A Day at the Beach

And so it begins.......SUMMER 2013!  It may not officially be summer, but the weather says otherwise.  Beside school is almost out.  We'll finish up this week, have a good long month off and then do more of a free style-laid back sorta school through the summer. 

So, yep, it's summer in my books.

Saturday we headed to the beach.  Our first of many trips I am sure.  It was the long awaited beach day I have been dreaming about it!  We opted for the Cajun Riviera AKA the shores of the Gulf of Mexico in Southwest Louisiana.  Any beach around these parts is far from pristine white sand and blue waters.  But for this true Texas gal that doesn't matter.




I was on cloud nine.  The sound of the waves, my feet in the sand and the salt air blowing my hair (like crazy) was just exactly what I had been longing for!  For me a day at the beach is much more than white sands and blue waters.

OPI-Cajun Shrimp, Sinful Colors-Love Nails and Daredevil

The minute we arrived the boys were GONE!  Splashing and playing in the waves.  I immediately could feel the peace the beach always gives me. I stopped to watch the boys and just stood still looking out at the waves crashing over and over again. The unrelenting ocean...every wave is different, every grain of sand shifts from one moment to the next, and yet somehow there is a sameness. I walked along the shore picking up shells and had to remind myself I was not alone.  I walked and kept watch over the boys.  They are happy too at the beach.  Brant joined me and the two of us continued the walk/search of shells and small pieces of drift wood.  And then we came across a treasure.  Wait till you see the big piece of drift wood (I'll share it next week).

The entire time we were there Matthew never came out of the water.  Well at lunch only because I forced him to come eat.  And throwing caution to the wind I did not make him wait 30 minutes after eating.  Before he took his last bite he was off.  Back in the water. 

Ryan on the other hand was very busy and content to build sand castles.  He worked hard on his castles.  Eventually he did decide the waves were more fun.  And soon he and Matthew were riding waves and making friends with little boys.

 

Another favorite is to watch the wildlife while at the beach.  The Seagulls, the Sandpipers and Pelicans.  I never could get a good picture of the Pelicans, but they are a beautiful sight to see.  Flying in a group of three over the waters looking for a snack.

We had fun trying to feed the seagulls, but they were never quite brave enough to take it out of our hands.  BTW-they don't care for bread and butter pickles.  But sour cream and onion chips they like.

This picture only shows one bird, but there were lots!

The shrimp boats were not too far from us and you could see the huge flock of birds (Seagulls and Pelicans I am assuming) trailing behind the nets to get shrimp.

While the boys jumped and squealed with each wave, Brant and I sat.  We sat soaking up the sun and becoming intoxicated by the calmness the beach gives us both.  It is so comforting (and a real blessing from God) to have a husband who truly understands my love for the beach. I think his love is equally the same just not as crazy as mine.  He gets this crazy love I have for the sand, surf and sun!  We're good together sitting on the beach.

My beach soul mate


It was a great start to our SUMMER 2013 FUN!