summer at the beach

We went away for a few days. And visited a lot of beaches (T's take on things). He was so excited to go visiting he didn't sleep for three nights prior to leaving. So we went to lots of beaches. We waded in the surf, we threw rocks in the ocean, we built sand towers and T demolished them with his digger, we played frisbee with T's new Woody frisbee and then T built a rock mountain while D and I sat on a driftwood log and watched the surf - and that was just the first day!

T had to build a sand crocodile,

 and then a big sand castle.

We had "picmics" at the beach, brushing sand off of everything and shooing the seagulls away. We buried T in the sand

and then I got buried. We walked out to the surf and waded in and splashed each other, searched for sand dollars. Parts that we forgot to sunscreen got too much sun. We lazed under our watermelon umbrella. T dug in the sand with his digger and dump truck and pails. T got compliments on his new Woody towel ("that's the best towel ever") and made new friends building sand castles and playing on a playground. We even saw some deer. One afternoon, we stopped at the go-kart track. T declined racing so D and I raced each other around the track! And T enjoyed some time in the sprinkler as well.

Ah - summer fun!

more summer fun...

We've had some fantastic weather lately and even the odd day which hasn't been stellar has been just dandy - what is a few clouds among friends. My barometer is how much water I need to be pouring into my containers - it's summer baby.

With our boy, summer involves lots of popsicles, ice cream, water (sprinklers, fountains (whale fountain at the park, the big fountain in front of the rec center) plus the beach and pools. His old toddler pool gave up the ghost - as in we blew it up and filled it with water and the pool deflated before he could jump in more than two times and the water was all over the patio. So we have a new pool.

It's deeper and wider so it takes a lot more effort to blow up (Mummy - are you done yet with my pool as I'm keeling over from lack of oxygen) - and more water to fill and the water is cold. Shocking cold. But T and I both fit in the pool for splash fests so it's all good - cold but good.

The other day, T and I spent some time at a secret beach hidden away from the beaten track. We shared it with a few other people, lots of geese and a couple of big tidal pools. T and I played badminton, waded in the tidal pools, swam in the surf with his swimming noodle (but there was too much seaweed touching T that he gave it up), had a snack of cheese bunnies and water, played with his boomerang and T dug in the sand. Then we were allowed to leave as we had "had fun at the beach". More beach time coming up in the next few weeks, I hope.

We've been blowing bubbles in the backyard, watching the vegetables grow, watching the bees and butterflies in the flowers, a small amount of lying in the hammock for me, tea and drinks and lunch in the garden. We've been riding on mini trains (and watching the model railways run), playing in parks, trying to fly a kite, visiting the market (and getting a tractor from Santa there), face painting, and lots of cherries, strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blueberries to eat. There has even been a quick trip to look at a visiting naval ship.

It's our watermelon coloured beach umbrella up in the backyard to give us some shade. And now it is time for my summer drink

 - Pimm's cup and a quiet moment outside. Bliss.

boy's summer adventures so far...

Our boy has been playing soccer, here at the turf tot world cup -

had picnics - here at the turf tot world cup (T has the brazilian flag painted on his face)

 and at the park - here is the preschool picnic.

Here are the kids waiting for the pinata to be set up. We went to the farm and fed the bunnies,

pet the goats

and rode on tractors.

We've tended our garden and harvested radishes.

We've done chalk drawings on the patio and played with trains and trucks and dug big holes. We've been to the market and the vegetable man and thrown lots of rocks and now have a bucket full of rocks for our rock collection. And made up a new bath game where mummy throws blue fish into the bathtub and our boy scuba dives for them and throws them back at mummy. "You're doing a great job, Mummy. We're going to win the trophy for this game!" And there has been swimming (and some driving around looking for an open swimming pool) with Auntie Kerry. And there have been a fair number of popsicles eaten.

It all goes better with a friend of course. And we are planning lots more summer adventures.