Beach Time

This last week was so much fun. It zoomed by so stinkin fast!

Monday, my sister came to visit. We played, played some more, and then played even more. She stayed through Friday, and it seemed like she had only been here a day!

While she was here, my little brother, Michael called. He mentioned he was in the car driving home from Indiana. I was having so much fun with my sister that I couldn't contain it and I said he ought to just keep on driving and come here and play with us.

Guess what he did?!?!?! Just as I suggested. He kept on driving and came here to visit. What a double treat! Both my brother and sister from out-of-town to visit. I was in heaven. And Michael brought his wife and sweet little 2 year-old, Megan, with him. It was fun. Gavin played with Megan, Danielle, Camie and Spencer played with my sister's twins.

So, I am doing that summer of Seals competition again this year. My sister is on my team. Part of the competition is that you have to work out 4 times a week, minimum of a 30 minute work-out. Only one work-out per day counts. So, we went to the gym together. She is a YMCA member like me, so it worked out perfect. Monday we did the evening swim class together, Wednesday we did the Body Pump class together. Thursday Michael was here, so we all went and did Pilate's together. Yeah, that was awesome! Michael was about the only guy in a room full of women stretching and twisting all over the place. And he kept up! I was impressed.

After we got home from the Pilate's class, Karen (Michael's wife that is 7 months pregnant) suggested maybe we head to the beach. I thought it over, thought about an evening at the beach instead of full afternoon sun. I had a great night sleep the night before. Plenty of adults going. Nothing planned. WHAT A GREAT IDEA!

So, we headed to the beach. Of course I forgot my camera as I was quickly loading the car. But my sister had hers so I snapped a few of my kiddos.

Isn't Danielle gorgeous? And look at how much fun she is having!

Gavin LOVED the water. I took him out into the waves and he kept saying over and over and over, "Water, water. Water, water." So cute! He loved playing in the sand, running from me through the shallow water, and splashing.

I have to explain this picture. Taneal was feeding Gavin a cookie. He was taking bites and accidentally bit her finger. He bit it so hard he chipped the nail polish! Her reaction was to push his face away. Not hard, didn't leave a mark. Well, except for the mud across his face. How she was feeding him and then her pushing him and where the mud on her hand came from I'm not sure. It more stunned him than anything. He didn't cry 'cause he wasn't hurt. Taneal about cried. He got her good. And Gavin has been known to bite, but this time was a complete accident. Poor kid. I was already taking pictures, so I snapped one of this before I even knew what had happened.

Nathan had a really great time, too. He loved the freedom this life vest gave him. He was all over the place with me. He loved the waves and splashing in the water.

Spencer had a great time. He is a lot more quiet about things. More mellow too. He played in the sand. He was buddies with Danielle that day and they had so much fun going out with my brother into the deeper water and swimming though the waves.

Camie spent most of her time on the beach with the twins digging in the sand. That girl sure has the natural ability to play. She can entertain herself and others for hours on end.

I don't know how long they spent digging this hole big enough for Camie to fit in. Probably at least an hour and a half.

Taneal had fun. I think she was out in the deep water most of the time. I had to call her in to get this picture. (She did have a buddy the whole time, was never out there alone.)

He is a picture of 5 of my 6 children playing along the beach.

 I don't like to post pictures of myself, especially in a swim suit. But this is me. Chasing Gavin and checking on the other children to make sure everyone was accounted for.  I read somewhere, probably Pinterest, a little saying that is so true for me. It goes something like this: You know you are a true mom when a trip to Target by yourself feels like a vacation and a vacation is more work than a vacation.

That is how it is with anywhere I go. It is work, work, work the whole time. Chasing kids, feeding kids, spot checking kids, making sure I can count to 6. Checking some more. All the while wrestling Gavin. And sometimes Nathan. And then spot checking the others once again.

But look at the memories we made. And even though it was so much work, it was so much MORE fun. My kids had a blast. And I slept so well that night.

And what was even better? No sunburns! Evenings at the beach is seriously the best time to go!