Another day of sleeping in and then going for a mile walk/jog along the beach. This time I remembered my headphones, but loved and soaked in the sound of the waves which I could hear over my music. It was sunny today, and the warm sun and salty air were perfect.
Before checking out of our hotel, I stopped in the lobby for hotel coffee and continental breakfast- just to get the full experience. The coffee was delish. I gave the kids thr granola bar and chocolate muffin which I’m pretty sure are both still in the back seat of the car. Pete said he loves “grittle bars”, so now I suppose we’ll call granola bars grittle bars.
The kids and I went for donuts, then ate them at moms beach house. Mom and Ava played rummy, then we headed out for a long walk. I was able to get quite a bit of work done- two walk-throughs- which I’ll write up tomorrow. When I met up with the kids and my mom, Jack and Ava were performing a ballet on the concrete wall between the boardwalk and the sand. Ava was the ballerina and Jack was the frog. He mainly said “croak” and stood there while she danced around him, with an occasional punch or kick if she got too close.
On the way home we stopped in Paso to round out our school shopping. The boys found backpacks and ava and I came to terms with the fact she doesn’t fit in kids clothes anymore. She picked out a bunch of XS Womens dresses and took them to the fitting room, and asked Jack to go be her judge. He did, and they came back with a first day of school winner.
Settling in at home has been such a warm feeling. I love my bed so much. I love my house. I love my people. Adrian showed me progress he’s made on an outdoor bathroom he’s building out of a sea train. When it’s finished it will go up to Shaver Lake. He also told me about a softball league the church is starting on Friday nights that he’s likely joining- I am so excited to go cheer him on! When we were newly married, I’d take baby Ava to go watch him play softball. I love being his cheerleader.
Tonight I gave free reign on the TV remotes and we watched a treasure hunting movie in our room while the kids watched a movie in the living room and Pete bounced around between both. The house smells like popcorn because that’s Jack’s specialty, especially on movie night.
Charlie, our old dog, is curled up on the floor on my side of the bed. He misses me when I’m out of town. Pip, the stray, is sleeping somewhere, probably with the kids or under Adrian’s jackets hung on the lower rung in his closet.
Thank you Jesus for this life. I look at real estate all the time a dream about a different life, one that involves ocean views or the vineyard estate from the original Parent Trap. But this is the life I love. And I’m so grateful for it.
The Good Stuff 