Finally...

I've been meaning to take my little girl to the beach for the longest time. I figured she would really like it, and right I was! We finally got there today! I know, we are already well into summer and I could have been there long ago... but alas, meaning to do something is simply that... MEANING to do something!

Well, like I said, I actually finally did it today. And wow, a simple trip to the beach is quite the production! And I only have ONE 14 month old!

There's the getting us both ready. And the looking up directions on how to get there and how to get to the store I want to stop at on the way. And there's the collecting of towels and a snack for Clara (which she ended up having when she got home), and a drink for Clara, and cameras and beach toys and GPS. And finally we're off. And then there's the stop at the store and we grab batteries for the camera and sunscreen and sweet tea for Mama (one of my favorites!!!). Then off we go again. Then there's the stop to try to search the GPS for some help, because I'm not totally clear on the directions.

Finally, we get there. Then there is the discovery that while those swim diapers Clara is wearing are designed to not absorb the whole ocean, they also don't absorb and hold much of anything and she is now pretty much soaking wet. So, before making it down to the beach she has a new diaper on and is going to be just using that and her swim shirt, as the diaper covers she was wearing are wet.

Then we try to proceed down to the beach with Mama carrying a bunch of stuff and trying to have Clara walk along. Of course, Clara has no clue what fun is ahead of her and is pretty much distracted by all kinds of things around her, so the walk down is somewhat frustrating. However, thanks in large part to Clara, before we even get down to the beach we have some new friends... a nice lady and her two boys who are also headed down to the beach. We end up setting up near them and chatting. I get to hear the interesting story of there Russian adoption and surprise birth of their own.

Well, now that we made it down to the beach, did Clara ever have a fun time or what!!! The sand, the mud, the rocks, the water!!! She liked it all!!! She spent a very happy 1 1/2 to 2 hours playing about and making even more friends. Enjoy the pictures!!!















The trudge back to the car with Mama carrying stuff and a very wet, dirty girl walking on her own, was NOT fun, but we made it.

After getting home, getting dressed and eating some lunch a tired little girl went to sleep quite quickly for her nap.



What a morning! It was quite the production, but it can be so neat to see your little one having fun! And it was a lovely day and we were blessed with some neat friends! Oh, and the water is nice and warm here!!! And Lord Jesus willing, we'll be doing it again!