I really love summer photos on the beach – Joe feels like the same old family photos on the beach year after year is boring.  So we compromised.  Instead of going to York Beach in Maine, he scoured the internet (not really it only took a couple of minutes) and found New Castle, NH.  It’s a state owned park and has a small little beach.  You have to pay to get in there but it was worth the measely $7!  There’s a huge playground as well as the beach, which is COVERED in these cute little shells!! 

After spending a few hours in New Castle, we headed to Hampton where we take yearly photos on the seawall there, something we’ve done since Nate was a year old.  I LOVE the seawall pics and being able to compare them year after year.    This is one tradition I absolutely refuse to negotiate on with Joey. 

Anyway, here’s a few of our photos. 

This was one of our favorite family photos of the day.  Due to the harsh sun, it was nearly impossible to get the exposure perfect but I think Joe did a great job!

This is my favorite family shot of the day!  But it’s not a great closeup of all of us.  I still love it though!  May be using this one for Christmas cards!

Maddie, Nate & Lexi sitting on the rocks.  Again, harsh sun = squinty eyes!

Daddy & Nate – one of my favs!

Never mind my fat butt – still love the photo with my girls!

Handful of sea shells!

My favorite photo of me and Nate of all time!

While it looks like Natey has his eyes closed, they’re not…he’s just looking further down.  Either way, STILL love the perspective of this shot!

Sea wall shot in Hampton!

Yes, we went to the beach. The kids have been wanting to go since we had to forego it last Friday due to my broken foot incident. My foot has been feeling great and I’m even able to walk on it a little bit without the cast. So I talked with neighbor about going with her and if she’d be willing to help me, especially with the water part of it since, obviously, I cannot go running into the water if one of the kids needed me to. She agreed (she’s such a sweetheart) and so we hit the beach.

As you can see above, I sat my behind in a chair while the kids played around us.

And here’s my Natey…he went into the water for the first time today. The last 2 times we went, he only played in the sand. 

He still spent most of his time playing in the sand.

Lexi showing off her new swimsuit.
 

 Maddie with her new swimsuit.

 Maddie playing in the sand.

 Lexi taking a break.

 Maddie resting after 2 solid hours in the lake.
 

Our neighbor has been going to our little town’s lake/beach religiously for the last 2 weeks because her kids are taking swimming lessons. The kids and I tagged along today and I really wish I would’ve tagged along 2 weeks ago! The kids and I had a GREAT time! Anyone that knows me IRL knows that I’m extremely fair skinned…as in, will burn within an hour even WITH sunscreen on. So I was completely overjoyed to see an entire section of the beach shaded and empty!! WOOHOO! I guess people actually go to the beach wanting to sit in the sun – go figure.

We spent a good 3 hours there and really had a blast. I was actually surprised that Nate didn’t play much in the water. When we first got there, he asked if he could go in and I walked out with him and tried to tell him not to go up past his upper thighs…and I think he didn’t really understand because after we walked out of the water, he wouldn’t go back in. VERY unusual for him since he loves playing in the water. The girls went in a lot but with one exception, never went up past their mid/upper thighs.

Other than the shade, the best part of the beach is that there’s a lifeguard on duty. I am NOT a swimmer…honestly, it wouldn’t hurt my feelings to never be in the water again (outside showering, of course). It’s this fear of drowning thing…I have it. And really, the reason I hadn’t tagged along 2 weeks ago is this insane fear that Nate wouldn’t listen to me and get in trouble in the water and then not be able to help him. So the lifeguard on duty was a big draw for me. And I shouldn’t have worried anyway since Nate listened perfectly…ok, well not perfectly. He had this little issue with throwing sticks into the water.

Anyway, I know y’all want to see the pics… here ya go!

Lexi playing with a bucket!
This was the ONLY time one of my kids got wet beyond mid-thigh…and it was because she lost her balance and fell. She immediately came running out to wipe her face and arms! Silly kid! They’ll eventually get the hang of this beach going!
Doesn’t he look like such a big boy these days? *sniff, sniff*
Lexi
All 3 heathens enjoying a snack!
Nate loved playing in the sand!