Saturday March 29th, 2008
We spent the last day of our spring vacation searching.
We went to the tide pools at Laguna Beach yesterday, and what should have been an overcast and grey morning turned out to be brilliant and sunny.
Hope ran over the rocks with the pack of older kids we’d come with looking for crabs and narrowly missing stepping on anemone disguised with tiny shells. Hopping over little streams in the sand she searched for something that was living. The tide was low and there were fish caught in little pools in the rocks waiting for the waves to come and rescue them later in the day. She found little urchins and barnacles and possibly a sea cucumber.
I watched and shot pictures of her and her friends while trying to avoid stepping on the sharp rocks with my winter-tender feet. I looked for the perfect frame, the moment of discovery, the waves crashing in. Instead I found the backs of a lot of childish heads bent over a small marine pool, and hands that prodded gently at a small crab. I tried to follow closely, but I found it hard to balance holding my camera and at the same time keeping my feet in tact.
I took as many pictures as I could hoping some would turn out well when I looked at them later.
It was spring-warm, not summer-hot. Swimming in the ocean with it’s spring temperatures was out of the question, so after the tide pools we joined my toddler who had been playing in the sand nearby with my parents. She of course did not want to wear the pretty pink polka-dot bathing suit I’d brought for her and opted to run around in a saggy, sandy swim diaper and her t-shirt.
She ran from the water to the sandcastles, back to the water, the whole time carrying a pail full of heavy wet sand. Because a toddler’s span of attention is so short, she searched for many things all at once: the special yellow sand shovel, the shell she’d been playing with, a gritty bottle of water, and of course, freedom from anyone who tried to keep her close.
She spent the middle part of the day giggling and singing and playing in the little waves.
Each of us may not have found exactly what we were looking for: Hope for the tropical fish she will never find on California’s shores, me for the perfect photo, and Naomi for her freedom. But instead we found laughter in the little things of the day and joy in simply being together.
I love these pictures of the girls!
We had so much fun. Thanks for the pictures Sarah!!
how fun! i miss the beach already (and you and the girls of course…) When Christie, Ellen and Whitney came to visit we spent about 2 hours exploring those same tide pools… Hope and i really aren’t that different!
Beautiful pictures, friend! I can’t wait to meet those girls in person!
Sounds like a wonderful day!
I love a good day at the beach, especially where there are tidepools!
We used to spend a week in San Juan Capistrano each summer when I was little–good memories! I loved Laguna and its Sawdust Festival!
Looks like you had a lovely Spring day with your sweeties.
I love those chubby thighs! Great pictures.
seems like i never get the pic i want, but end up loving the ones i get! sounds like a lovely day.
Love the pictures! It looks like a fun day! I am jealous of the sunshine and warmth
)
I love babies at the beach. I could eat ‘em up.