The Beach

* All pics are from our Fall Break day at the beach in San Diego - October 2010

I am grateful that we live close enough to get to the beach. It's funny, really ... my parents have lived in California for years now and we didn't start taking the kids to the beach until last year, but it has quickly become a favorite day trip on our vacations to Cali.

About 2 1/2 years ago I got to reunite with some former roommates in the most charming beach town in Florida {Seaside ... you really must go}. This trip reignited my love for the beach. I'm sure the company, the weather, the food, and the shopping (and lack of children) heightened the experience, but I found that the feel of the sand in my toes and the sound of the crashing waves were the perfect way to relax and rejuvenate.

Fast forward to June 2008 when Steve and I escaped to Hawaii for 10 days ... again without kids. It was our first "real" vacation away from the kids and it was AMAZING! We fell asleep with the windows open every night and were completely relaxed as we fell asleep to the sound of the waves and the breeze blowing through our room. The only worries we had were where we were going to eat, what time our next excursion was scheduled, and which beach we were going to that day.

Now we've taken our kids to the beach 3 times and I must say that it has been such a great thing for us! No phones, no work, no computers, just sand, waves, sun {except on our last trip to San Diego ... it was gray the entire day and it was still amazing}, shovels & pails, shells to collect, beach chairs, lunch in a cooler, and no agenda. My kids absolutely love it!! They run the beach, climb on rocks and hills, splash and play in the water, build sandcastles, bury each other, sit on the blanket to watch the waves, make up games, and soak up every minute!

I think the thing I am most grateful for about the beach is the ability that it has given us to disconnect from the world and connect as a family with the most simple of things. I can literally feel any tension or stress that may be in my life vanish as I walk along the beach collecting shells with the girls, sit on a blanket and listen to the surf, or chase Cougar into the waves. We look forward to MANY more beach trips and we can't wait to discover more of the beautiful beaches that we are lucky enough to live close to (and hopefully some that we don't live so close to)!