Starting over in a new culture (even a beautiful and fun one) for ministry, language, and life in general can start to drain you. It was obvious that our family needed an "us" day. So, we hopped on the train for a day trip to the beach.
We were so glad that Benjamin could finally join in on the fun!! It has been quite the year and especially quite the past 3 months for him...between Covid recovery and having an ingrown toenail removed (that absolutely refused to heal) He was good enough to walk and have fun with us!
Oh the bond that these two have!!
We were so surprised to get to the beach and sea waves! This particular beach has crystal clear waters and is typically so calm. A storm was rolling in for the next day, so we got to enjoy cooler weather (90) and real waves.
Obligatory selfie before everyone starts playing.
Glad we got to come together.
Their hair has gotten so long! And when did these two grow up so much?
Enjoying the cold water...(Oh, don't call it the ocean...Italians get so upset about it and correct you saying it's the sea. I know this is technically correct, but in my mind, they are all the same thing)
Love this smile
Hudson. Observing at a safe distance. Only Regan could get him to go further out at first.
Take my picture mom :)
Brothers
Hudson
Regan
My oldest two...Regan and Benjamin
Regan helping Hudson jump over the waves...his feet crack me up! This was literally right before he lost his glasses in the ocean. I forgot to have him take them off. Now we get to find an eye doctor.
I have no idea who she is, but was so cute making her way to the beach.
The kids said they wished they had a boogie board like when we are at Grandmommy's house. They were having so much fun, but I thought it could be even more fun if we bought one for them to share.
Katherine
Lauren
Benjamin said I should take his picture because he was brilliant to stay out of the sun....he just forgot about those arms...they are still peeling!
Hudson collected rocks, not shells.
Hudson was fascinated by the water that would appear and disappear with each step.
Running and playing...something that doesn't happen often without prompting. So glad to see him having fun.
Exploring the rest of the beach with these two. Look at the blue ocean!
They posed...trying to get a wave crashing over the rocks.
Hudson was so tickled about trying to tickle Jonathan's feet.
The girls scared some birds as they were running in from the sea.
They were having so much fun, but it's now time to go.
Genius. Who needs candy when you can get Pringles
I think it was definitely time to go. Lauren said that she had frost bite. She was so cold...but had a blast!
