Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Dry Shoulders

Remember spur of the moment trips? I remember when Nic was up at BYU for the summer and I jumped in the car wearing Victoria's secret pajama bottoms and a Hane's white T-shirt. No bag, no toothbrush...just me and wrinkled p.j's. Things are different now that we have kids. We can't be as spurry of the momenty. But on Tuesday, my sister-in-law masterminded a beach trip and we were happy to oblige her whim. This was Jemma's first trip to the ocean and she underwent the traditional rite of passage of Dad putting little baby toes in the water and taking a picture with her name and age carved in the sand. Hmm...maybe I should have posted THAT picture!

Afton was a boogie boardin' mamasita! She couldn't get enough of it! So much more daring than I was at that age. Or um...at my current age. I was so proud of her.

Jemma was a total beach bum. She gazed at the waves and caught dorrito crumbs with the brim of her hat as I ate them above her. She nursed and napped under the umbrella. She got sand in her ears and didn't care. She is the most chill baby.

Afton: Airborne and loving it.
Roxy's next cover model.
Evan could do boy stuff and not get in trouble. He could break sticks and throw mud and test the boundaries of speed and splashiness. He could eat Chips ahoy without limit and stab things that washed up on the beach.
Something about beach towns just sets my mind abloom with mystical magic-ness. Everyday things seem interesting. Walking by a dry cleaners and seeing serious faced Asian people press clothes and wipe sweaty tendrils from thier foreheads. Walking by a beauty parlor, (yes it was a beauty parlor not a salon) with pink and turqouise hair dryers and old ladies getting their weekly poodle do. Then walking by a salon, (not a beauty parlor) and noticing men getting pedicures and men waiting to get pedicures (no women). Only in California.

I had my yearly negotiation with the ocean which includes me standing knee deep in the waves and telling the Pacific, "Don't kill me and I won't kill you". Each year I tell myself I will get in over my head and body surf. I will not be afraid of sharks and getting rolled and coughing up salt water and getting stung by jelly fish. I will. I will. I will.

I didn't. As usual, I left the ocean with wet legs and dry shoulders. Someday.

Leaving the beach we drove by this little sushi place. They had a hand written sign in magic marker that said, "Sorry we don't make change for meters". The windows were open and people were sitting on stools breathing sea air and eating slippery noodles. I don't know if it was because we were leaving (over my dead sunburned body) or what, but I wanted to go in there. I wanted it to be my regular haunt. I wanted a usual table and to know the name of the waitress and she would know I'd want water with lemon.
I think Afton knows how I feel because I had to physically pry her from the parking meter. She loves the beach as much as me. I can't wait til next time. I hope I hop on a boogie board with her and come home with wet hair.

11 comments:

Michelle said...

What a fun adventure! I miss those spur of the moment trips too, and oh how I LOVE the beach. I grew up only blocks from it, and miss it ever so muchly!
I love the close up of you smooching Jemma and the one of Afton airborne... what an awesome picture!
I'm thrilled you had such a great time. :)

i said...

how MAGICAL!!! leave it to a child to display how we are feeling. soooo glad you took a pic of her clinging to the meter.:)

Audrey Taylor said...

Angie is a person who knows how to have as much fun as she can find in anything she does!
You are such a happy person and I love reading about all of your adventures :)

Stacie said...

What a beautiful picture you created in my mind. The beach and your family go hand in hand.

I'd love to come over! I'm game for anything...playdate, games on some night, you name it!

Mindy B said...

I'm glad you guys had so much fun on your beach trip! I was trying to talk Benj into going this weekend, but he's not going for it... bleh. Your blog is so fun and I'm going to check out your food one RIGHT NOW. :)

Michelle B. said...

I am happy that you had such a great time!

Christene said...

Oh, that last picture tells it all. It was such a good trip she wanted to live there. So beautiful. I love those spur of the moment fun moments....even if they have becomed more planned with so many kids and stuff to pack. It's so worth it. Awesome!!

"M" Clan said...

OH MY GOSH! Next time you go we want to go too! How magical to read about your trip, how I long to be there again...like NOW! Your kids could play with our kids...doesnt it sound PERFECT? Thought so! Looks like a wonderful holiday!! xo

Hi I'm Apryl said...

We had so much fun! Vaughn and Pax also didn't want to leave. You said everything I wanted to say but you say it much more eloquently. Your pics are so great. My camera is being fussy and so I only ended up with the pics I took with my phone which has since up and took off. Maybe it went back to the beach :)

Lynette said...

Oh lovely post. It makes me want to pack up the car right now and head to the beach. I LOVE spur of the moment trips...working on Chris with those!

Mary said...

Oh what a sweet pic of afton holding onto the parking meeter....how cute!