The other day I was so frustrated with the kids and how chippy they were being to each other and to me that we headed back to the beach, and invested in an annual parking pass for the state beach lots so that we can escape to the ocean more this summer (hashtag vitamin sea.) And it's working out well - the kids are both LOVING going in and boogie boarding, and Doheny hasn't been crowded, with easily ten feet of space between us and other parties while sitting on the sand (Adam has to come out at regular intervals to warm up his scrawny body.) The upside to his lack of body fat is that he hardly even needs to make an effort to get taken into shore by a wave:
It's been really nice. We've already gone twice, and are getting the hang of preparing to get out of the house and playing together on the sand. This is the first summer that I feel comfortable going with the two of them and the one of me, though Ellie would definitely like for me to quit watching her and let her paddle out to sit with the adult surfers, seeing as she thinks she's people. I hope that as the summer goes on we can check out new and different beaches too.
We've also been doing our bike riding. Today Uncle Jake mapped his route by our house so that the kids could ride with him for his birthday. When I told them what was happening, they were so excited that they started jumping up and down and screaming with joy, which was super sweet.
Speaking of - the only thing we can truly complain about is that our air conditioner has breathed its last. Gigi brought over some box fans, which are seriously saving our lives in the afternoon hours before the house cools down. It's not totally unbearable - having a single story house helps, and our ceiling fans are doing their best, but I do not enjoy when my house is over 85 degrees inside. We're going to end up replacing the whole system, including the 40 year old, asbestos-laden duct work (for the best, obviously) and are getting quotes on solar. Who knows - we may still all be in this house quarantined next summer if the country can't get its shit together and stay inside/wear a mask, and by then I may want to just blast the AC at 62 degrees and lay on the floor in despair, so having a new, energy efficient, solar powered system may be just what the doctor ordered. Meanwhile, after our excellent afternoon swim at the Resort and Spa yesterday I went in to find that Grizz was running his AC for the first time in who knows how many years, just to taunt me. Joke's going to be on him when we all come and sleep over if it gets any hotter.
