To Capitola!

Hank enjoying the ride
It was blazing hot in Santa Clara on Saturday.  To keep cool we decided to head out to Capitola and do a beach day right after lunch.  We checked the weather to make sure it was going to be nice out there and the app on our phones said it was going to be 75 degrees.   Sounded a lot better than the upper 80's at our house!  We loaded up all of our gear and headed out for our first beach day of 2013! 

Ruby

Charlotte

The girls flinging their lovies at each other.  They were gifted these lovies by their Grandmama a long time ago and a couple of months ago we started using them solely for the car.  They reach for them right away when we get in the car and hold them.  

They kept playing footsie.  I had the hardest time trying to snap a picture of it but they kept touching their feet together and laughing hysterically.  They had the whole car laughing at them.

Ruby & Charlotte
As we crossed over the mountains on the way out there, we watched the outside temperature gauge drop lower and lower.  By the time we arrived in Capitola, less than an hour after we left our house, the temperature was 57 degrees!!  Yikes.  We didn't bring enough clothes to properly bundle up so we just layered on the girls' swim coverups over their dresses.  Hank didn't mind, he had a long sleeved swim shirt on anyway.  Although it was chilly as we sat on the beach we warmed up.  It turned out to be not so bad but next time we'll remember that the weather out there is unpredictable and the fog might come in on our way out there.  We'll start packing sweatshirts.

We've been looking forward to getting to the beach and also a little anxious as to how we'd manage the three of them near the water.  Last summer the girls hung out on the blanket or in the stroller so it was easy to watch them.  This time was super easy too!  The girls didn't even really notice the water.  I think we picked the perfect spot on the beach that was just far enough away from the water so they didn't get excited about it.  They played in the sand and walked around near our stuff the whole time.

Ruby

Charlotte

Ruby

Ruby

Charlotte

Hank's rock collection

Ruby snacking on Hank's rock collection

Hank and Brett played in the water while the girls and I hung out on the beach.  Hank only lasted about a half hour out there since it was pretty windy and he started getting the chills.  We went to wash Hank off at the showers then headed to get ice cream for Hank, snacks for the girls, and coffees for the parents to warm up with!

Ruby and Brett - she started flailing back because he wasn't feeding her a snack fast enough.  We got slices of banana bread at the ice cream shop!

Charlotte and Mom.  Charlotte thought I was too slow with the snacks too.  I finally broke down and just gave her a huge chunk and let her eat it by herself.  Even if I did have to pay with crumbs all over my chest since I was holding her in the baby carrier.

We had so much fun.  I hope we can get out there often this summer.  We can't wait to get back to the beach!

-a