California Vacation (Day 6)

(June 26, 2014)

Beach day, baby!

This vacation just kept getting better. We planned a beach day after the three days at Disneyland. We headed to Newport Beach and it was a perfect day. I was a little concerned how the kids would handle a day at the beach since they’ve never been to a swimming beach before. We went all the time in Lompoc but you don’t swim there. Too strong of an under current and too many shark attacks.

Well, the girls took to the water and sand like they were born at the beach. Must be in their blood.

Piper learned a little boogie boarding from Uncle Jeff.

Jeff also gave Téa a few pointers. I think Téa boarded the entire time. Which means she didn’t come out of the water long enough to remember sunscreen. Which means she got totally fried. And the stellar parent award goes to me!

Here’s Jeff telling Téa what to do.

After a few minutes of boogie boarding Piper decided she wanted to play in the sand the rest of the day. I don’t blame her. After three long days walking around a theme park, she was tired. A relaxing day in the sun with the ocean sounds and smells was just what we all needed. This was her I-am-smiling face.

Josh and Peter drying off. They look like dead bodies washed up on shore.

Calista was in and out of the water, never really doing the same thing for long. She loved not having any time constraints and being able to do what she wanted, when she wanted.

Me and Markee, again. Don’t you love our beach hair?

All the girls gathered some shells. I have great memories of searching for shells when I was a kid. And digging up sand crabs.

Speaking of digging. The boys started a huge sand castle project.

They worked on it for hours. It was awesome.

Jared knows how you nap on the beach. You cover up so you don’t get burned!

How is it I don’t notice photo bombers until after the pictures are taken? My nieces managed to photo bomb again…

And again…

And again!

Calista getting ready to try boogie boarding.

I don’t think she lasted long, though.

Bruce and Beverley love the ocean as well so they had no problems with having a beach day. Mark grew up going to Cape Cod and Bantam Lake in the summers. You give Beverley and Leslie a beach and they are happy campers.

We were all admiring something in this picture. Can’t remember what, though. I think we were watching all the boys boogie boarding and body surfing.

Gotta make a ‘T’ even at the beach!

Leslie and I were standing next to each other snapping tons of pictures of everyone. We are usually the ones behind the camera so we don’t get many of ourselves so we included each other. Here’s Leslie…

And me…proof that I was there.

I know Mark hates that I force him to be in pictures with me but how else would our posterity know that we were there together?

Bury Josh in the sand and stand on him. Check. I’m thinking Peter and Nicolas helped. They both look guilty.

After hours at the beach it was time to head back and get cleaned up and the kids to bed. They were exhausted, but it was worth it. The kids couldn’t stop talking about how much fun the beach was. Téa learned that we should use sunscreen more than once and next time we will bring a rash guard for boogie boarding. I’m thinking we need to do a beach vacation more often.

I don’t have pictures, but the rest of the night included some awesome New York style pizza and a quick tennis match with Marin and I versus Mark and Jeff.  Marin and I didn’t do so hot but we blamed it on a long day at the beach and crappy tennis rackets. Next time, Mark and Jeff, next time.