Wishful Beach Thinking.....

These are pictures of the boys at the beach last summer (Ocean City, NJ).  I love watching my boys enjoy the beach.  They LOVE playing in the sand, running away from the waves, chasing the seagulls, and covering us with sand.  All winter they talk about the beach, and we all look forward to going back.  Since I've known Greg, we've been able to use a family friend's house for FREE each summer.  The past couple of summers we went for a long weekend mid-summer and a week later in the summer.  It was such a beautiful blessing to be able to stay at our friend's house.  Well, this is the first summer that we will not be able to stay there.  She sold the house.  Now, don't get me wrong, I am extremely grateful that we have had so many "free" vacations.  But I really miss Rosemarie's house.  It was a beautiful, old beach house that needed some updating, but we have so many wonderful memories in that house.  I am generally a nostalgic person, and I miss what I know and love.  Here's a picture of us on the front steps from two years ago

So, we debated about what to do this summer, and finally decided to try to rent something later in the summer, and a little further of  a walk to the beach.  After hours of internet research, I finally found a house with an incredibly reasonable rate for the last week of August.   It is a block further than we are accustomed to walking, but I am really happy with our find. 
Ok, so why did I title this post "Wishful Beach Thinking"?  Well, I had a great idea to take the boys mid-summer to the beach for the weekend.  My big idea was to drive down Friday afternoon, 7/9 and spend Gotcha Evening at the boardwalk, and then all day Sat. at the beach and then boardwalk again Sat. night. Ahhh...I can smell the salt air, even as I type this. Our Family Day (Gotcha Day) is July 9th, and we celebrate it with something special every year.  So, I was sure that I'd find something that we could afford for the weekend of July 9th.  WOW, was I ever wrong.  I should say that we are not willing to room with the roaches, so there were some hotels that we wouldn't even consider...even if it meant time at the beach. 
Well, there are worst things than having to give up a weekend at the beach.  Right now, we just can't see spending that kind of money when we are trying to pay for another adoption.  However, if I know myself at all, every once in awhile, from now until July 9th, I'll be taking a look at hotel rates for OC, NJ....just in case....