ocean city boardwalk!!

Last year, Parker broke his arm the day before we were due to visit the boardwalk. Of course, the plan very abruptly got the kibosh. We’ve been talking about it ever since, so it was with extra excitement that we headed there this year. The weather was hit or miss (the first few days here were rainy; so unusual for our time here!) and it ended up sprinkling while we were eating pizza, but not much after that. A cool evening, and fewer crowds were not such a bad way to do the boardwalk, as a matter of fact. Like any day at the boardwalk, it must start with Mack and Manco’s pizza. A grandfather and some of his grandkids. I look at this picture and I consider myself really lucky. I have some good people in my life. Sister Kate, and my niece Nora.William brought one of his friends (that’s Devon!) with him for the week. Lindsey is off in Germany for three weeks (we had an exchange student in October, so now she’s staying at her home!) so with an extra seat, we asked Devon to come along. He’s great. They’ve been friends since the start of freshman year. Both go off to college in the fall though 🙁  This was the first year Anders really got to partake in the boardwalk rides in a real way. I mean, besides just the carousel or the slow-moving train that goes around the park. He’s just about 36″ which is the minimum for some of the more “serious” rides. When I was on the Tilt-a-Whirl I kept catching glimpses of him as it went around and around and I saw him crying. I assumed he thought I was in some sort of danger, and wanted me off it. I get off it only to discover that no, he just wanted to come on it too. Oh buddy!  So we found virtually every ride he could go on and fully partook. He pretty much ran around the park in total glee, pausing only to watch the older kids go on a roller coaster before getting back to his own rides. The smiles on him were truly magic. Even holding his own tickets! I think this was for a fire engine that he got to ride around in circles. So happily, pure joy. Kate and her husband Mike. Kate and I sometimes sit back and watch these guys take off like they are the absolute best of friends. Sometimes they’ve gone a full year in between seeing each other (unacceptable) but when they’re back together it’s like no time has passed. Cousins are really special. Could not believe Parker was interested in this ride but after watching Nora and Kate do it, he said ok. It was a very simple rollercoaster compared to most, but he is just not the type to go on a potentially scary ride. He watched, tossed it around his head for a bit, and then told me he wanted to do it. And we did! He was all smiles.When you’re big but have little brothers and get to on on the rides for little kids. We know you really love it, William!!! And finally, we capped it off with some serious Kohr Brothers ice cream. I even said yes to the jimmies. Who am I?!

{throwbacks to super pregnant me on the boardwalk, three years ago, two years ago}