Escaping the Heat

We decided to escape the heat last week, using having Mom in town as the excuse. (As if you ever need an excuse to travel 30 miles and drop 30 degrees.)

On Friday, we drove to the Barn after Joseph's nap. The weather was perfect - cool and sunny with a slight breeze. I immediately called Chad and told him I want a move south added to our ten year plan.

The boys had a blast at the barn, per usual. Nana spoiled them with a toy, overriding my "No toy this time!" stance. We picked up fresh fruit, a pie and yummy snacks. Then, the boys showed Nana and her friend Carol the animals.

No matter how many times we visit the barn, Joseph never gets bored with the animals. This time, it was the baby chicks wandering the yard that held his interest.

The next day, we woke up bright and early and hit Avila for a beach day. We plopped our gear down and spent a relaxing five hours soaking in the coolness. Joseph and Benny built sandcastles with Nana, Chad and Becky. Carol got into the game for a little while and I, well, I leaned back inside my little shade structure and ate berries.

Joseph was much braver in his oceanic adventures this trip. Usually, he doesn't like to get his feet wet. Claims the water's too cold. Too cold?! Little man, I should take you to the beaches of my youth and show you frigid water! This time around, we couldn't keep him out of the water.

Benny, normally a fish, was horribly upset whenever anyone walked near the water. The poor little bug would stand on the sand and yell for us until we came back. When we went to get water in the buckets for their sandcastles, he looked at us wide-eyed and cried, "NO OCEAN!" After a few hours, he started to relax. By the time we ended the day, he was happily getting his toes wet too.

The boys spent hours rolling in the sand, digging giant holes and filling them back up again. They ran, they ate sandy sandwiches, the drank lemonade, they wore funny hats to keep the sun off their faces. They collected sea shells, smooth stones and feathers to decorate their castles. They looked for star fish on a rocky outcrop and they waded ankle deep in the cool water. By the time we got them home, they were exhausted, covered in sand and happy as little clams.

Joseph keeps asking when we're going to the beach again. I keep wondering the same thing.