To the Coast!

Every summer we have tried out a different spot on the coast.  We moved a little further north this year to Rockaway Beach.   Our friends Melody and Joe joined us and we rented a condo steps away from the sand.  This beach should be called brown sugar beach.  The sand was amazing and the best we have ever been on for building sandcastles.

And hot tubs.

 Looking toward our condo...

Looking down the beach.

But let me back up.  We arrived late on Friday night.  Geoff took the boys out to the beach as soon as we arrived and I got A ready for bed.  First thing Saturday...

 I love the overcast skies...I can't take enough pictures...I apologize in advance for the sheer number of pictures coming your way!

 As soon as Avery first touched down on the beach Geoff and Melody said she was gripping her toes and curling them completely.

 Then the work began.  Dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig dig....

 While Avery did some skim boarding.

 Dig dig dig dig dig

 While Avery played some ball....then tried to pull Wyatt in to play catch with her.

 We went to the local tide pools at low tide-the rocks are called Three Graces.

The tide didn't seem that low to me.  Melody and I weren't wearing the best shoes to be wading in the water so we stayed on the beach and Joe and Geoff carried the kids across.  They said there were a ton of starfish and other sea life.  They brought us over a starfish to see up close.

Jack started digging again trying to build a little space for the starfish...whoa-it's deep!

 We stopped by a jetty on the way back to the condo.

The next morning...we rented kayaks.  Sister is pretty thrilled with the idea.

Jack rode with Joe and you can see him here leaning forward and he was directing Joe to go faster..

Paddling was bringing back memories of the Dragon boat races I did in Okinawa.  Rowing is not my favorite activity!

Avery has the I-am-so-sleepy-and-so-hungry-and-what-is-going-on-stare happening in this pic.

Ready to go again.

Wyatt tried paddling on the way back...

Avery just sat super still the whole first half of the trip and then she started to look into the water and put her hands into the water for the second part.

We went back to the beach after lunch and the kids stayed out on the beach for six hours straight.  I think Wyatt and Avery made it almost eight hours!

 Normally our kids want to eat hourly and when we asked them if they were hungry for dinner (at the 6-hour point) they said "no".  And kept digging....

Avery waving at me...

Avery waving at a dog...

We could hardly get W to stop building for a group pic.  (I was about to go on a run with Melody hence the running outfit on the beach)

I had to post these funny pics of Avery's expressions while waiting for daddy to get her swim suit on one morning...

We really didn't want to leave.  We needed at least another day.  Next trip we need to go for at least five days.  Bye Bye beach!