Our Beach Visits

Josh and Ashleigh and their two adorable kids, Chamberlain (5) and Siri (2) came to spend the Memorial weekend with us, and we are thrilled. Before coming we used Facetime on our iPads to touch base about their visit and Chamberlain made it very clear that we were going to spend everyday at the beach - Newport Beach that is. So, anytime I can head down to the beach and take a break from the overload of business projects, I'm there in a heartbeat - no matter the weather or time of year. It is always wonderful, peaceful and renewing to the soul.

Memories of years spent on 15th Street, Newport Beach are priceless to me. As I sat there with the sun feeling very warm on my forehead and nose (the first two places I usually get a little sunburned), I turned to Ashleigh, referring to being on the beach, and said, "I've missed this." 

You see, for years as the kids were growing up and living here in Irvine, the kids and I spent every Thursday at the beach where we met up with the other ladies and their families from the Irvine 4th ward. It was a tradition that both my kids and I loved. I was known for bringing my "house" which was a sturdy beach canopy that took three of us to set up, but was appreciated by all because of the shade it provided. Besides the hard-to-put-togehter canopy, we all came over-loaded with beach pull wagons loaded with towels, frisbies, sand toys, change of clothing, sweatshirts, and a jam-packed beach bag. The beachbag had novels, glamour magazines, sun screens, food and water items, and work projects. We all looked like pack mules pulling and pushing our way to our "spot" where all of the ladies met up. Of course the kids were strapped down with the beach chairs, umbrellas, coolers loaded with bottled water, snacks and lunch. And although it was a major project to get ready, get there - packed and seated in our "spot," it was worth it just to be there "basking in the sun!" We loved it.

Our beach trips took in the entire day. We came home sun burned, exhausted and had sand in every crevice of our bodies. As we would pack up and drag ourselves back towards our van, we would shower off as much sand as possible, then load up the van, trying to knock off the excess sand from boogie boards, wagons, toys, cooler, hair, shoes, and bags. But as soon as we'd get into the house and head to our rooms and shower, it was amazing to see how much sand we still drug into the house. But no matter how much effort it took to go to the beach, we looked forward to the next week to repeat this action, and after today's brief beach visit, we are planning to start up the weekly tradition again. Just hope that old irvine 4th ward would regroup and duplicate the fun beach of years past.