To the Beach

You know you're livin' the good life when the toughest decision you have to make in a day is whether to go to the beach or the pool. We had about 6 of those days in a row last week and let me tell you, it was nice. Really nice.

We spent the entire week as a family vacationing in South Myrtle Beach, SC. Our dear friends, the Hampton's from NC, invited our family to join theirs. There was plenty of room to comfortably accommodate our party of four and their party of five in their ocean front condo. I anticipated a fun but tiring week, although vacation, due to the packing, hauling, unpacking, wrangling of children, and whatever else traveling away from home requires with two small ones, but the week was truly the opposite of tiring. It was downright relaxing. Wake up, eat breakfast, make the toughest decision of the day and then stay there until mid-afternoon. Return to condo, eat a late lunch, nap if needed, cook dinner, repeat. Awww, the good life.

Oia did awesome navigating at the beach, or "beap" as she pronouces it. We bought her a pair of Keen's just days before we left with the intent of them being her water shoes. She wore them well (sans SMO's) while playing along the shore. These protected her toes from dragging in the sand, as her right foot sometimes will do. Sometimes though, she did roam the shore barefoot but she mostly wanted her Keens on. The sand was not an obstacle for her and she tolerated the waves well until they became knee deep or higher, which at that point she required a hand to hold from one of the adults. But overall, she was fearless about the ocean. Wanted in, wanted to jump over the waves (which required max assistance), wanted to run into the water, wanted to turn around and run out only to run back in again... over and over and over. Last July she was at the tail-end of post-op recovery, and this July she's rompin' in and around the ocean. Love to use these little experiences as our dipsticks to measure and highlight her progress.

And Esme. Her first glimpse of the ocean. Her first taste of salt water (and sand). She, too, loved it. Pure baby bliss. And when naptime arrived, she and I would venture for a brief walk with the double jogger along the shore where she would zonk out in seconds for a decent and peaceful nap. Probably one of the daily moments I enjoyed most about our trip. My walks, her naps. Precious times.

Of course, I took more pictures than one person should ever be allowed to take in one week. But, put me with 5 cute kids along the ocean and I just can't put my camera down. Memories. I have the need to capture them all...

To Chad, 'Gita, 'Nola, Taft and Collens, Thank you for a wonderful week of friendship, fun, sand and sun. We've been blessed. Until next time.