On Fathers Day Weekend, we had our first trip to the beach with the girls. The night we arrived, we took C and FL to the beach just to walk around and dip their toes in the water. Unfortunately, it was too dark for pictures, but, oh, how they enjoyed it! And let it be known that if you take a child to the beach in their clothes they ARE going to get wet no matter what you do! ; ). Let's just say that within the first five seconds of being near the water, Flora Lin was ready to sacrifice herself to the sea gods with no fear...
The next morning, we took it easy and got ready to go to the beach. C has been struggling with fear as we've been reading, talking and preparing to go to the beach the past few weeks. Any new event where she is not sure exactly what will happen causes her great anxiety. We've read fun books, bought special toys, swam in the pool, visited the splash pad and talked and talked and talked about EXACTLY what would happen. She was not so sure that we wouldn't leave her. "Mama, Papa not leave you at beach? " "Mama, Papa never leave you!" And "Together beach - not leave you!" Have been phrases that I have been asked over and over as the day to go grew closer. You can see some of that worry in her sweet, little face. FL just rolls with it and does things like moonwalking in the sand... Yep!
Some wonderful friends of Sam's lent us their beach apartment and park pass to Topsail (thank you, thank you!) which is much less populated than the public beach. Such a pleasant place! The surf was a little rough and very loud, but it was so beautiful out.
The girls were tried from our long, hot trek in the sand to find a good spot (Sam and I were, too!). It was worth it, though. The dunes and natural areas of the park were beautiful! I'd love to explore the whole thing, but maybe in the winter!
Once the girls recovered from the walk and me taking pictures, they found their silly again!
Charlotte was most looking forward to digging in the sand with her new pail and shovel! She could have played in it for hours and hours!
Flora Lin liked it, too, but was pretty quiet. Bright sun can still be overwhelming for her, the surf was so loud and this was such a big, new experience for such a little person!
We all really enjoyed just sitting on the edge of the water together, watching the waves break and exploring the wet sand.
I took this picture right as a big wave broke close! The surprised expression on FL's face is so cute!
I even got a few minutes to myself just watching the beautiful scenery. I think this is my first beach trip as the responsible adult! As a child, I never knew why adults would just sit there under an umbrella most of the time at the beach... Now I do! ; )
This picture doesn't quite capture it, but the shoreline was such a bright, cheerful array of colors.
Proof that I was there and an active parent! I had to lean so close to FL to talk to her because the waves were so loud. She was a good little sport, though. They both were.
Another wonderful quality of the beach... Its ability to quickly put children right to sleep. Even reluctant ones! ; )
This was their first time in big kid beds and bunk beds. Not surprisingly, FL was all about being on the top bunk and climbing up! C was not. At all. I love that they are soooooo different!
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