We are off to a good “beach” start this summer with three beach days behind us already.  Both Rich and I love the ocean, and we decided together that we would live no more than 10 minutes away from it so that our children would grow up knowing the sand and the waves.  

  

Alex and A.J. spend a lot of the time in the water.  The waves get the best of them a lot of the time! 

Aria only feels secure down by the water when she’s holding tight to her daddy’s hand.

Daddy always scoops her up just in time!

The kids spend hours digging holes when we are at the beach.  What is it about digging a hole that kids love? Where do they think they’re going?  China?  Well, I used to think that, anyway.  

Rich always goes in the ocean with the kids while I sit up on the beach.  I don’t really like going in the water.  Sharks, you know.  They are out there.  YES, they are!  No one can convince me differently.  But that’s not really what keeps me out, to tell the truth.  Actually, it’s the ocean water.  It’s  COLD!  No matter how hot it is on the beach, I don’t like really cold water.  Call me a wimp, I guess.   I prefer heated pools.

But I do love the ocean.  Just being down at the beach; the smells, the sounds….it’s very peaceful.  Even when I have 8 or 9 kids along with me, there’s just a sort of peace that I feel when I’m at the beach.  It relaxes me.

But then, well we eventually have to go home.

And I have to deal with all the sand.

Sand everywhere!  Always.

That’s not fun.

But still, it’s worth it!