End of Summer Mini-Vacation in Seaside

 We made it to the beach! As all the other kids were getting settled into their back-to-school schedules, we opted to take a trip to the beach the second week of September. It just happened to be the most perfect few days of weather to go to the beach too. Little wind and mid 80's temperature. It was wonderful. We stayed in a small room just steps from the ocean and several blocks away from the loud and busy downtown area. The kids had so much fun playing in the sand, combing the beaches for shells and other ocean items, running and jumping through the ocean waves, flying kites, walking through little stores, playing games in the arcade and riding on the horse carousel. It was the perfect mini-family end of summer getaway.

 These dollar store kites held up amazingly well for the entire time we were there. The kids (and Armando) used them a lot.

Sand face

Armando and the kids woke up super early one morning and went for a walk while I got to sleep in a little bit. They brought me back this collection of beach combing finds. I was, and still am, super excited about the whole sand dollars! Way cool.

 View from our room

 We brought the school books, but didn't do much for books. There was way too much other stuff to learn and experience.

 We discovered that Ezra fit comfortably inside my rolling carry on bag. Guess we'll save money the next time we decide to fly someplace.

 Lunch on the balcony

 Draw back to being the photographer. This is the only picture of me, my shadow with Ezra.

 Tide pools

They went on the carousel ride at least a dozen times over the 3 days we were in Seaside!

 Aaaand they sleep, all the way home