Obviously, if we're going to camp at a State Beach, we're going to play on the beach lots. We spent some time there Friday night and then a big chunk of time there on Saturday. It was a lot of fun. I just love the beach! And having all those kids together - they just played and played and didn't want to stop. It was a really great trip!

This weekend, we went camping for one night at our favorite spot with some of our favorite people. It was a lot of fun! We have this little tent that we currently fit in perfectly. There's enough room for our mats and sleeping bags and our duffle bag and then there's a tiny bit of space at the entry and that's it! I love that we all fit in there so perfectly right now.

Camping with little kids really is all about making memories and it's definitely not about getting beauty rest. We had a little friend poke her head into our tent shortly after 6am (we were all awake anyways), and then another little friend came in and it was all giggles and laughs and so much fun! A fantastic way to start the day!

It was a beautiful weekend. And Conor commented that camping is a great use of the weekend. Lots of friend and family time.

The days are long, but the years are short.

Life somehow sped up. I'm shocked at how often I'm sprinting to get this or that done. I feel like I'm constantly doing laundry (what changed?), and something is always in need of cleaning. We have a million things to do, including grocery shopping every single week. I miss nap time. A reason to slow down in the middle of the day. Yes, sometimes I felt like a slave to nap time, but honestly, I looked forward to those 2 quiet hours in the day where I had a chance to catch my breath or doze on the couch. Now, there is no nap. And so somehow life has become very busy, I think maybe because we can. I'm managing and sacrificing (much less sewing is happening in these parts) and I'm tired.

Today, I was rushing around getting some things done before our well checks at the doctor's office. Holly invited me a couple of times to play, but I didn't. She invited me again at another time of day, and I politely declined. And finally after dinner, Conor and I were invited to play in the yard with a new ball I had just purchased for my girls. The dishes be damned, I was not putting aside an opportunity to play with my children. And so outside we all went for a little while to throw a ball around and laugh and chase and be a family.

Playing with my children was so much more satisfying than a perfectly folded stack of laundry. I loved listening to Holly boss us around and tell us all the rules. And watching Greta's eyes light up when I chase her is amazing. It was a beautiful little bit of time being with my family. And it was so worth it.

On my Mom's last day visiting, we went to Seacliff Beach. It was such a HOT day. Usually there's at least breeze, usually a strong wind, off the ocean, but there was almost nothing. The waves were so soft - it was the perfect ocean for the children to play in! And we all wanted to be in the water because the beach was so hot (except for Greta - she was one day 1 of tonsillitis). The sand burned our feet. Seacliff Beach is kind of a funny beach. It has pretty palm trees and beach homes and then it also has a pier and a sunken concrete ship that is basically stinky bird paradise.

The week my Mom was here was amazing for wildlife watching. We saw lots of dolphins at this beach - some of which were babies. We watched them slowly make their way north and then back south again. They were jumping out of the water and so close! It was incredible!

I had such a great time with my Mom. It was really fun to have her in my home with my family. I loved it!

While my Mom was here, we took her to my favorite beach - Sunset Beach. It's at the top of the Monterey Bay. I love the sand dunes, I love the way it looks! It feels a little rustic I think, but the beach is so nice and there's always lots of shells. Greta played like crazy in the water with my Mom. When Greta was a baby, she would cry so hard if we so much as held her while standing in the ocean never mind dipping her little toes in. The roar of the waves used to be so upsetting for her. But now, she's in and out of those waves laughing and enjoying her little self. We had such a wonderful time at the beach. And, lucky us, we saw whales! I've never seen whales in the wild, but it's been on my bucket list. It was such a thrill to watch them slowly making their way north. After some research, I've concluded they were Gray whales, momma and her calf. They're at the very end of when whales migrate through Monterey and Santa Cruz, so it was really lucky to see them! What a sight! Oh the wonders of the ocean!

Now for a ton of photos!