A day at the beach

  We just got back from a day at the beach and it was just that.  Salt in the air, sand in my hair...no place I'd rather be.  I was a bit overwhelmed at the thought of the beach for a playdate, especially since we still did swim team and lessons this morning, but I committed and I'm so glad I did.  The beach playdate stars aligned so to speak because it was sunny and 70, the kids were in great spirits, and we all had so much fun. 

  We had never been to this spot, but it was a winner.  Free parking, easy beach access, and lots of space for us and the many more afternoon beach-goers to come.

 

We met Hannah's classmate and her sibs.

  You may have seen other adorable pictures of Ava on the beach.  This is more reality.  Sand all over her face, in her mouth, and she doesn't care one bit.  There is not much I can do except embrace the sand.

This is seconds before our sand castle was trampled.  What is it with stomping on sand castles?

  I was a sight to behold.  I felt like Waldo in one of the books when he had to carry all of that stuff.  Please scroll to see that picture.  Look at Ava peeking her head out.  So cute!

  Across from the beach was this life-sized gray whale at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History.  If my shoulders weren't killing me from carrying all of the stuff, I would have stopped to read about this guy.

 

Such a fun day.  We love Santa Cruz!