The Ericksons: First Day of Summer at the Beach

21 June 2014

It was only fitting that we spend the first official day of Summer at the beach. We invited our friends - Brandon and Nicole Reader and their girls Cambree and Paisley - to join us at the Annenberg Beach House. Annenberg is my favorite beach by far - it's got that exclusive beach club feel, but it's open to the public. Splash pad, playground, cafe, swimming pool, volleyball nets, clean beach (almost free of seagulls), and a boardwalk that takes you almost all the way down to the water - it's a dream. It was such a spectacular day, it was warm, there was a breeze, and the water was the warmest we've experienced in forever. We all spent the day in the water, babies included. I loved being out in the water - it was carefree, calming, and cool - all things I could use on a more regular basis. Will has always loved playing in the sand, and he spent his fair share playing in and eating the sand - but he was far more interested in the "surf" this trip. He loved being in the water, chasing the waves, getting wet, toppling over as the waves would recede, and running away from Mom or Dad. Aaron even dunked his head in the water - Will loved it! Olivia also spent 95% of her time in the water. She got somersaulted by the waves more than a few times, but got up laughing every time. She may be apprehensive around a pool, but she shows no fear when it comes to the ocean (which has its positive and negative side). She and Cambree chased each other, played in the sand and water, and even put on a Frozen show for some random teenage girls who were seated behind us. Will and Paisley hung out with the parents most of the time, floating in the ocean waves, playing in the sand, and eating whatever they could get their sandy fingers on.

Sand, surf, sandwiches, sandy See's suckers (thanks to Brandon's Uncle Paul), and saltwater - all the good things in life. It was the perfect way to welcome in summer and to get to know our already good friends even better.