Back to the Beach

Thursday evening, the kids and I met Jason when he got off work and headed to the beach. This time I got some pics of Anakin (with his new haircut!). He even decided that he would try to get on the board this time. He's still not comfortable going out as far as Mia, but for a kid that hates any water splashed in his face, he really did great.

I didn't really get any shots of Mia on the board. The waves were crashing really close to shore and she was having more fun hopping over them with her Daddy.

She's crazy.

While I was watching my kids go crazy, I noticed something out in the water. Of course, I didn't have my tripod and my zoom was all the way out but I got an OK pic.

Until next time...

The Beach

Saturday when we left Yesterday's Fun we headed to Fenwick Island to hang on the beach for awhile. When we got there, it was later in the day so the crowds had thinned out and it was breezy and warm without being overly hot.

Anakin and Mia absolutely love the beach. It is their favorite place to go and they'd live in a tent on the beach if they could. They love to dig in the sand, building sand castles and making trenches and pools to splash in.

Anakins still not much for the water. He prefers to play a sort of tag with the waves coming in.

And yes, I do realize my child was badly in need of a haircut. LOL He actually got one on Monday, I just haven't taken pics of it yet. Just imagine Anakin Skywalker in the beginning of Episode I--more of a classic bowl shape. He chose. :)

Mia is pretty much the exact opposite when it comes to the water. She has been a little fish since she was a year old and didn't want me to hold on to her in the pool. We finally bought her a flotation suit and water wings to help keep her afloat and I'd just hover around her while she paddled about. She's the same way at the beach.

Only there, she wants to ride on Daddy's boogie board. The first time Mia "rode" a wave she was two years old and Jason held onto the tether the whole time. This year Mia was bigger and could go a little farther out. This year, Jason put the tether on Mia and let her ride a wave in on her own. (Insert mini-Mommy attack here)

Jason actually has to keep Mia from going to far out. She'd keep going if he let her. She's a crazy little thing. Once they get out a little ways, Jason helps her get set up and reminds her of how to lay on the board and hold on and then he lets her ride the wave in.

He stays close just in case she wipes out. Which she does. Often. She eats sand and then hops back up calling for more, "Again! Again!" We've created a monster. LOL

She eventually tires out (probably from the ten pounds of sand that has wedged itself in her hair, ears, and bathing suit when she wiped out) and she rests in the hole her brother dug. You know. In case there isn't enough sand stuck to her already.

Beach Fun

This week's theme at I Heart Faces is beach fun. We are lucky enough to live within an hour of many great beaches. This year we've not gone as often as we normally would because we've been renovating our new house but I did get some great shots one evening when we met Jason after work and spent a couple of quiet hours at the beach.

Anakin loves the beach because he loves to play in the sand. He never goes into the water past his feet, but he will dig and build in the sand all day. By the time we're leaving, he's covered head to toe in sand. I still don't know how he does it. LOL

Fenwick in the Evening

I love living close to the beach. Living in southern Delaware means that we are close to Ocean City, MD and Fenwick Island, Bethany and Rehobeth Beach all in Delaware.

On Wednesday, Jason called me from work and asked if we wanted to meet him after work to go to the beach for a couple of hours. He works close to Fenwick, so I got the kids ready, packed our bag and was there when he got off work.

When we got to the beach it was perfect. Barely any crowd, cool sand, warm breeze and even the water was much warmer than when we first went a couple of weeks ago.

Mia still loves the water more than any kid I've ever seen. She immediately heads for the water's edge and stays there playing in the waves until we drag her out to go home.

The tide was high and there was quite an undertow that evening so Jason made Mia stick close and hold his hands.

Daddy dug them a "pool" to splash in.

Anakin doesn't play in the water as much, still choosing to play in the sand and dig for sand crabs.

Mia did come out of the water long enough to lay in the sand and become a mermaid. :)

My favorite shots of the day:

At least the waves were big....

Last summer we went to Dewey Beach for the first time instead of sticking to Ocean City as we usually do. It was August, the water was nice and the waves were high.

That day was the first that I took my 300mm zoom lens with me and got a couple of shots of Jason on his boogie board.

It wasn't until we got home that night and I uploaded them to the computer that we realized how big some of them really were.

To this day they are his favorite pics. Men...they never grow up.

Surf and Sun Kind of Summer

Living less than an hour from the beach is wonderful in the summer but we usually only make it a few times a year. Well, this year we've gone nearly every weekend. We fill the cooler with some drinks, pack my huge beach bag with towels, sand toys and snacks and off we go.

I love all the colors of the beach. It reminds me of looking into a kaleidoscope with all the umbrellas dotting the sand.

Even though she's not even three yet, Amelia usually runs straight for the water and splashes in.

I usually panic a little until Jason goes after her and grabs her hand before she floats away.

Anakin may be two years older but he's much more timid than Mia. Instead he just goes to the edge and sits, letting the water rush over him.

He then spends the rest of the time digging in the sand, searching for treasures and occasionally playing at the edge of the water.

Eventually, the whole family joins Anakin in the search for tiny clams and sand crabs before heading back into the water for awhile.

This year is the first that Jesse has taken a turn on Jason's boogie board. Jason gave him some pointers and then sent him out into the ocean.

It took a little while but soon Jesse was getting the hang of things and was riding a few waves in.

As always, Mia decides that she wants to do it too, and convinces us to let her have a try at boogie boarding.

Before you know it the kids are starting to tire out and actually sit still for more than five seconds.

Eventually, we drag Jesse out of the water and start to pack up to go.

We're all covered in sand; Amelia looks like she was swimming in it and not the ocean.

We wrap up in towels,

take one last look,

and go, discussing what's for dinner on the way home.

I'm thinking....burgers on the grill?

This blog was inspired by the challenge at http://www.iheartfaces.blogspot.com/This is my first time participating in the challenge and I look forward to participating again.