California, Ho! (Part 4)

After Saturday's meltdowns, lack of naps, stomach issues, diaper rashes, and one child's catastrophic poop accident in Grandma's kitchen (thank you, Grandma and Grandpa, for being so gracious!), I wondered whether our plan to hit the beach with Emily and James on Sunday was a good idea. But we decided to go for it . . .

Lydia with Aunt Em

Windblown Josiah

We had beautiful weather, easily found a free parking spot at a nearby park, and staked a spot on the surprisingly empty Hermosa Beach. Jeremy brought an umbrella he snagged from a neighbor's bulk trash pile, and it proved helpful against the sun. Though we did lather up in sunscreen, squirmy kids are hard to fully protect . . . so the girls ended up with a splotchy sunburn. The wind kept blowing their hats off, too, so they didn't have that extra shade. Jeremy forgot to put any sunscreen on his back--ouch!

Abby and Daddy

Upon our arrival, I took Josiah down to the waves. Lydia came running up behind us and face-planted into an oncoming breaker before I could catch her--so then she was scared of the water. She did love slithering around on her stomach in the sand, though! By the end of our time at the beach, she tentatively tried the water again--but protested loudly when Daddy tried to wash off all the sand.

Lydia in the warm sand

Aunt Em and Abby

Elias and his daddy

Elias hung out under the umbrella and enjoyed/endured visits from his cousins as they came in from the sand and waves and sun for snacks.

Lydia trying on Aunt Emily's sandal

Squirming in the sand!

Abby admiring Aunt Em's sunglasses

Jeremy and James helped the kids dig tunnels and make sandcastles, and this activity was by far the biggest hit of the day! Abby stayed in the sand-ditch long after everyone else, just scooping and building and occasionally eating sand.

Digging in the sand was lots of fun!

Lydia the Destroyer delighted in knocking down towers--much to Josiah's consternation

Sandy Abby

After the beach, we walked back to the park for a picnic. Emily and James brought a gourmet lunch of mini biscuit sandwiches with all sorts of fixings. Thanks for hosting such a great Father's Day celebration, Em and James!

We're glad to be related to these three

After another unfortunate poop accident at the park, we packed up and headed back to the Singletons' for our final night in Los Angeles.

The next morning we woke up those tired kids, went to Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa's house for an early and brief goodbye visit, ate breakfast back at the Singletons' and packed up the car (which took about three hours), and drove home to Arizona. Our drive home was not as smooth or happy as our drive there--and unfortunately the overtired kids did not sleep during the trip back--but we made it safely and are glad we had such a good time with everyone in CA!