The sun was hot and burned brightly on our skin, especially the bottoms of our feet as we went back and forth from our shade tent, to the water. One little boy saw the “water” for the first time, and by watching his older siblings, he knew just what to do, without fear of anything.
Baby Sarah remembered the ocean experience from her first time, back in February, and reminded us once again that she does not LIKE the ocean. She gripped my arms as I held her, with both her arms, each time the wave came up loudly at my feet. Loudly, she protested on and on until her Papa finally got her to drift away to nap-land.
I was happy to see that the older children could still play; jumping waves, laughing, building sand walls, playing football and frisbee, throwing sand at each other…so many smiles, so many, made my heart sing to give them the gift of this day, at the ocean. They didn’t want to leave. They wanted to watch the sunset. Their laid-back friendliness attracted other little children and there is one picture up there…I had taken several of the same shot….before I realized that the little boy in the group that I thought was Caleb, wasn’t, and Caleb was off by himself!
We left the house unaware that Davy had forgotten SHOES, so we had to stop on our way to buy him some sandals. Imagine the feelings we had, when we discovered at the end of the day, that the new sandals had vanished. He was meant to be shoeless (?) So that’s how he ate his dinner at Ruby Tuesdays, journeying back and forth to the salad bar. With bare feet.
As I sat (at brief intervals) in my own beach chair, I was grateful to read through five pages of my magazine that I had chosen for the time at the beach. I truly was honored to look at all the specimens that came my way, as child after child brought me things to see.
Jacob forgot to apply sunscreen. Oh wait. No, he “couldn’t find it.” How he missed all the busy applying amongst the other eight family members, I have no idea. But, he came home with a sunburn. Thankfully, he kept his shirt on all day so it’s not as bad as it could be.
As parents, Rich and I soak up experiences like this, just as we soaked up the hot sun today. It was a great day, watching the children be themselves, the little people we love so much. Our friends. Jacob with the burn, Ethan who is everyone’s friend, Grace who calmly explains things to us, and has long hair, Davy who doesn’t wear shoes, Caleb who wants his birthday to be tomorrow (it’s the 9th), Seth who wasn’t afraid, and Sarah Joy, who was, and found comfort in her father’s arms. 
Good to be Home 
What a lovely day with your family — I love the ocean but don’t get there often. I can’t get over how big your older boys are getting!
A day at the beach is always special — I’m glad you all had such a wonderful time. Sarah will enjoy it too when she is a little older ~ ~ ~
i’m looking at your pictures thinking when did your oldest three get so…grown up?!so glad for your good time!
wow. you found a very goodlooking man sitting on a beach chair in your tent 😉 i love those tent things we saw them at costco and i think they are such a great idea…and keep it a bit more private then laying all your stuff out in the open. looks like a great time was had by all. i love seth’s getting into the water. poor little sarah, i hope she comes to love it as much as the other kids look like they did 😉 so much beauty in your kids bringing you their offerings as well. sounds like a wonderful day all together!
Looks like a lovely day!!
What a perfect day! Don’t you love that summertime smell of wind, and sand, and sunscreen?! I love the little description you gave of each child 🙂 Looks like you are having a lovely summer!
The Beach one of my favorite places the smell and the sand as it changes when the ripples of water climb up it. So happy you all had a good time. I really like your shade canopy does it do well in the wind?Blessings, Christie
So happy you had such a nice day at the beach. I love seeing everyone enjoying themselves, including YOU in the shade. Sandcastle building was a favorite of mine as a child. So sweet to see Sarah all cuddled up. Seth is the adventurer boy…but you knew that! Caleb’s face made me laugh and David all covered in sand! As someone said, your oldest three are looking so big!
Love the pictures!! Especially the last one. 🙂 This post had me smiling a lot this morning ~ a lot of your posts have the same effect. 🙂 You have a precious family and I’m grateful that you give glimpses into your day-to-day life. You encourage me in so many ways and cause me to dream of my future family. Happy Weekend to you my friend!! 🙂
Such a Lovely day!I am quite jealous of those of you who live close to the ocean. Oh how I love the beach. The sand. The smell. The sound of the waves….ahhhh.We have a day planned to go to Lake Michigan this weekend (if the weather cooperates!)….it’s not as good as the ocean, but somedays, SOMEdays, if the waves are high enough, and the sand is soft enough, one might think they were along the shores of the ocean. ;)Everyone looks like they had a great time. A day that will be stored away in their childhood memories forever.Happy Weekend to you!
this looks like the best of times!
Cracking up that another child showed up in your pictures! *LOL* 🙂 That’s a REAL mom…..just takes them all in and makes them feel part of it! lol.I wish I could have seen Davy at Ruby Tuesday barefoot…after going through so much to get him his shoes. funny.Great pictures- and I love the tent. I need one of those!
I read this, and your last couple of entries, such fun! The “Sarah walking videos” are just precious, and so are your “end product” eggs! I laughed at the story of you taking pictures of a strange child. That has happened with us, too. Extra little girls in pictures of them playing at McDonald’s or at a park! Usually what grabs my attention is I think, “Where did that dress come from?” Then, I realize the same thing about the child in the picture, “Who’s THAT?!” LOL LOLI have a question about Grace’s bathing suit. Where did you find such a modest swimsuit and what size does she wear?Happy Weekend to you! xo xo
Shanda—> Where did you purchase the large half-dome tent? We have been wanting to buy one but I haven’t seen any that large?
Looks like fun!
@cherylyn_p – Glad you enjoyed the posts, your comment made me laugh. We found Grace’s suit at Target and I think I got her a size 14 girls. They had several nice ones, at a great price.@doesntcostathingtosmile – We got ours at Dick’s Clothing and Sporting Goods here in CT. Not sure what you would have out there in CA….((hugs))
The picture of your little boys covered in sand is AWESOME 😀
SO so fun to lok through the pictures and see your experience! We are not going this summer and I am sad for the kids that they won’t have it. Your kids must love how different the beach is from the woods and the fields! The pictures are great and really capture the feelings of being at a beach with kids!!
Great pictures and story 🙂 I can’t wait for my lil guy to hurry up and get born so I can take him to the beach lol
@purpleamethyst76 – Oh, we have a Dicks! Thanks Shan xoxo
@doesntcostathingtosmile – Very welcome! xoxo
Lovely pictures i always love your site God has Bless you all