Sunset Beach

Summer is slipping away and I can't always wait for weekends to do outings and such - there are only so many weekends left before school starts.  This past week I summoned my courage and took the kids to the beach by myself.    We went to another local beach this time.  It was pretty nice.  But like Palm Beach there was a high sand dune to hike over from parking lot to shore.  And I brought more gear this time (blankets, snacks, sweatshirts, water, chair etc).  I carried all the gear and Emma up the sand dune.  It was tough with all that deep sand.   I just tried to think of it as an extension of my workout (it burns!!)  We made it up the dune and to the beach.  The older three kids took off to the water right away.  John asked for snacks and Emma cried if I ever put her down.

Grant came back and forth from the water with many "treasures" and I use that term loosely.

One man's trash...

He begged to bring home a weathered stick he found.  It's sitting outside our front door now.

Emma insisted on wearing a hat (smart girl) and sat with me the whole time.  

She wasn't at all interested in getting sandy or wet.  She did enjoy watching the seagulls (she insisted they were "ducks").

John also liked the seagulls.  He would run up to them and shout "BOO!" until they flew off.  When he tired of that he decided to head to the water.    He made friends with a little girl down there and had a great time.

It was a beautiful day.  Warmer than last time.  We even saw some sea life.  Grant thinks it was a whale, I think more likely a dolphin.  I've seen both off the CA coasts just standing there on the beach, so who knows.

The nice weather turned a little colder when the wind picked up.

Emma didn't like the stiff breeze.

She was placated for a time with crackers.

Anna found a complete sand dollar which was exciting.

We've found lots of pieces of them here but not a whole one yet.

Matthew was making a sand design.  We must bring sand tools next time.  I'm sure they are in one of these boxes.  Or maybe we didn't have any in Illinois or Colorado.  I don't even know anymore.

Beautiful day at a beautiful beach.  Everyone wanted to leave after the wind picked up and I was ready to call it a day too.  Of course it meant I had to hike back over the sand dune again.  I had jelly arms by the time we got back to the car.  Good workout.