Meet Us in the Sand

These days a trip to the beach actually includes time on the beach! Funny how babies (toddlers?) change things.

We attempted our annual beach trip with our good friends again this year. Unfortunately, Jason couldn't come because of a new job. Despite missing him, we enjoyed ourselves and mostly took it easy. We did our usual beach things like the farmer's market and Adelaide's coffee to sip a latte and pick out a new book. We took tons of pictures, of course, because babies on the beach is so cute! See for yourself:

These cuties! It cracked me up to see them sitting there, like two old friends :)

Sweet Mr. Lincoln

Sassy Miss Emerson

On our way to the beach. I love her little fist holding the flower.

Still has her flower! 

Hi mom!

Whit and Lincs

Mommas and babies.

The beach was covered in these weird things. Animal? Plant? We're still not sure.

Lincoln takes it all in

Emerson was quite content with playing in the sand.

Lincoln thinks she's funny, and isn't so sure about this.

Emerson is sure. Sand is awesome.

In case you've forgotten how much she loves sand:

Love him!

Our little family

 The next morning we went into Illwaco to check out the farmer's market. It's pretty much the same as always but a few new vendors were there.

We had to go visit Grandpa Scott's boat while we were there :)

Patiently waiting on the dock for Emerson to smile. Seriously, this kid is just so sweet!

And after a nap or two.. we retreated to Adelaide's for coffee (water for Emerson) and a new book.

Thinks she's so cool, drinking from a big glass

Here's the flashback to last year 

After a slow, lazy morning we cleaned the cabin, tidied up and went out to breakfast.

Always so good to spend time with these friends. As life changes and families grow, it's been so fun to share the experience with them. Hopefully Jason can join us next year.. we'll need all the adults we can get for the adult/kid ratio to still be in the adults' favor! (FYI: Not us yet, them!!)

Ladies in Lavender

Oookay.. that title has almost nothing to do with this post except this post is about a girl's trip to the beach (ladies) and one of the awesome movies at the beach cabin is Ladies in Lavender. Okay, it's not actually awesome, but it is star studded and British so I liked it. Anyway. All that instead of just titling this post "Girls' beach trip'.

So Blake's cousin was getting married and the wedding was in California, (where they live). I was all excited about having Emerson's first plane trip and almost bought our tickets really early because we knew the date early. Thankfully I didn't because after getting the invitation we still needed to know which days we should be there to coordinate with family and what hotel etc. Well, one afternoon Blake was talking to his step dad about getting our tickets and he says something about it being a no kid wedding, didn't we know? Umm. No. We didn't! Weird thing was we just saw his cousin when they were up for a visit a month before and we talked about the wedding etc and they didn't say a thing about it being a no kid wedding. So I check the invite.. doesn't say anything.. then I check the wedding website... doesn't say anything. Geesh people! Communication! It wasn't really a big deal, we had a no kid wedding because we could only rent a certain number of chairs (so not including lap babies), but they apparently had to pay a ton per head (which I guess included lap babies?), so we obviously understood on several levels.. we just needed to know! I was so glad we hadn't booked our tickets already. We debated having Emerson and I go, but just hang back for the wedding events, but that didn't seem like much fun or make much sense. But when Blake's parents said they would share their hotel room and suddenly we went from the cost of two plane tickets and two nights a hotel to just one plane ticket.. we're cheap and we were like.. SOLD! Sorry Emerson, you'll have to have a first plane flight some other time! I thought about leaving Emerson with my parents and going with Blake but between the money and the breastfeeding.. it seemed like a no-brainer. I only have a hand pump, so it would have done a number on my supply and I was nervous that she'd wean herself (my mom went on a business trip with my dad when I was 9 months and apparently I wanted nothing to do with nursing when she got back!!! gasp). Totally not a risk I was willing to take!

So long story short just plainly stated in full length.. We decided us girls would head to the beach. Girl's trip! It was a blast! We were blessed with fabulous weather on Friday for our drive to take Blake to the airport and then to the beach.

Saying goodbye at the airport.

I can't get enough of the GREEN!!

The forecast was pure rain so we stopped at the cabin to quickly off load and then went straight to the beach. We helped Emerson walk on the sand (only to find out later that her leather soft sole shoes were soaking up the water!) and she loved it (but when doesn't she love 'walking'). I couldn't believe she kept the sunglasses on!

Grandma ROCKS!

It rained like crazy that night and the next day off and on and even hailed for awhile, all of which sounded like pure magic while we were warm and dry in the cabin. My cousin (a.k.a. Auntie Macey) joined us on Saturday. We did a puzzle started and got 1/3 of the way through a puzzle, ate ice cream and chocolate and went antiquing.. all the lovely beach usuals (except the coffee shop because they were closed on Sunday when we tried to go). It was pure beach fun like only a rainy Washington beach can be.

Awesome toys: Measuring spoons and popcorn tin turned birdseed tin.

Someone is cooking in the kitchen with Dina.

Rockin with Grandma in her giant hat!

This look right here (as scary as it is) is TOTALLY me as a baby.
It's like this picture is from 30 years ago. 

We had great weather again for the drive home. After the traditional beach cabin picture of course.

You can't plan this kind of coordination.

So gorgeous!!!

*SIGH* This green beauty will have to hold me through for awhile. Loved it!

Babies at the Beach

We did it. We continued our tradition of an annual beach trip with our friends plus babies. It was a little different (waiting around for naps to be done) but it was wonderful! We enjoy every second with our friends and even with clouds and rain, the beach is fun.

We did the usual things.. starting with the Ilwaco Saturday Market.

Trying to get a family photo (with their camera.. which is why they aren't looking).

Whitney and Lincoln!

I love Lincoln's face here! And as usual, EJ is much more interested in something else during picture time... in this case the big red building next door. 

Mommies and babies. Lincoln is 5 months and EJ is almost 3 months.

We also continued our tradition of going to Adelaide's and picking out a book. We chose We're Going on a Bear Hunt as our first children's book from the beach. I think we'll add to the tradition and try to get a picture of the kid(s) reading on the porch with one of us.

Reading with daddy.

She does make some effort to look at the pictures.

So serious ;)

Then we headed back to the cabin to make dinner.

The guys doing guy things.

Mr. Lincs checking out what his daddy is doing.

He LOVES exploring textures and this deck was too tempting to resist!

Babies playing

Saura's turn to make dinner.. I enjoyed putting my feet up :)

Supporting the Cougs.. they won!

Trying to get some giggles

What!? We're out of chocolate!?

:)

And the traditional end of trip group shot... in the rain. This was the first time at the beach that we didn't have at least one nice day. Oh well, you can't win them all!