A(nother) Day at the Beach

It always amazes me how much work and energy it takes to go camping - even just for one night and even when sleeping in a yurt instead of a tent. All the prep work, the packing way-more-stuff-than-you-should, the driving, the unloading, the playing, the going-through-a-week's-clothes-in-two-days between playing on the beach and potty accidents, the trying-to-put-an-exhausted-toddler-to-sleep-when-it's-still-light-out, the sleepless night and early morning, then more playing, then there's the packing and loading and cleaning and driving, and unloading and unpacking, and lots and lots of laundry. And sand everywhere.

But it is TOTALLY worth it. I'll do it all again...just give me a couple weeks to recover. :)

Our little family trekked over to the coast for a fun camping trip with Lola, Uncle Judah and Oma. We started out with a visit to the Oregon Coast Aquarium - just about one year later than our trip last summer when Zoë could barely walk and was still nursing. This time with a toddler was a whole different experience!

Shark Tunnel

Who wants to look at a sea creature when you can play on one?!

"Why, hello there, fish!"

"That seal is SO big!"

The Aquarium has a fantastic interactive area just for children. SO fun. :)

June on the Oregon Coast is usually pretty windy, cloudy, and rainy. Despite it all, we had a delightful time playing on the beach on Wednesday evening and most of the day on Thursday. Zoë could LIVE at the beach. She thoroughly enjoyed getting as wet and sandy as possible, even though it was chilly. Our little adventurer bravely took on the waves...attempting to do so all on her own (she kept on ripping her hand out of mine and running off!), and wanted to go further and further out into the water.

Uncle Judah and Daddy flying kites

Zoë had a blast jumping waves with Lola and Uncle Judah and running around with Oma. She enjoyed throwing the wet sand (at Lola, especially :), and put her sand bucket kit to good use! Finally, at the end of the afternoon on Wednesday, she started to slow down. I took my sleepy girl from Judah's arms and do you know what she requested me to do? Zoë wanted me to cradle her like a baby and sing her to sleep with lullabies...all while standing in a couple of feet of water with the waves crashing against my legs. She didn't want to leave!! Her little goofy-sleepy-completely-content face was priceless.

Walking with Oma

Thanks Lola, Judah and Oma for a fun time!