Last week we escaped the record heat and enjoyed the beaches in California. My parents were planning on going to visit old friends and as a little get away for their 35th wedding anniversary, we were planning to go at some point during the summer so we decided to combine our trips and we went together. We couldn't have asked for better weather!
We stayed in a hotel a few miles off the coast and drove to a different beach each day.
The first day we drove, dropped off our stuff at the hotel and went to Huntington Beach.
The next day we went to Balboa Island. The girls enjoyed the ferry ride
but walking around the island was not much fun for them and it was really hot.
There was a ferris wheel in the Balboa Fun Zone so we patiently waited til it opened and took the girls on their very first ferris wheel ride.
Waiting and sharing an icee so nicely!
They loved it. Even Paige wasn't scared.
Later we walked on to the pier just to say that we did.
and headed to Corona Del Mar beach. The entire trip Claire was constantly in the water, either jumping waves or boogie boarding.
Literally ALL DAY.
The younger two loved the sandy beach - although Paige was very brave and got in the water often.
Josh and I decided to walk up to a lookout point with the girls but Claire didn't want to come.
She stayed on the beach with Nana and Poppy and played volleyball,
and met a "special friend". He boogie boarded with her the rest of the day. He was a nice little boy.
Claire wanted to come back to this beach the next day because she thought he might be back.
We went to Huntington instead but we were in further up the coast this time and water was not so good for little kids. The waves were strong and breaking right at the shore. The girls played on the shore flew kites and napped.
The last day we were all sad to have to leave. We only stayed at the beach for a few hours.
We had so much fun and the girls were so good on this trip! Paige is a champ. She is definitely making up for her first year of terror. We couldn't have asked for a better toddler. We were mostly worried that Joy would be whiny and fragile, but we stuck with her gluten free diet the entire time and she was great!