Beach Baby

July 2011

Yes, I know we have lived in FL for 3 years, but the boys just experienced the beach for the first time at the end of June.  I was nervous but excited.
Miles is our dare-devil.  He is on the go ALL.THE.TIME.  And he stops talking only when sleeping.  I wish I could bottle up half of his energy.  I just knew that he would love jumping into the waves, riding on the boogie board, and floating.  But, I was wrong.  For the most part, Miles enjoyed eating ice out of the cooler, providing complimentary mud baths to anyone that was interested in his way, looking for seashells, and sitting in the beach chairs with his feet in the water.
Graham on the other hand, was living it up in the water!!  As soon as we parked, Graham took off with my dad and was running into the water.  I know dad loved having that experience with Graham!! Graham and Jeff were a good ways out, just floating along and having some male bonding time.  About 6 feet away from them, a dolphin decided s/he was going to join in the fun and swam past them several times.  When those of us on shore saw the dolphin, I just knew that we were about to hear Graham scream in fear.  Instead, when he came in (which was only to reapply sunscreen and eat lunch), he was shouting with excitement that he "saw a dolphin right there and he was talking and playing with me."
We made some awesome memories, and have established "our spot" at the beach.  We have made another trip, and plan on making a few more trips as soon as my knee cooperates for us to go out there.
I love making these memories with my family.  So neat to watch the boys explore new adventures, stand in awe at the magnitude of "the beach", interact with each other as they create memories that will last forever, and most of all, find joy in the small, simple things in life.