Back to the Beach

Who wants to go back to the beach? 

A silly question - we all do!

Mimi and Babba joined us at Isle of Palms for a reprisal of our earlier trip: Beach, Take Two. Sarah and Max had a lot to show their grandparents!

The How To List

1. How to Build in the Sand

Thumbs up!

2. How to Catch a Richards-

Run Fast!

3. How to Get Wet

 

4. How to Make a Presentation to the Sea

Afternoon rain couldn't dampen our spirits! After naps, we ventured into the steam for some playground fun. Where else can you find a giant sea creature other than a playground at the beach?

The zip line was a family affair. First the Max...

Then the Daddy...

And finally the baby...

Baby wins the ice cream prize for best form!

Beachin' is a dirty job...

Cleaned up at the Marina

What's in the sky? A bird? A plane?

A Ball! 

(according to Sarah)

One of the reasons we love Charleston is because so many of our friends have migrated there! Thanks to the presence of Mimi and Babba, we were able to go to dinner one night with some dear friends who were struggling through a difficult time. Being able to see them in person and offer a hug was much preferable to a phone call or email.

We were happily anticipating another night out at a fabulous Charleston restaurant to celebrate our 9th wedding anniversary, but the opportunity to spend time on the beach with a childhood friend whom I rarely see took precedence. She was one of our bridesmaids, so we informed Jason we were still honoring the day! Max convinced her to join us for another round of ice cream before she headed back to the city. After our ice-cream appetizer (and a long day at the beach), we decided to forego our dinner out and send my parents out to enjoy a meal instead and bring back some take-out for us. Unable to find a restaurant that wasn't packed and/or a bar, they returned home with a meal from Burger King. That's right, we spent our anniversary eatingWhoppers and fries at the kitchen table with my parents,  laughing about how superior the food was at our actual wedding reception. It was delicious. A perfect anniversary day.

This beach trip included an excursion to the water park! It was a great park for toddlers and pre-schoolers with slides, splash areas, and the not-so-lazy river, which whips around pretty quickly! 

Being at the beach makes me appreciate simplicity. That might seem a strange sentiment considering the amount of stuff we lug to the actual beach, but the routine is basic and timeless: Get up. Go outside. Enjoy God's beauty. Be with people you love. Fall into bed exhausted. Sleep soundly. Be content. Be happy.

The Richards Family 2012