My Happiness -- Beach Days

The second week of September, we traveled to the Carlsbad Coast in California.  We spent three days on the beach.  It was a wonderful time to travel to Southern California.  The beach was empty and nearly all ours. 

This was my view.  

It was perfect.  Really - my idea of paradise.

Gracie had the time of her life, splashing through the waves!  We played game after game of 'mermaids'. 

*Pure Joy*

Sienna was more into the sand than the ocean.  She perfected her Frisbee skills.  

  

Dad gave her a lesson or two in Frisbee throwing.  

We laughed so hard and made so many memories!   Feeling the warm sand in between my toes was heaven.  Spraying my girls off at the end of the day with the hose, and washing all that sand away was a sense of accomplishment.  

We played until the sun set.   

When I am happy - I want to dance.  No really -- dance.  So I did.  I danced on the beach.  I got the entire family involved.  I just love the beach, and I can't wait to go back.  Here's one Instagram Video from the trip.  

                                                                                         

Beach Baby just melts my heart!

The punishment for throwing sand in your sister's face - you take a time out while being half-buried in the sand.  She doesn't look too disappointed.  But she was more than ready to get out, and start chasing the birds, collecting shells and building sand castles again.


We stayed with my parents and Michael in a three bedroom condo directly across the street from the ocean.  It was lovely.  We ate breakfast out on the deck, overlooking the beach.  And we enjoyed sitting in the bay window nook too!  It was really fun to wake up to the sound of waves crashing on the beach.   

Incredible Sunset!!

Oh Yuck!  Sienna forgot that we don't eat the sand.  

After a full day of the ocean beating against the sand, the waves had created this ledge.  It made it tricky to get up by our towels.  But never fear: Little Sister was there to help Gracie up.   

Our first day at the beach was a bit overcast, and the next few days were full of sunshine.  This picture sums up Jody and Sienna's sweet little relationship.  She adores him; such a daddy's girl.  

Jody helped Gracie build an extraordinary Sand City.

Gracie was fearless in the ocean.  She got slammed by a few big waves, and came up out of the water, totally soaked, with a big SMILE on her face.  Jody always swims out way far.  He is a great swimmer.  At this one point, I was watching, with Sienna, from the shore...I was sure I saw something BIG swimming by him.  I stood up to start yelling and waving at him.  Interestingly, he started swimming to shore right then.  When he got back in, safe, I told him I thought I had spotted something out there with him.  He said, "Well, I didn't feel alone - that's why I came in."  Yikes!   

At the end of the week, this little one was done running, playing and splashing.  She was ready for some resting.  And boy oh boy, doesn't she look relaxed?!?!?!