Beach be not proud.

So, one sunny Sunday in July, we decided to actually do something summery, and hit a beach on the north shore with some friends. Parking was hell, the far beach was crowded, but the near beach was almost empty. So, we settled in, and began to enjoy the shallow water and gentle tide.

Well, Joss was not a fan of the water, and preferred to stay out of the sun.

And our friend James also didn't really like the water, but he loved digging in the sand.

Paul loved both sand and surf, and did his best to get as much of both as he possibly could.

You see how deep the beach looks in this picture? Well, less than an hour after taking this picture, the tide came in all the way to the sea wall, effectively ending our outing with a hurried picnic, a frantic packing-up, and a scurry up the sea wall stairs.

Lesson learned: when you see an empty beach on a lovely day, there's probably a damn good reason!

780 mile weekend - part 4

After a false start thwarted by a passing rain storm, we finally made it to the beach!

Paul experimented with eating sand covered cheerios. . .we're still waiting to see if the silica he ingested leaves his system as little glass marbles. . .
A dude's gotta stay hydrated. . .and then Paul caged some Doritos from the family next to us. . .

Some light summer reading while Daddy and David tackled the waves. (Paul still does NOT like the ocean - an unexpectedly high reaching wave that knocked him face first into the sand really didn't help - but liked chasing the seagulls.)

Some people go to the beach and collect shells. And this beach had many shells - many of them still containing their clam and snail residents! However, Paul collected plastic bottle caps. (He knows the difference between green and yellow, and could say "green" and "yellow" so that was cool.)

Time to go home - can we take the dog?

Day at the beach! Part III

Day at the beach! Part II

Day at the beach! Part I

Despite a side-trip to Firestone to repair a tire (had a giant screw stuck in it causing a slow leak), we had a lovely day at Venice Beach! Paul played on the slide again at the playground, then we headed off to the beach, proper.

Daddy made a valiant effort to spread out our beach blanket, er, bed sheet. . .
Paul is equipped for sand play thanks to a very kind mom at the playground who had an extra shovel and cup (may her good karma return to her 10-fold).
The ocean is so very. . .
. . .very big.
Paul still does not like the water on his feet - to be fair, it was pretty cold. . .

Florida 2009 - Thursday at the Beach! part II

After thinking it all over, the tide, the water, the sand. . .
. . .Paul gives the beach a thumb's up!

Until the tide continued to come in. . .

. . .and yeah, that was enough.

Aaaaannnndddd, Paul was outta there. . .

Florida 2009 - Thursday at the Beach! part I

While Sunday was a little chilly, Thursday was bright and sunny and warm, and perfect beach weather! Grandpa Steve joined us for a little surf and sand. . .
That's the Atlantic Ocean, son.

And this is wet sand. Why is the sand wet?

Well, the ocean has tides, and this tide is coming in. . .

Yeah, I guess it is a bit cold. . .

Florida 2009 - Sunday - Going to the Beach pt II

Best. Day. Ever.
Seashells taste like chicken. . .
. . .seriously, Paul, don't eat the seashells. . .
Ask not for whom the beach breeze is chilly. . .it chills for thee. . .and her sister. . .
Aunt Margie, Paul, and Mommy:

Florida 2009 - Sunday - Going to the Beach pt I

Despite slightly chilly temperatures - high 60s! - we decided to go to the beach with Aunt Margie. . .
Grandma Barbara's three granddaughters:

Shawn thinks we should put together a calendar of Paul sleeping in different places. Paul likes the idea, and wants to get a head start. . .
Not Paul's first time at the beach, but his first time playing in the sand!