
We also had some time to go into San Luis Obispo. We stopped by the Mission. Our friends daughter had studied them in school this year so she was excited to see it. Having been a fourth grade teacher for years my dad has an affinity for the missions as well so it was a fun stop for everyone. Because a bunch of three year olds can not spend a ton of time in a mission museum we decided to take them to The San Luis Obispo Children's Museum that was a block away. I am so jealous that this place isn't closer to us. The kids had such a great time. It had science centesr, imaginative play, dresses ups. You know its a good place when it entertains a 9 month old, three year olds, and 8 and 10 year olds too. We also stopped at Bubble gum alley. Good thing I am not a germ-a-phobe, otherwise this would have been a terrible disaster.
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| Two mamas and our kiddos at the Mission |
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| Nick dressing up as an Astronaut |
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| Playing in the fire truck. |
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| Bubble gum Alley, just a little disgusting. |
The kids had some wooden put together art projects that my dad was super excited about. They did a car project and a bird house. Each one took some parent help but the kids had a great time. I now have to find a spot for three bird houses in our trees.
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| Racing their cars |
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| building bird house |
We walked around the town a few times. There are a lot of shops and restaurants. We of course had to stop by The Scoop. As a child we would walk into town and get bright blue bubble gum ice cream. At this ice cream shop they give you a little cup so you can spit your gum into it and eat it when your done. I know its completely disgusting but it is super fun. When we went all the kids and some of the adventurous grown ups got bubble gum ice cream. Even some of the adults choose to partake in the odd experience of frozen gum balls in ice cream.
We also walked out onto the pier. I am such a worrying mother. All I could think of was what would happen if one of my hooligan little boys fell in the water. Several times I had to yell at their father for teasing me and holding them up over the edge. In my head I was trying to figure out how I was going to find someone to hold Lilly quickly and jump off the pier to save my poor babies. I know, like I said, I am a worrying mother.
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| Out around town |
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| Bubble gum ice cream! |
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| The whole group out on the pier. |
We did get to spend one morning without kids. The four grandparents offered to watch all the kiddos while we had a few hours with our friends. Ray and I got massages at the Madonna Inn as part of my birthday present and then we had lunch with The Normans at The Apple Farm. I think its the first meal in a long time where I sat through the entire thing uninterrupted.
Of course there was the evening fun. The Olympics were going on so
each night we got a few drinks and sat back and relaxed. (I couldn't enjoy as much alcohol as all the other adults since I still have to feed Lilly but one drink is OK) We watched the Olympic coverage and tried to stay awake for the best parts but some nights I did not make it. I know that my parents always had drinks in the evening on camping trips. Now I
understand why. Vacation with kids is tough and exhausting. I love
making memories with my kids and had a great time but boy was I beat
when I got home.
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| Relaxing our last night at the beach house. |
