When my friend Elise sent me her wedding invite, we decided to go together and make it an early fifth anniversary excursion. When December rolls around, we will have a new baby around again, making it hard to get out for even much of a date.
We flew into Long Island midday on Thursday (July 14th) and started our big (but short) getaway with a trip to my favorite restaurant Bayberry Cafe. The seafood was superb and it was a treat to have it, since the Midwest isn't known for it's fresh shellfish and salmon. It was fun to be back in my hometown and see how much Islip had changed, but mostly how it had stayed the same. I've changed a lot more. It's hard to believe eight years ago I was still biking to the beach with my friends.
Next, we hit the beach. We took the ferry across the Great South Bay to one of my favorite places, Fire Island. It's a barrier beach to Long Island and cars aren't allowed, so traffic consists of pedestrians, bikers, and some wagons, with the occasional emergency golf cart. (Well, the locals are allowed to have cars and drive them across the beach to the causeway for mainland access, but only in the winter.) The beaches there have gorgeous, soft sand and aren't too crowded because of the limited accessibility. I loved taking the ferry across and lazing on the beach with Mike. It was so relaxing to lay on the warm sand and listen to the ocean waves. It was a perfect day, not too hot, cold, or humid. After we had our fill of the beach and got in a swim, we walked along Main Street in the little Fire Island community of Ocean Beach and got some pizza and ice cream, before taking the ferry back to LI.
We checked into our hotel next. Mike's bro offered us reward points for a night at the Hilton, so we took him up on that and enjoyed our beautiful room, swimming, free cookies, and delicious breakfast. (Thanks again, Scot!)
Friday, we didn't want to pass up another chance at beach access, so we strolled along Jones Beach boardwalk and along the water's edge. I had run 5K's there and been there with my family on several occasions, so it was a fun trip down memory lane to share with Mike. And it was a gorgeous beach day. I wished we had more time so we could have gone swimming there, but it was pleasant just to walk along the shore and get our feet wet.
Later, we checked into a Marriott, closer to my friend's wedding venue. It was really nice also; we had just enough time for a quick dip in the pool and spa, before we needed to get ready to leave. I felt I needed some workout, so we had races in the pool, with the winner deciding on the stroke for the next lap. Out of ten laps, I didn't win a heat...though I came close a few times. (I don't think I had much of a chance, since Mike does have a foot on me.) We laughed a lot though: Mike's fun to race with, even if he doesn't always let me win.
Elise's wedding was beautiful and I was so glad to be able to be there for her special day. Thanks again for having us, Elise! My sister, Becca, played piano and sang an original song she wrote as the wedding party, Elise and Rich, walked down the aisle. She was brilliant and I am so proud to have such a talented sister. It was great to be able to see my parents. And I loved visiting with my very best friends from high school. I am glad we have more or less kept in touch over the years and hope to keep up our friendships forever. And Mike was great fun on the dance floor. As I found when chaperoning at the Stake Prom, Mike has some good moves. "I could've danced all night!" (Ha ha ha...lame reference to a musical.) And, best of all, he can always make me laugh.
Pictured above: Mike and me dancing; us at dinner; me with Kaitlyn, Jessica and Phoebe; Mike proud of his little kid, soda glass of Sprite from the bar (he was afraid of looking like he was drinking, since we, ya know, don't :) ); me and Emily at our table; and me and the fam with the lovely bride (Thanks to Emily for the pics of Mike and me!)
Before we knew it, we were on a plane leaving New York and then back in Kansas City and reunited with our beautiful girls who had a fantastic time with their grandparents. I needn't have worried. They are looking forward to their next sleepover at Grandma and Grandpa's. :) Thanks again for watching them! We missed them tons, but it was fun to feel like newlyweds again for a couple days. :)
