We went to a Santa Cruz beach, Twin Lakes, with a big group of Moms and kids and it was great! I love going to the beach with other people - the children always have so much fun playing together. Twin Lakes (south of the harbor) is so great for parking. We literally parked right there, practically on the beach. I love that it was a very short walk with my children and all our beach things and no hills! Unfortunately, the wind picked up rather strongly and so our beach day wasn't quite as long as hoped for. We grabbed ice cream on our way out of town at a spot that is apparently favorited by locals, Mariannes Ice Cream. A great hurrah for a friend who is moving to SoCal. 

After our lovely camping trip, we decided to take a scenic drive home. We wanted Holly and Greta to nap as long as possible in the car and we wanted to enjoy the ocean and chit chat. We drove from Santa Cruz to Half Moon Bay and then east. And the drive did not disapoint! I loved it. California is beautiful! I love living here! Feels like home. 

One of the beaches we stopped at was a hub for kite surfing and wind surfing. Just watching these guys ride the waves and fly was a thrill and so I can only imagine that doing it is amazing!

Ah the beach! We love the beach! This beach day was extra great because the tide was so low. There were long, wide stretches of sand bars and little pools for the children to play in. We found a ton of sand dollars and other shells. It was so fun! Greta loves, loves, loves sitting on the beach with a bucket and shovel. She fills that bucket and dumps it repeatedly and could do so for hours! It's amazing! I love being at the beach. I love California!

Our girls, Greta especially, woke up early in the morning, around 6am. I surprised myself by being rather willing to get up with them. The draw of a fresh morning outside was pretty huge for me. We got up and had breakfast (homemade granola, yogurt and fruit) and did our best to be quiet. Not quite Greta's strength. She spoke in a whisper I couldn't hear or she spoke loudly. Both methods of communication were adorable. We ate our breakfast, chatted, played with friends, packed up our tent and belongings and prepared for a morning at the beach! That was the best part. A leisurely morning at the campsite and still at the beach by mid-morning. Perfect!

Note: Greta became the unintentional leader of the little girl gang. She was older enough that she was a draw but was still playing in ways that the other little girls could do so alongside her. It was cute! Although I think Greta felt a little territorial.

The sun set was really pretty! I don't take enough time to enjoy sunsets. Unless I'm in the car, which rarely coincides with the sun setting. The sun setting and the ocean. A perfect combination. I'm glad we went camping and took the time to enjoy the beautiful world we live in. (Top 4 photos are by my friend Leia)