Santa Cruz, California

I know I am pretty much always down for the beach.

#ilovethebeach

um, but on a Saturday... 

It can feel a little bit more like torture than relaxation.

Which is how this trip started.

We left at 10am and we weren't altogether on the beach until after 2pm!!!

(It's only supposed to take 2.5hrs)

The crowds were INSANE!

ugh!

But alas, we did make it safely and once I was able to watch the kids frolic in the ocean water, life was good and the craziness melted away. 

I had a goal for this trip: 

ENJOY! 

Be present in the moment!

I really did try to enjoy myself. I didn't let my "mom mind" take over too much (you know the: who needs a snack, who has to go the the bathroom, can I see all 3 kids, why is everyone whining...) And I am happy to report that I really did enjoy the sounds, the smells, the scenery, the conversations, all of it. I just soaked it all up. This trip was special because it allowed me to be reunited with family that I had been unable to see for 20 yrs! My husband and kids were introduced to loved ones they had never seen or met before. It was wonderful. Don't you just LOVE family!? But I must admit, I had a favorite moment on the trip that was just for me. At the end of the day, despite my 3 yr old throwing up, I was able to take a few moments of "me time" on the pier and listened to the most beautiful cello player, play "sweet nightingale" as the sun disappeared over the mountains and the brightest moon rose over the water. It was only a hand full of minutes to myself but I don't think I'll forget it anytime soon. It was a single perfect moment in my little world. Moments like that can be rare and I ate it up. I am a tad short on images (I need to go alone one day and finally get all the shots I tell myself I will get each time I go) but here are a few gems that might need to be printed very soon.

Happy Friday! 

Thanks for reading this little blog of mine.

Hopefully you're headed to the beach or somewhere just as wonderful this weekend.

PS: The BOMBSHELL blondes... are my sisters!