The "FIRST" Weekend!

This weekend was that weekend, you know, the one I REALLY look forward to every.single.year because it marks the first day of OUR official summer.  It's the weekend that my parents come down and rent their beach house for 2 whole months.  It's the beach that I have literally grown up on every summer since I was 2 months old and I still love it just as much.  Granted, beach days are no longer relaxing, I don't get to read lots and lots of books and take naps anymore, but, giggles, smiles and babies covered in sand make it all worth it.  There are certainly a few kinks that need to be worked out.  The main issue that we are dealing with is the fact that Colin wants to do what he wants when wants.  This includes deciding he wants to go to the water, heading into the middle of a volleyball game, or, leaving the beach.  We are trying to treat it like we did the bed time routine and bring him back to our stuff every time, but that definitely gets old.  Often times we have to divert his attention to something else, but I haven't yet been able to just get him to sit there and play with his sand toys while he sits nicely in our area.  

He absolutely loves the water and this has been my greatest joy watching so far.  My guy has no fear of the ocean (which isn't necessarily a great thing) but he does seem to know his limits so far which has been good. Kailey is still warming up to the water and how she feels about certain things, but she certainly is a really cute beach babe.  

** Thanks to my parents for lending me their camera for these pictures because I was so worried about logistics, that I did not take any pictures with my own camera. **

The first few pictures are from the annual 5 mile race that members of my family has participated in for several years now on the starts to our summer day.

We are beach lovers 100%.  Thankfully, my kids are too...

Aunt Kimmy relaxing...

He seriously LOVES the water, even when he is shivering!

She's hit or miss, but has mostly enjoyed herself at the water's edge as well.

I tell ya, NO fear!

She's very curious about everything!

Looks like a model posing in the waves!

The water was so crystal clear and warm this weekend!

Beach babe!

If only he'd keep these (and a hat!) on!

Finally got him to drink something other than milk! Which by the way, he is the ONLY person I know that will drink MILK on the beach on a hot summer day!

A nice dinner to end the weekend!

I can't wait to see what the rest of the summer will bring us!