mid-week getaway to the beach

Last week the kids and I had the privilege of taking a mini-vacation in the middle of the week to Leslie and J's beach house on Hood Canal. It was 28 hours of adventurous beach combing, laughter and relaxation. Uncle J rowed the kids out onto the Canal twice. They enjoyed seeing Blue Herons in their nests, and an Osprey feeding it's babies a snake. J is good about sharing his knowledge with the kids, and they are happy recipients of this first-hand education.

Eva found this piece of Sea Lasagna (I don't know what it's really called) and, after noting all the other life growing on it, decided it was best suited as a fashion piece.

Jellyfish are always good to find- fun to gross out the squeamish. Eva said, "I was going to make some eggs, anybody want some?"

Here Josiah is contemplating and discussing with J the pros and cons of letting his crab go. The cons, of course, being that he loved it and he wanted it as a pet. The pros included the fact that the crab would be free and could live. While thinking about it's fate, he spent a little time training it, "No pinch! No pinch Crabby!" He finally made the decision to release it, but the main thought was that he had trained it so well, he could let it go and it would grow and then come back to him years later, much bigger and better to eat.

Bo had an awesome time roaming the beach and carrying clam shells and driftwood here and there. He did not have much success befriending the two little old lady dogs Zoe and Katie, but he gets points for persistence! That's a puppy for you.

Naomi made this balance game out of a half-hollow log.

For dinner we went to pizza in nearby Belfair. Leslie and J gave the kids some coins for the vending machines, where some major decisions were made. (Each kid came away with a gumball in each cheek, among other things.) Naomi was pleased with the little pink monkey that came out for her- the last time she was there, years ago, she came away with an ugly little man complete with a mullet, mustache, sneer, keg with hose and beer stein. She had wanted the pretty princess little girl. She named the little man Lemenen, and despite his unloved status, he is still at large in our house. He turns up here or there every few months.

After dinner we went back at played a little, then the kids went in to watch "Dennis the Menace" with Leslie. I took Bo out for some exercise before bedtime, and I could hear them all laughing from way out on the beach! The evening light was beautiful, and the sunset so calming. I was finally able to get a "looking" picture of Bo! Usually he runs at me to get the camera strap! I insisted that he stay, and he did, though he looks rather mystified...

Maybe no one else will see this, but I saw a lion and a lamb in the clouds above.

I was enjoying all the contrasts the fading light provided- bright flowers and flags against the dark clouds and last sunlight.

We all went home relaxed and refreshed by our stay at the beach. It was just the thing.