The One In Which My Two Year Old Doesn't Appreciate Me

I'm lucky enough to have a work schedule that gives me every other Friday off and because I'm an awesome mom (wink, wink) I try to plan something fun for O and I to do together on those Fridays.  Sometimes a quick trip to the zoo.  Sometimes a walk on a new trail.  Today I had the bright idea to take her to the beach.  I spent all morning packing up food, extra shoes, jackets and blankets so that we could spend a lovely morning there.  But instead of a lovely morning at the beach I ended up having a lovely morning at home listening to O throw an hour long tantrum because:

1) she didn't want to change her shirt
2) she didn't want me to brush her teeth
3) she didn't believe there was toothpaste on her toothbrush
4) she didn't want her blankie (even though she just picked up her blankie)
5) she didn't want to eat breakfast (even though she just asked for it)
6) she wanted to wear leather sandals at the beach

And the list could go on and on.  At one point I decided to give myself a time out in an attempt to keep my cool and I went in my room and folded clothes.  What eventually calmed her down?  I have no idea but when we finally left for the beach, let's just say that I was not in the sunny mood that I was in before the one hour tantrum.

But all that changed when we finally got there.  The weather was perfect.

The beach was empty.

We walked in the water, poked at objects, and I got my toes all wet.

We sat on a log and shared some cherries and apples.

Photographic proof that moms don't travel light

We talked about the birds and the waves and the sand.

And the whole time we were there she was an absolute pleasure to be around.

It almost made me forget what a holy terror she was this morning...almost....