Sand and Sun

Looking at our inked up calendar I realized there would be no leisure family days until August. That just isn't right! Summer vacation should have plenty of mornings of waking up thinking "Hey, there's nothing to do today...let's go to the beach." I may be able to do that with part of the Bitting bunch, but the bossy day planner says no to all of us at the same time. Darn that overbearing agenda keeper.

When Hubby came home and announced he had a couple days off in the middle of the week I made more markings on the calendar, "Going to the beach". I had to get over the fact that all eight of us weren't available to go. Dakota was at church camp staff training for the week. And since she wasn't able to come with us and sit surfside, I had no problem leaving another child behind too. I'm sure you can guess which one!

If you guessed this one, you're a winner.

We packed the pails and the coolers and headed north. Lake Michigan is the closest thing to the ocean for us midwesterners. The weather was perfect! The water was too cold for my liking but I was thoroughly content laying on the sand reading and watching the kids or just closing my eyes and feeling my too pale skin soak up the sun.

"I haven't touched soft sand in so long"- emmaly

I wish I could tell you that we were ALL looking forward to the great time to be had. But....I live with teenagers. The last minute plans didn't allow for friends to come along. This caused a little bit of grumpiness at first.

But who can go to a dreamy place like Silver Beach and stay pouty?

There can still be tears even in the middle of having fun.

I would have been happy to stay there until late evening but I was outvoted. Probably a good thing because my sunblock was wearing off. (Well, if I would have wore any sunblock....)

I did get my way about going on a walk down the long pier. We watched crazy teens run and somersault off the side into unsupervised water. Something I'm sure my boy would have been doing if he was with his friends and not his mom. It's sad and scary that there was a drowning yesterday at this very spot.

Water is a fear I have learned to overcome (mostly) since I was a kid. Not being able to swim until I was almost a teenager left me feeling vulnerable, especially when my dad's idea of teaching me was just throwing me in the deep end. Thanks, Dad. ;) I'm sure, unlike me,  he felt totally confident that I would be fine. My only water fear now is with my unafraid, adventurous, water-loving two year old. Oh, and I'm not fond of crossing high bridges that stretch on for miles....but that's another story.

We missed you, Kodi! Uh.....you too, Faith. Next time! One of the best parts of my day was on the way home when a certain teenager said, "I'm glad we went, Mom. I had a really fun time." Me too, let's do it again soon!!