Beach, anyone?

peekaboo, rock. i kept telling the kids i could magically make it disappear. by saying alakazaam. they didn't buy it.

Remember how I mentioned the other day about a summer full of beach posts? Well, you all are due for another one. And as a bonus, I managed to get LOTS of great pics. So not so many words for today, lots of pictures. But hey, I think my kids are pretty cute. Hopefully, you do too.

Okay, I said not so many words. But then I remembered what I wanted to say. Hey, it's mommy brain. Not as sharp as I was three kids ago.

We have about a zillion pics of Jackson surfing. He's taken to it in the last two years in a HUGE way. He's fearless. He loves it. He hoots and hollers and cheers his cousins/friends into waves. It's a blast to watch, and twice as fun to photograph. What you don't see is the three years of work that went into that process. Three years of tiptoeing him into the water. "Surfing" in pinky-toe high waves. Flat out refusals to go near the water. 20 minute suit-ups, only to decide he's not going in when he reaches the water's edge. Shawn carrying Jack on his back as he paddled into waves, then swinging him around to the front so he could "feel the rush." Pushing a bit too hard, waiting for him to come back to it at his own pace. But now, we're getting to see the results.
Aidan is just a tiny way into that process. Recently, we've mostly been at the flat out refusal or the suit me up, no thanks I changed my mind stage. Last time we were in San Diego, we had a pretty gnarly meltdown/breakthrough about Aidan's fear of the water. And last week, we had a MAJOR breakthrough. Aidan paddled out on Shawn's back for what I think may be the first time.
And he had fun. He laughed. He smiled. He pumped his fist and shouted WOOOOHOOO! It was great. Jackson cheered him on. And on our way up the beach to warm him up (seriously, it's Oregon, people. I'm surprised CPS hasn't been called on us yet) I said "that was so awesome! You're a surfer, just like Jack!" He puffed up his chest (such a man already!) and said "That was soooooo fun."

Yessss. ( you can insert fist pump here.)

oh yes. One more thing. The hoodies. They each have one, made from towelling, so soft, so stripey, so delicious. If I could, I would marry them. Or at least get one for myself. Find them here. Order them today. Hurry. Beach coziness is waiting.....

woooohoooo!

suited up, ready to go. maybe. i think. maybe not. well, okay.

the post surf munch fest.

"i don't know, i think that right looks pretty good. did you see that last set? you were ripping. no, you were ripping. seriously."

coco.

can you tell he's a first child? who's had a camera in his face since about .2 seconds after he entered this world?
seriously, mom, get that thing away from me.

luckily, i still know the most ticklish places. ha.

so. stinkin. handsome.

on a treasure hunt/indian expedition thru the dunes. aidan: "i am the indian chief team captain leader." okay, then.

a good day. a great day, really.