This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
On Friday afternoon, I checked the weather report. Rain was forecast not only for the weekend, but for the rest of the week too.
So when my husband came home from work, I abandoned my computer, grabbed the kids and we headed down to the beach.
For three glorious hours, I drank in my kids, the sunshine and the incredible view — and it was fantastic. It was like a mini-vacation. And boy did I need it!
I love that my kids are TOUGH! They aren’t the slightest bit concerned by a break in schedule and by being up past their bedtimes. They can keep on ticking well into the wee hours of the night.
Olivia was completely soaked and it didn’t bother her a bit. She had a blast!
(Susan’s kids are the opposite of mine and being at the beach at 8pm, wet, covered in sand and past their bedtimes, would have been a disaster. They would have melted down faster than an ice cream cone in the summer sun. So when I phoned Sue and invited her to join us for dinner at the beach, she wisely declined.)
A fantastic night with my wonderful little family. My life is oh so good.
P.S. Even though my kids were soaked and it was after 8pm, they were more than up for an ice cream cone. It was Olivia’s first! I took lots of photos of course and I will post them soon. 🙂
P.P.S. I know these photos make life look idyllic here on the pacific coast and you maybe tempted to hate us because we get to live here.
But to put it in perspective, we do spend the majority of our lives under grey, dreary skies with seemingly never ending rain.
So when the sun does appear, we run like crazy people to get outside and soak it all in. And we make sure to have our cameras so we have proof that life here is great. (Cause sometimes, in the middle of a month without one day of sunshine, we can forget.)
A Frog In My Soup says
Yes indeed, Vitamin D is a great deficiency here in the Pacific Northwest LOL!
Tarasview says
ya, my mom would always take me down to the pier and we would walk the beach when the sun shone! During college I had a job on the beach strip in one of those little clothing shops and I would walk from one end of the beach where I lived to the other where I worked every day… it was blissful! There is just nowhere better than the WR beach in the sun!
Lynn EnsMom says
You captured a beautiful memory on film. Fantastic!
the RaMbLeR says
How fun!
Leanna says
Awesome pics! Looks like they had a blast!
Stephanie says
I love those photos of Olivia splashing in the mud! My 2-year-old would jump right alongside her in a heartbeat if given the chance! It must be so fun to live near the beach…
Jen says
How wonderful Janice… sometimes spur of the moment trips are the best :). It does indeed look like they enjoyed their time there.
Krista says
Wait a minute… where do you guys live? Somehow I got the idea that you lived in Eastern Canada… but you mention the Pacific Coast… do you live near Vancouver? If so I feel better, I only live in Eastern Washington, but I’ve spent my share of time on the West(wet) side! 😉
Deb - Mom of 3 Girls says
Oh I so can’t wait until it’s beach weather here. I love the photos of the kids playing – makes me anxious to take my girls. 🙂
Heather says
sounds & looks like you had a fantastic time! We love the beach too, my boys can’t get enough of it. On Saturday we took them to play in the tidepools and found soo much amazing marine life – it was all new to me, so I had just as much fun as my boys.
Shelly T. says
It looks like you had a wonderful time! Yay for flexible kids and flexible parents. My kids were the same way when they were little and it makes life so much easier and way more fun.
Kari says
INCREDIBLE shots!!!! Thanks for sharing your beautiful family day with us!! 🙂
tracey says
I adore that my kids are flexible, too. It is almost 7 pm and they are STILL outside, after having been to the park, bug hunting at the lake and playing in our yard (without dinner yet! Oops.) for hours.
Mel says
It looks like you all had a blast. One thing that I love is that you allow your kids to explore and be dirty!! I think it is fabulous that Olivia is covered in mud. You are a rockin mommy. I’m blessed too that my kids are very easy when it comes to a break in their schedules too. My husband and I are both always up for sporatic adventures and it is good to know that we can experience them with the kids without many meltdowns. I hope you enjoy many fun adventures this week, despite the rainy forcasts!!
Barbara H. says
Looks like so much fun! I’m so glad your schedule allowed you to make a run for it. Sometimes those spontaneous moments are just what we need.
Petula says
I love these photos. Olivia is so adorable in her earnest fascination and glorious fun. When you see things through her eyes everything seems okay. Beautiful post. … I do wish we had a real beach nearby. The man made one at a local park doesn’t count! 🙂 Especially since you have to pay to get in.
Michelle says
Oh and I loved talking to you on the phone Janice 😉
Michelle says
That Beach is the greatest !!!Olivia and McKenna are the same way getting right into it.And yes when the sun is out you have to get out right away.
brandy w says
i love the beach, how fun
AmyG says
Looks like they had a great time! And the water looks so relaxing. I love that Olivia just got right in there & didn’t care how dirty or wet she was. My Olivia is the same way. My girls are definitely part tomboy! lol
T&T says
love her little muddy self!
susieshomemade says
How fun is that?!! Great pictures:-)