Chunky little legs and sand do not mix

While we are on one of our many memory making adventures, I have discovered that little boys with chunky legs ( that would be Thing 2) and sand do not mix.  He is having a serious battle with sand rash.  This particular battle required a trip to a surf shop and make a purchase of rash guards.  The poor kid had to walk up the beach in nothing but a towel, and water shoes and nothing even close to a smile. 

The kiddos spent the day sunnin it up on the beach, boogie boarding, floating in the rafts that the older boys bought.  This mama actually got to sit on the beach and soak up some sun.  That was a first for me, and also the big advantage of having 4 teenage boys with you, that love playing with their younger cousins.  The main reason is that they know that my kiddos are as they described it, chick magnets.

While sitting back watching the wild ones playing on the beach I noticed just how much those two little heart stealers have grown.  Thing 1 has always been a self described surf rat so his love of the water is not surprising.  However Thing 2 has up until this year been an avid disliker of the ocean.  The very first time we brought him to the beach he crawled back in our jeep--here you can drive out on the sand-- and sat literally all day while we played.  The second trip he actually played a little bit but still was not fond of the crashing waves and the fish touching his feet.  This year, he has spent every minute available in the water. Watching this change makes me realize my baby is in fact not a baby anymore. 

More memories will be made tomorrow and I feel sure more water splashing and sand digging will occur.  But for now, the kiddos are snuggled in on the couches sleeping peacefully with bellies full and tired limbs.  That makes this woman very happy.