August = Perfect Beach Days

I realized that I have not brought my camera with me to the beach as often as I'd like. When I go to look back and reflect on this summer-- the first summer for Oliver, the last summer for Trenton before he begins school-- I want to be able to remember it exactly as I see it. Thank god for digital cameras. And this blog.
It is all going so fast.

In regards to beaching-it this summer, I remember thinking "I had better come up with a good plan to be able to do this with two kids on my own." Not once did I think that I shouldn't try to do it... ;) Yes, some told me that I was nuts, that the kids would run off (he didn't) or eat sand (he did) or get burnt (nope!)
I'd say we averaged about one beach day a week. Sometimes twice a week.
There is nothing quite like waking up in the morning, checking for blue sky and nice weather outside the front door, and asking Trenton, "Hey bud! Wanna go to the beach today?"
He always responds yes.
My routine begins like this:
1) Pack bags. One with snacks and toys and books to keep 'em busy while in the stroller, one with toys for Ollie and sunscreen, and one with changes of clothes for the end of our day.
2) Drive to beach early enough (before 9) so that we can get a parking spot right up close.
3) Walk kids in stroller on boardwalk for about an hour. This worked well at the beginning of the summer, when Ollie would fall asleep. Now, he is onto us, and refuses to nap. Who can blame him? So much to look at: birds, clouds, friendly people waving at him... Oh yeah, and his brother poking him with an elbow or flicking his ear with his finger...
4) Swap out stuff in the car (put in stroller, take out Wonder Wheeler-- a godsend-- and pack it with beach stuff).
5) Beach it for about an hour.
6) Shower off kids, clothe them, and return home. The shower part is kinda the hardest. I have to put both of them near the foot shower (so much easier now that Ollie can sit up), haul the Wonder Wheeler up the stairs, lay out clean clothes, strip down the baby, shower him, clothe him, leave him alone with some toys on the boardwalk (right near the badge checker, who is always kind enough to watch him), shower T (this last trip was the first time he didn't scream), clothe T, then get into the car.
7) Return home around noon for lunch. And naps.
Mmmmm, naps.

Ollie makes the best of his time at the beach. He's kinda figured out that eating sand is not fun. He likes to play in it, especially the wet sand near the surf. I'll find lots of sand in his swimsuit due to the fact that when the water recedes, it all gets backed up in there. Fun! He is usually pretty good about wearing his hat (I removed it for the pictures).

Trenton is so good about not having my full attention at the beach. I was a little afraid that he'd be upset that I couldn't constantly run around with him. But he keeps himself busy. Looking for sand crabs, dancing in the surf, drawing in the sand, finding jellyfish...

He's bold. Not afraid of the water, but smart enough not to go in unless I'm holding his hand.

Soon enough, young man.

The picture above was my first and last attempt at a shot of the two of them together. Right after this a HUGE WAVE came out of NOWHERE and completely knocked the two of them onto their backs. Ollie was submerged. I had to keep the camera up with one hand and grab for his chest-swimsuit with the other. We're talking sand in the ears, eyes, nose, hair... so gross. Trenton laughed it off, but Ollie was a bit shaken up for a few minutes. Then back to playtime. Poor kid still had sand appearing in his tear ducts after naptime.

Snacking on the ride home.

Driving barefoot on the way back from the beach.
70 degree water temperature.
80 degree weather.
That's how August at the Jersey Shore should be.