Beach bums

So we have just gotten back from our July trip to the beach- we had a wonderful time, and awesome weather! We spent just about every day out on the sound and Emma warmed up to it from the get-go! No more fear of the sand- she'll go anywhere in it now, thank goodness! :) Although it was nice to have her sort of confined to the blanket last time- not as much chasing around! She was willing to walk right into the water (I'm assuming because we've been to pools recently that have beach-entry too) and by the end of the trip, she would even walk in the water above her waist!

The first day out on the beach, she plopped herself right down at the edge of the water with Daddy and played in the sand

Hanging out in Mimi's bed, ready to head to the beach!
More playing in the sand/water- she was getting water in her toys...
and dumping it into the big puddle Daddy had dammed up for her
There was the perfect spot for footprints in the picnic shelter, such cute tiny little prints!
Grabbing a bite to eat on the beach- we were cutting off small pieces of apple for Emma to eat, but she wanted to eat it like a big girl!
Getting in the water with Mommy, it took her a little while to warm up to the idea, she mostly wanted to get back out in the sand and on the playground!!
Looking for boats out in the sound
Hey, Emma, where's Mommy's big fat belly button?
Just in case you missed it, show us again!
Emma was walking around with Daddy while Mommy rested on the beach. Mommy heard a loud *CRACK* and figured someone stepped on a branch and it broke. Then Emma started crying... turns out that crack was a hickory nut that just happened to fall and hit Emma right in the head!!! What are the chances?!?! She brought it back and demonstrated for Mommy once she got over it... we figure it was probably a jealous squirrel trying to do her in so he could steal her lunch... Where did it hit you???
And show us what it was!
Towards the end of the week, we were finally able to find a floaty toy similar to the one she had last year- once it was blown up, she actually would "request" that we all go in the water! We could hang out in the water for probably 30 minutes or so before she was ready to go back in. It was so much fun, she loved it!!

We did make one visit to the actual coast for a walk on the beach (there were lots of jelly fish washed up on the beach- no thanks!!) and Emma walked an amazingly long way on her own!

On the beach with Mimi
One of Emma's favorite past times- playing with paper... She found the stack of newspaper and was "sorting" through it when Mimi decided to make her a fabulous new hat!!
All the "kids" and their better halves... I just don't understand- how is it that we're all at the beach in the wind and the heat, and I'm the only one with a funky hairdo???

Having fun with Emma on the way home, trying to keep her entertained for the long trip- she was actually getting my sunglasses on the right way, then throwing her head back and grinning, it was so cute, but of course as soon as the camera came out, she wouldn't do it right any more, this was the best I could get!

Our sweet little girl- thankfully the trip home was good and seemed unusually short... we got home safely, and Emma was soooo happy to see all the animals and give them hundreds of kisses that were all very well-received!!!