paddle boarding

Mission Bay Beach

After the girls’ gymnastics showcase, I loaded up the car with beach gear and three girls and we drove down to San Diego to meet Jake and the rest of the family for Ben’s law school graduation party. I’m always hopeful that a long drive during nap time will result in lulling the girls to sleep, but this time, I was not so fortunate. Meredith’s eyes were glazed over, but she couldn’t quite make it to dreamland with all the giggling, squealing, arguing and “SHE TOUCHED ME!” echoing from the back row. And that was WITH a movie playing.

Once we finally arrived, we were all excited to get out of the car and play with cousins Noah and Hailey at Mission Bay.

Cutest frisbee triangle!

Having missed her afternoon nap, Meredith alternated between cranky and delirious.

Samantha was ready to take over the driver’s seat on the jet ski.

After a long loop, Amelia decided she felt safer on dry land and let the speed demons take it for another spin.

Meredith was not pleased about being left behind, but got over it as soon as she discovered she could annoy Amelia in the tent.

Catch me if you can.

This was not the first time the girls had been paddle boarding, but whether it was their non-nap or the sun getting to them, for whatever reason, they were terrified. It didn’t help that they fell overboard!

Samantha was holding on for dear life and hyperventilating.

Snack sharing in the tent.

Sandy pita chips… yum.

Worn out from the sun and sand, we filled up at Ben’s graduation party at the beach house the Kagel’s had rented. The girls were excited to congratulate Ben and see the Kagels, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, and Uncle Mike and Ali, who had flown in from Wyoming. Meredith was too dazed to enjoy the company, but I think she still secretly relished all the extra cuddles.

Samantha, Amelia and Noah entertained themselves by playing with ice from the cooler and pretending to be a train.

It’s nothing personal, Ali!

We ended our evening early after the dominoes started to fall, starting with Meredith and followed closely by an epic meltdown from the twins. It was fun while it lasted! Since Jake had taken a separate car down earlier that morning while I was at the twins’ recital, I was rewarded for the harrowing journey down by handing the keys to the minivan and overtired children over to Jake and returned home in the other car in blissful peace and quiet, no Goldie & Bear or Dora within earshot!

Lots of love,

Paddleboarding and Sandcastles

Our paddleboarding adventure with the Smith family began on a relaxing note.

Kennedy helped Samantha and Amelia make sand cakes while we were getting the paddleboard equipment ready to go.

Photobomb by Ryan.

Sammy whacked a few people with her paddle before we made it to the water.

And they’re off!

I thought the girls would be a little nervous as this was their first time paddleboarding, but they hopped on totally nonchalantly.

Changing of the guard.

Sammy swims to shore.

Kennedy was hesitant to get on, but ultimately decided to join Sebastian and her mom and ended up loving it!

All that paddle boarding called for a huge dinner.

Beach baby (noun): A salty sass with sandy toes and a sunkissed nose.

Kennedy is such a great playmate with Samantha and Amelia and Sebastian was mostly off doing his own thing, so Lucero and I kicked up our feet and watched from afar.