Epic California Trip--Tiffany and a Day at the Beach, Day 7

 We spent Friday laying around Tiffany's house, recuperating mostly.  After a week of travel we were pretty tired!  Annalee fell in love with her cousin Taylor who is just a little younger than her.  The two of them spent hours, HOURS in her room playing with toys.  Annalee rarely spends hours playing with toys, so that was pretty impressive.  Vander found a partner in crime with his cousin Titan who is just a little older than him.  Speaking of impressive, we were amazed how well the two of them played together because Vander is not known for sharing new toys very well, especially if they belong to someone else.  The kids' playmates allowed us to get some rest.  We lounged around all day until the older cousins got home from school.  Then it was Beach Time!



 It had been cooler than normal in California but it was still very warm for us, comparitively. So we were able to shuck jackets at the beach but the water was COLD!



Still, who doesn't love the beach?

Annalee was entranced by the water and kept rushing out into it and running back.

Vander was kind of scared of the water and didn't like how cold it was.  But all that sand was the best thing ever, in his opinion, and he spent lots of time digging in it and bringing me rocks.  It was pretty cute to see Vander experiencing the beach for the first time.  It reminded me of Annalee's first time when she was his age.  (I suppose Vander was "technically" there then too.)

Nathan became very serious about building a castle with a moat and a canal that led to the sea.  He was a slightly annoyed that little ones kept messing it up.

 Everyone got in on the fun.  What's that?  A picture of Momma?

 I love these next two shots of Annalee.

 Uh oh, here it comes!

Run away!

 

We spent a couple hours there and then it was time to head back so cousin Miles could get to basketball practice.  The kids were not happy to be leaving and threw a bit of a fit.  They were also really upset when we stripped all their clothes off and made them ride home naked.  (Sorry, but I think spending the next few days of our long car trip in a carseat full of sand would have been worse!)  Back at Tiff's we hosed them down in the shower and got ready for dinner and bed.  Dinner was delicious spaghetti that I ate far too much of.