Having grown up near the coast in Washington State, day trips to the beach have long been a part of my life. I love trips to the ocean where the vastness of the ocean brings to mind the grandeur of God, and looking in shallow water and tide pools becomes a treasure hunt for seashells. I want my kids to experience that as well, though it won't happen nearly as frequently for them. With that in mind, Adam and I decided to rent an Airbnb in Southern California for our family's 2019 Spring Break.
The closest beach to our house was part of San Celemente State Beach. Most mornings, we loaded up our van with beach chairs, umbrella, boogie boards, blanket, etc. to spend the morning and early afternoon at the beach. A lot of other families visiting the beach stayed longer, but we usually got their a little earlier and left earlier for a late lunch and a nap for 18-month-old Natalie. It really isn't easy to picnic at the beach with kids--sand ends up in everything. So we opted to eat at the house. It worked out really well as by then the kids were tired from the sun and ready to relax at the house while Nat napped.
Adam walking the beach with Natalie
Natalie and Kari
James getting ready to race the wave to shore
Tessa building a sandcastle
Running from the wave!
Michael finding treasures along the shore
"Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them." Psalm 89: 9