On the Beach

For Christmas this year, Jon's sister had the ingenious idea to take a family trip rather than buying each other stuff. So, we chose a weekend in late February and rented a beachhouse in Seabrook, a slightly too-perfect village on the Washington coast. On Friday night and Saturday morning, we gathered with Jon's mom, sisters, and respective husbands (and dogs) for a weekend of relaxing, eating, and playing. The "Moondance Cottage" was almost too good to be true. Big enough for each couple to have their own space, the house was equipped with a spacious kitchen, huge dining room table, multiple flat screen televisions, a Wii, a grill, bicycles, and a hot tub. If we could have, I think we all would have moved in.

Jon and I took advantage of the nice weather and sweet location to go jogging on the beach. We then hit the shuffleboard court (or whatever it's called) to challenge his mom and her husband to a spirited match (or whatever it's called). The entire group took an excursion to Ocean Shores, complete with a drive--yes, drive--on the beach. Toodling along as if it were the most ordinary road in the world, we passed a taxi cab, a motor-scooter, multiple horses, and a sealion posing for the masses.

We enjoyed Ocean Shore's tourist-friendly atmosphere for some yummy clam chowder, a trip around the go-kart track, and a stop at the local grocery store for BBQ fixings. Yes, we were able to barbecue in February. Before we knew it though, it was time to head back to Seabrook for a sunset beach trek. I simply can't get enough of the sunset, and when it's over a body of water, the aesthetic factor multiplies exponentially. Jon stopped at the house to pick up his guitar and away we went. We soaked up every minute of sunset we could, serenaded by Jon's acoustic stylings. If you asked him, he'd tell you that he's typically too busy to play his guitar, so it was nice that the vacation afforded him with the time and opportunity to do so. Yet, as usually happens, darkness fell and it was time to head back to the house for dinner. In true vacation-mode, we stayed up late chatting, simultaneously watching the Winter Olympics and playing Wii Winter Olympics, and taking a dip in the hot tub. Jon and I were joined by his sister in our beach jog the following morning before preparing a breakfast of Swedish pancakes. And then, all too soon, it was time to head back to the "real world." Of course, not before pledging to return to the Moondance the next opportunity we get.