Sun, Sand, Sandwiches and Smiles

On Saturday, the beach was filled with our family. I took a few pictures of the first 30 minutes, and then I put the camera away to enjoy the day.

Collin went running towards Grandpa Brownie -
They had fun splashing each other
Getting ready for salty water to the face -
Collin spent the majority of the time on the shore.
He enjoyed splashing in the sand pool, the two inches of water being more his style than the rising and falling ocean waves -
For some reason he decided to lay face down in the sand. He almost immediately regretted that decision.

We headed back to the beach house for a sandwich and sides feast courtesy of Grandma Libia and Aunt Elida. While Collin took a nap, the ladies went for a long walk on the beach which resulted in sunburns for almost everyone. Minus the excess sun on our shoulders, we had a great Saturday on the shore.

That evening, we took Collin to his first white tablecloth restaurant. The waiter gave my 18-month-old colors and a coloring page . . . as though he was only going to keep the colors on the paper. Our table cloth had the markings of a toddler as we left, full of seafood and dessert.

Back to the Beach

On Friday evening, while we waited for our pizza delivery, we headed back to the sand for a few more pictures. Collin waved and told the sea gulls "hi" before chasing them all over the sand.
Life's not always a beach when your parents take trash from your hand that you wanted to put in your mouth -

Nothing compares to the feeling of wet sand on your hands and toes -

My artistic photograph attempts. The first one, of Collin and Cas' footprints towards the waves, Cas pointed out.

Posing on a post -

And then with Daddy -

Wispy hair, ocean breeze, giggling toddler = great Friday night

Introduction to the Ocean

Our wonderfully generous cousins opened up their beach house to us last weekend, and the whole family took advantage of the opportunity for fun in the sun. When we were driving down on Friday, it was raining, which turned to drizzle and then finally cleared up. We threw on swim gear and headed for the beach - Collin's first time to see an ocean!

In typical Collin fashion, he cautiously approached the waves. But with lots of encouragement and hand-holding, he ventured further.

Becoming happier and more confident -

Until this happened - big wave in the face = furrowed Collin brow

Back on land with a big smile -

Round two with me, he thought he could make it back to shore without help but didn't realize it takes extra balance to walk and adjust to the waves. After a tumble and look of concern, he was back to his happy self, telling the waves "no, no, no" - a gesture that is normally followed by "no, no, no, Bruno."

A mischievous grin - and then a lion roar -

We enjoyed a relaxing dinner on the beach house porch, watching the sea gulls and listening to the peaceful crashing of the waves.

At 7pm we took Collin for another first - Marble Slab ice cream. Poor guy could not keep his eyes opened despite singing and books on the five minute car ride, but perked back up once he realized what awaited him at the ice cream shop. The sugar rush only lasted so long, and Collin went to bed minutes after his last bite - quite an exciting day in his one-year-old life.

Meeting Uncle Faust and Anthony

Over Labor Day, Collin will board his first flight to be a guest at his Uncle Alex and Aunt-to-be Coady's wedding. Until then, we're thankful that our family flies to us. And we were delighted to introduce Collin to his Great Uncle Faust and cousin Anthony from the Big Apple.

They braved the heat and mosquitoes for family pictures -
Collin does not enjoy being still and posing for pictures, so the camera-man - or in this case, Grandma Libia - shouts out ideas for tricks to get Collin to face forward. Blowing a kiss -
Grinning at Uncle Libero -
How does an elephant go?
How does a seal go? By the time we get Collin to smile and look at the camera, all the other photo subjects are bored with the experience.
Back inside, Collin sweetly hands Anthony a book and Cas and I conveniently forget to warn him that if you read him Dinosaurs Roar once, you're signing on to read it 8 more times.

Collin had a great time meeting his new family and joining the whole gang for dinner a few nights later. On Sunday, Anthony was a trooper, saving the day when Collin punched a hole in the styrofoam cup of our shared smoothie and later walking at a toddler's pace as Collin took his longest hike yet at the Arboretum trail.

Summer fun with a sprinkler, feather, and piece of chalk

Running through a sprinkler is an essential summertime activity.

But the only one interested in fully embracing the experience was Bruno.

Instead, my little boy searched the backyard for other forms of entertainment.

Tickling and being tickled with a feather -

Showing me "how does a snake go" with his tongue -

Chalk on the backyard walkway . . . then later on the fence, patio chairs . . .

My new screensaver of our happy boy -