Avila Beach

I've been looking over photos from this summer and realized I hadn't put any up of our trip to the beach this summer. We took a longish road trip down to visit with friends, who took us to one of their favourite ocean hang outs: Avila Beach.

First, we found a parking space on a weekend (!) Next, we visited their small but wonderful aquarium. I think our house is bigger than this place, but they have a lot of heart, and good exhibits:

Main room, showing regional fish in their natural environment.
The starlight netting on the ceiling is a nice touch. Gives the place an air of excitement.

James people watched for a bit, then got a proper look behind him ...

Jellyfish! As in SpongeBob and

Finding Nemo - JellyMan!!!

Lots of round tanks, some with currents swirling gently.

After this, we ate some packed snacks and headed for the beach! Kids frolicked and adults looked on in second-hand happiness. It was a lovely, lazy, refreshing visit.

How he usually starts off.

Wheeeeee!!!

James got very confident, letting the low waves crash into him and laughing with joy.

Random at Doran

It's been a tough week for our family. There are some major shifts on our horizons. In a suddenly open afternoon, I decided that rather than worry over things that *might* happen, I should take a time out and go with the kids, living in the *now*.

So I packed snack and beach bags, asked the kids to get their towels, and we piled into the van and took off for Doran Beach, to use our Regional Parks Pass. The weather was mostly grey, overcast, and windy, but that was not important.  There were vast stretches of sand to run on, throw back at the sea, and dig in.

I just liked messing with this photo.

I stretched out on my beach towel and dug into my book, "Three Times Lucky," and watched the kids stalk sea gulls, listened to their yells and squeals, and smelled the tangy sea air as it tousled my hair.

So quiet and uneventful. So hands-on and unplugged. We stayed for hours. The drive out and back along the country roads was both beautiful and soothing. No answers were found, but there was a space of peace, contentedness, and enjoyment.

A little slice of Doran Beach.

It's the little things ...

Another New Year's Beach

Today we jumped in the car and visited our friends who were staying the weekend up in Stinson Beach. It was such a gorgeous day that we made a short trek from the rental house to the beach. The skies were clear, the air warm, and the wind was practically non-existent. Very unusual for January 1.

Both kids ran about on the beach, splashing in the low waves, digging and throwing sand, and bringing in rocky treasures (James' big sister) or worries about the dogs on the beach (James). We hauled them in just before sunset. Good thing too. I'd forgotten how quickly the sun goes down in winter, and the cold starts back in just before the light goes.

It's been about a year since this group had seen James. His new height and verbal social activities did not go unnoticed. It was good to get caught up and be social myself. I'm getting rusty at that.

James went from asking to play Angry Birds to demanding to go home to refusing to leave. After dinner, you see, Big Sister started a treasure hunt game, and James and the other young child were totally caught up in it.

The winding roads were a bit much for him in the dark, but I took it slowly, admiring the moon, sea, and stars from the corners of my eyes. He was asleep before we got home. I loaded him into bed, only pausing to remove his rain boots and tuck the blankets around him.

Happy New Year, Baby -- I love you, Mom.

Immersion

How much sensory integration can you see in this picture? I am a mom, not a trained developmental professional, and I can see:
* dried sand on arms and legs (& one cheek)
* wet sand on hands, finger, feet, & toes
* occasional water lapping on feet
* wind in hair
* sun in eyes
* gulls, airplanes,and people all clamouring together
* sunscreen lotions squooshing all over everything and smelling like coconut
* smells of ozone, salty brine, and outboard motors

I think that's 10. James seemed like he was digging it. Literally!

Harbour Cove

Took the kids to the beach today. My MIL found the best beach! We got there about 10AM and pried the kids away finally after 1PM.

James waded in the waves, sat in the surf and let the little waves roll over him, and ran around in happiness. He loved being able to throw sand and YELL!

So many words -- we can see the world through his eyes so much better. The kite that looks like an airplane. The water that is cold! The big hole that was so much fun ot play in!

Happy-ness!

Road Trippin'

Yay, we got to take a few mini vacations! My husband is still saving up vacation days with his new job so we made weekend trips to Santa Cruz and Southern California. Both trips involved major time at the beach. Both kids loved it, and by the time of our last day at Newport Beach, James had started to bat away our hands so he could stand alone n the surf, and brace his legs against the waves.

He didn't mid getting sandy, but he remains a picky eater. After some frustrating tries to get more than milk inside of him during the Santa Cruz trip, I made PB&J sandwiches for James to take to SoCal. My husband rolled his eyes a bit, but I've seen the prices for PB&J on the menus -- $3-7, and there's no guarantee that James will like the (1) bread), (2)PB, or (3) jam/jelly.

They home-made "Shamiches"? So. Much. Easier! James gobbled them down. And thank goodness Trader Joe's sells watermelon precut, in a nicely sealed plastic bowl. Money well spent and it kept James happy, still, and hydrated at the beach.

What a nice change for both kids to jump, run, and yell as loudly and long as they liked! They are both really good travelers on long car trips, and it feels good to having something worth their while at journey's end. James kept up his words with "bird!", "wah-er!" (water), "Mennon!" (watermelon), "bwoo!" (blue) ... and "haycopper!" for when the helicopter buzzed us at the Newport shoreline. He also likes to count. He can get up to 14 and count back down from 5. He can sing the A-B-C song, but doesn't really know the letters.