Redondo Beach with Yaya and Uncle Jake

5 July 2014

The morning after the 4th, we drove down to Redondo Beach to pick up Lisa and Jake from their mansion of a beach house vacation with the Hudson clan (Jake's mom's parents' 50th anniversary celebration). We soaked up a few minutes of the good life and then headed down to the beach to spend the day. Sadly, Jake had endured a 2nd degree sunburn across his shoulders - so no water/sun for him. But he hung out under the shade of our umbrella while the rest of us played with the kids and enjoyed what we could of the warm sand and huge waves. I am reminded every time we go how blessed we are to live so close...and how strange it is that my kids will grow up on the beach.

Chasing birds...

This shot makes me laugh, looks like the bird is on Will.

This girl gets some serious air, and look at her form! 

Flashing who knows what gang signs.

It was a busy day.

Can we say tuckered out?

We forgot our bag of sand toys, but thankfully Auntie Yaya came to the rescue with her empty water bottle.

Will was very amused.

Checking out his beautiful wifey.

War paint.

Could she be any more beautiful?

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. 

 

I am in love with this Paisley girl. She has me wrapped around her little finger.

Nicole and Brandon Reader - our totally awesome friends. (and Brandon works at Riot with Aaron, so even better)

My loves and life in a frame.

Beautiful Cambree.

One of my favorites of Olivia.

Illustrates perfectly how she feels about the beach.