We always gather together for a week at the beach each summer. It's a fun place to enjoy being together and make memories. I've mentioned my memories as a child at the beach and wish the same for my children and grandchildren. This year our beach week came just when we needed a respite from the heat and humidity.
Both our son and daughter and their children join us as well as my nephew and his family. There are eleven in total staying in two separate condos. In our place our daughter, son-in-law, grandson and Grayden and I make it our home for the week. Our son and two grandsons and my nephew, his wife and their daughter stay in the other condo. We all eat together in our condo. This year I fixed the breakfasts and the dinners with help from my daughter and Grayden. Our son and nephew made all of the lunches. One evening we went to a Japanese Hibachi Grill. The children always enjoy watching the antics of the chef.
Our son has taken over the job of setting up the four umbrellas for shade. He also has the help of his sons and our oldest grandson to set up the eleven chairs. We are a big presence on the beach with all of our paraphernalia. It all comes together for a fun day on the beach.
The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. Jacques Cousteau
Our daughter is now on the train traveling with her husband to San Francisco to swim in the Alcatraz Sharkfest Swim. She is an open water swimmer who regularly swims in events around the country. Last year she swam in the Boston Harbor Sharkfest event. She wanted to do some open water swimming while we were at the beach and asked me to swim with her one afternoon. I told her I would just slow her down, but she insisted that wouldn't be a problem. So we both began to swim and I quickly realized this was difficult, but she encouraged me to continue with her. I did more floating than actual good swimming as she did, but it was fun to experience a tiny bit of her joy.
Our week was quite enjoyable with our whole family being together at one of our favorite places on earth, the beach.
Wonderful photos of your week. I can just hear the waves crashing on the shore. It sounds like a good week of making memories!
ReplyDeleteThe first half of the week the waves were quite calm, Dotsie. Then we had quite a change with huge waves. The majesty of the ocean always humbles me. ♥
DeleteThis is a wonderful tradition you have with your family. You're making life-long memories for your grandsons. I love you photos of the ocean scenes and family fun!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cathy. We are so thankful that our children and grandchildren look forward to this week every year. ♥
DeleteHow wonderful to be able to do this every summer--such good memories for your family. My son and daughter-in-law go to the OBX every other year with my DIL's parents and her sister and family. We joined in one year, along with our daughter and her family. It was fun!
ReplyDeleteGood luck to your daughter in her swim competition in SF. The waters are very cold there!
We are really beach folks, Pat. I'm so happy when we all can do this together. It's our tradition.
DeleteThe water in the San Francisco Bay is 65 right now. Our daughter lives in New England and trains in cold water, so she said this would be okay with her. ♥
What a wonderful tradition to have a family beach vacation!! The ocean is glorious; its vastness points to the Creator! Time stands still at the beach!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like such fun to share meals and responsibilities and time together. I smiled as I imagined the procession of 11 people and all of their stuff. :)
Cheryl, our son and grandsons set up camp right after breakfast with all of our stuff. We have the best time enjoying each other's company and the glorious ocean that is a gift from our Creator! ♥
DeleteDoes anything restore the spirits like a day at the beach {unless, of course, it is a day in the forest or the hills, or other place of nature} or seven days? Guess that's seven times more healing.
ReplyDeleteThe Jacques Cousteau quote is one of my favourites. ~~~Deb {from the other side of that Big Water}
Deb, a glorious week at the beach surely restores my soul. Gazing at the vast ocean brings life into focus.
DeleteI like to think of you on the other side of that big water, my friend. xo ♥
How wonderful, beach time! So enjoyable and soothing as well. The ocean is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda. The crash of the waves and the majesty of the vast ocean always soothes my soul. ♥
DeleteOh that looks so good especially when it's so hot! I have to admit that those waves scare me and I'd be scared to let me children go out there! I'm actually scared of the ocean and jellyfish! LOL... Sadly it's true! It sounds like a fun thing to do though sharing the condos and all dining together. It's hard to get everyone together for so much time like that.
ReplyDeleteLiz, we are great respecters of the ocean when the waves are rough! The children have grown up going here and are great swimmers...still we are cautious. The first half of our week the ocean was quite calm and that's when I swam with my daughter. There are very few stinging jellyfish in the ocean where we go. They seem to like the calmer waters. ♥
DeleteLooks like so much fun. We took the grands to Hilton Head a few years ago and loved it. Memories to keep forever, XOXO
ReplyDeleteThe beach is a great place to enjoy with the grands, Susan. They play for hours and hours in the sand and in the ocean. XOXO ♥
DeleteOh Martha Ellen..how marvelous! There is nothing better than a beach vacation with the family! I just know you had a marvelous time! Thanks for sharing....happy memories made for this year! Loved this!
ReplyDeleteI know you enjoy your beach week as I do, Betsy. Everyone is so relaxed and enjoying the time together. There's nothing better! Have a great evening, dear one. ♥
DeleteAhhhh...so relaxing! Soaking up all that sea and sun...delightful! And even better that you did it with family. Best wishes to your daughter in her event. She sounds so athletic!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vee. She is a great swimmer and enjoys exercising pain free as she says. The ocean has a way of calming the spirit in many ways. I hope your days are going well, dear one. ♥
DeleteWhat a wonderful family tradition, Martha Ellen! Everyone looks so happy and relaxed. Your daughter is such a brave, strong swimmer! Her love of open water swimming must have its roots in all of the Beach Week vacations of her childhood. :) Just being near water always gives me a peaceful, easy feeling! I just love peeking into your family photo albums, dear Martha Ellen! ♡Dawn@Petals.Paper.SimpleThymes
ReplyDeleteDawn, I can thank my dear parents for taking me to the beach all of those years as a youngster and for instilling family traditions. They dearly loved the ocean and used to go to the beach with us until they left this earth. My daughter always refers to her love of swimming linked to these weeks at the beach. You are so right that being near water brings peace and tranquility. Thank you, as always, for your sweet comments, dear Dawn. ♥
DeleteWhat a fun family vacation! I think traditions like that are awesome!
ReplyDeleteWe lived in Florida until our kids were 8 and 10, and we went to the beach all the time. We loved it. Now, we are in a landlocked state, so trips to the ocean (called "the coast" rather than "the beach") are several hours away.
With your daughter being such a swimming enthusiast, is she wild about the Olympics? I can't imagine swimming in any open water---I'm too afraid of the creatures that luck within them.
Blessings,
Patti
Patti, I can imagine you must miss the beach as it's nothing like it. Your memories must be wonderful of all of those times spent with your family.
DeleteOur daughter is mindful of the ocean creatures and even dreams about them. It's a mind game that can play with her. She is a very cautious swimmer and has decided not to swim in SF as the water is very cold, even though she swims in New England waters. The Pacific is much colder. Most folks swim in a wet suit there, but she was not prepared to do so.
Have a wonderful afternoon. ♥
Special times ...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your lovely photo's.
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan. Have a wonderful weekend! ♥
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