Summer Begins with a Bang: The Beach

I'm determined to make this a summer to remember, despite the uncertain employment circumstance. Who knows if this will be the last summer we have with Rex home with us (as a teacher with summers off). Not only that, but Rex doesn't have to go to Scout Camp or Youth Conference or YM camp outs or youth dances, nor does he have teacher improvement classes to attend or jury duty like last year. This is also the first summer we haven't had to work around naptime so we can venture farther from home and stay out later. I've been dreaming of exploring and having fun for years, and I don't want to pass up this opportunity, even if the adventures have to be geared towards kids who fuss and fight while trying to entertain them.

So, first on the agenda was The Beach. Grandma and Grandpa Roberts drove us in their van (a 3 hour drive each way) to Port Aransas, just north of Corpus Christi on the outer side of Padre Island. I was prepared for the doldrums with hot, humid, stagnant air and warm waveless water. But what we beheld was a nearly empty beach with refreshingly cool water (albeit not cold and not with those powerful awe-inspiring waves I am used to). The air was somewhat breezy, but as the afternoon got later, the air didn't stay cool like I think it should at the beach in early June. I was freaked out by the jumping fish so close to shore (and what did those people think they were doing casting their fishing line right there where they could hook people?!) and even a little jelly fish! And no parking lot -- you just drive right on the sand up to the water! So strange.

Isaac was too scared of the water to even touch it. But he was content to play in the sand the whole time. Megan and James were ready to dive into the water as soon as we got there. My little girl must have California water in her veins! She seemed even more excited about the waves than James! She loved going in with Grandpa. It was so much fun getting to jump the waves with my husband without having to worry about the kids (or rip tides) -- oh, how I love having Rex's parents here!

We all got very burned. I was pleased because it would darken nicely for me and the kids. But I should have applied sunscreen at least one more time because we all peeled. Oh well. It was definitely worth it.

The kids are asking to go back again. But I am told that as the summer wears on, it gets much much hotter there and the water warms up to about 85 degrees. To me, 100+ degrees at the beach is inconceivable! (Just as ridiculous as air temperature staying hot when the sun goes down! To me, the beach is supposed to be much cooler and the water is supposed to be pretty cold. I thought it so strange when people in Oklahoma/Texas were confounded at the idea of cool beaches and dry weather in San Diego, being located on the coast. Seems to me the rest of the world's weather is messed up!) So I'm not too anxious to go back until the fall or spring. But I'm so glad we went when we did.