OCNJ 2014: The Beach

The ocean and sand were huge hits this year for my kids.  Both kids were asking to go to the beach every day.  We were blessed with five glorious days on the beach.

Making the trek to the beach.
The backpack for Braylen was a great idea.
Carrying kids over hot sand in the afternoon can
be very exhausting after playing all day in the sun

Cole & Evie walk in the tire tracks of the beach cart.
Why did it take so many years to invent a cart that can
carry 4 beach chairs, 15 sand toys, beach bags, 2 umbrellas,
big blanket, and a cooler?  That thing is a back saver!

Once we made it to the beach, Uncle J and Uncle Sam dug a big hole which kept all the kids content destroying it, jumping in it, dumping water in it, and shoveling sand in it.

Early dad on the beach starts the hole

French braid buddies survey the digging

My favorite memory of the beach this year was all 10 of us protecting our fort from the incoming tide.  Usually some of us are sitting in the chairs watching Uncle J dig and entertain the kids, but this time all family members were up and trying to save the fort.

High tide is coming!  All hands in the front!

Uncle Sam uses his feet to quickly scoop up sand

Poppop and Auntie L are on ocean duty- grabbing any
small fries that are trying to escape

Uncle J picked a great location for the hole; the tide created pools in front of the fort

AHH!  The water made it over the protective wall!

Jumping into 1 inch of water

Front line of defense

We wondered why Braylen stood in this position for a good
5 minutes.  Poor guy was sunk knee deep in quick sand
and didn't know how to get out

When the kids weren't in the big holes...

All adults were relaxing while the kids played in this spot
for a long time.  That's pretty darn amazing!

They were dumping water or jumping the waves

Notice Evie is in the ocean!

No fear of sand or water for this beach toddler

Yes, my hot sister had major surgery 10 weeks ago and is
looking amazing in her swimsuit.  You would never know!

Speaking of hot.  LOL.
The bikini is back after a few years hiatus.
Thank you 21 day fix for giving me back my prebaby body!

Uncle J gets the award for hauling the most sand around.  He was constantly playing with the kids.

Making Hannah into a mermaid

And Cole into an octopus

All that playing sure wears everyone out!

Bray needed two morning snoozes on the beach
to keep up with his older cousins

Snuggling up with Poppop after a cool dip in the ocean

Dadio, Mommy, and Bray are passed out.
Evie is snacking away :)

To keep with a long standing tradition, we needed some shots of the kids in the lifeguard stand.  With kids waking before 7 AM, getting to the beach before the lifeguards report for duty is easy.

Watch out beach.  Cool kids in town

Good call with the sunglasses, Uncle Sam.
Enough to distract them and you can't
tell who isn't looking directly at the camera!
(Hannah looks like she is 13!)

Taking over the beach at 32nd street
Cole (3), Hannah (6), Braylen (18 mo), Evie (3)

The kids were so much easier this year on the beach; I don't think we had to run after one kid.  I was a little worried about Braylen, but 18 months was a good age.  He doesn't have much fear, yet he is over the put-everything-in-his-mouth stage.  He sampled the sand one time and that was enough for him.  Braylen definitely has Stefany skin- that boy browned up quickly.  Even Evie got a little color on that fair skin of hers.  And Jason even kept his burn to a minimum this year.  Definitely a great year sitting (and we actually did!) on the beach!