Beach Babies

*Another summer time draft I found hanging out in my posts*

I know it's fairly common for kids to dislike the beach. It can be overwhelming. Sand everywhere, the constant sound of the ocean, and the pull of the water make for a unique experience. Thankfully it's one both my kids love and have loved since they were babies.

They're happy to play by the shoreline.



Get their surf on.

Play in the sand.




Or just lounge near the tent.






We've been so blessed to go with Gigi, Papa and Lolo to the Outer Banks for three years now and it's a magical week that we look forward to from the minute the last one ends.  This year was no different and we had an amazing time together with our little beach babies.

We Left Our Mark In The Sand

We started this the first year we went to the OBX, when Camden was 3 months old.

So here's 2010 and 2011.

I'm sure this is going to become a recurring theme, but these 2012 pics, be still my heart.  Where have my babies gone?

The Days Are Long

But the years are short.

OBX 2012 in Pics

1.   Boogie boarding queens

2.  She's the queen of the waves

3.  My first year of sitting with my toes in the sand

4.  Family sand time

1.  Hubs wave riding

2.  Working on her posies

3.  A little man and the sea

4.  Working on her sand pictures

1.  Trying to get a pic of him in his Red Sox hat

2. Growing a cabbage patch kid

3.  Flying our andree berrrd and idaman kites

4.  Rough seas

Little Man and The Sea

Camden has been going to the Outer Banks since he was born, but I think this was the first year he actually enjoyed himself. For a month after we left every time we got in the car he would ask me if we could  "go to da beach!"

No longer hindered by a morning nap, we spent hours on our little stretch of sand.
 
Running in the surf.


Yelling at the waves.


Dying with excitement when the Coast Guard helicopters flew by.


Playing in the sand.


Getting buried for the first time.


Hanging out under the tent with Daddy.

Trying out the lifeguards "motocokey".


I can't believe how big he looks in all these photos and it was so much fun to watch him enjoy all the cool things you can do at the beach.

Surfer Girl

Little surfer, little one

Make my heart come all undone


How I love you, little surfer girl


I have watched you from the shore

Standing by the ocean's roar

Oh I love you, little surfer girl.

 

Boog!

When my family goes to the beach we swim some, play in the sand a bit, and lounge.

When TG's family goes to the beach they boogie board. At almost every point of our many hours on the beach this year one or all of them were out in the water.

Little man logged as much hours as anyone.


Rash guard and floaties on, he's ready to ride.

As our littlest surfer he gets a free ride out to the waves.


He looks terrified, but he's not.  

He's just shrieking, "WAHOO!" the whole time.  It's endeared him to our beach neighbors this week.


He's been rocked by a wave a time or two, but it doesn't faze him.  At all.  (I refuse to take him out there like this, but I trust TG implicitly)


As soon as they wash up on shore he says, "I want more!"

Boogie boarding must run in the bloodline.

Chasing Birds

We were sitting side by side with our toes in the water, watching the day become evening when she said, "Would you excuse me for two minutes?".

She jumped up and took off running.


Chasing birds.


They evaded her, but she kept in pursuit.


Giggling the whole time.


I cheered her on loudly as she ran by me in the other direction.


This time they flew up and away.


When she got back to me she said, "Those birds can sure fly, but I'll get them next time".