Molly's Weblog

As soon as the car stops in the driveway of our beach house, the kids unbuckle, yell at their sisters to get out of the car, and as soon as they are out of the car, run like lightning into the house. “Safe!” we gasp. (We are happy because we have escaped the clutches of our dad making us unpack.) Well, that sure was said too soon. “Get back here!” Dad yells. Grumbling, moaning, and whining,we go back to the car and slowly empty out its contents. Then we grab our bags, put up our room signs, and talk with our cousins. That is,while we unpack, we talk.  I share a room with Payton.  I am gonna be weighed down this year with stuff.  Anyway, after our clothes and other necessities have been placed in the dresser, we beg our aunt and uncle (our cousins’ parents) towalk with us down to the shore. What a sight! The sand, which is burning hot at 3 in the afternoon, is sprinkled with tide pools, shells, and seaweed. But that isn’t what we are looking at. We are looking at the ocean! It is simply amazing-waves crashing, crashing, at our heels.  Well, that speechless moment is over quickly. Everyone (except the adults) runs and splashes in the ocean.  It feels great to everyone’s feet after being in the car for 3 hours!  We always beg to stay 5 minutes longer, then 5 minutes longer again, and, well, you get the picture. But finally we have to go home for dinner.  The adults divide up the dinners, like this: a couple does 1 meal, another couple does another meal, and the last and unfortunate couple has to stand by the stove and make 2 meals. Who is that unfortunate couple, you ask? Well, it’s my parents this year.  And I know we are staying 7 nights, so just 4 meals doesn’t add up. But wait-one night we go out to dinner, one night we order pizza, and one night we have leftovers.  After our dinner of I-don’t-know-what-it-is-for-this-year-yet,Maggie and Paige, Susanna and Bradleigh, get ready for bed. But not Payton and me! We stay up for an hour longer, playing games, watching TV, and such. One night last year there were fireworks. Payton and I were in bed, but we had barely gotten in, so when we heard the fireworks and the ooooohs and aaaahs from the grownups we walked right out and watched. And they didn’t send us back to bed! Wait for part 4 for the next week’s description.