Stereogram Summer

We're at the Jersey Shore for our vacation in a town that I spent every summer at growing up - at least until working at the pizza parlor was no longer considered a viable job. Being here is always a trip down memory lane for me, but this summer seems especially so.

I find myself staring at aging men on the beach. Their bellies are extended, muscles disappearing and hair slinking upward, but I'm compelled to keep looking yet unsure why. Suddenly my eyes shift focus and, just like those stereogram posters that were popular a while back, the man turns into an adorable 15 year-old boy with a grin and a tan and I realize it's an old friend.

It's a beautiful thing to see.

Beach Magic

We just returned from the beach for a long weekend and are heading out again this weekend, so the whirlwind of transforming sandy, wet clothes into clean ones to be packed and become sandy wet ones again has begun.

Our time at the beach was amazing. It was so perfectly wonderful to watch our kids play in the sand and water and wear themselves out with their cousins. With a deep fondness for the beach - arguably my favorite place in the world - it was such a joy to see the cycle of awe, joy and fun encircle the Peanuts.

Highlights:

Sitting in the surf with Peanut One as the waves

knocked us down to peals of his laughter.

Snuggling Peanut Two up in a warm beach towel

after we physically dragged her from the pool.

Peanut One chasing crabs at night

with a flashlight, shovel and a gaggle of cousins (he caught one!).

Peanut Two taking 25 minutes to walk 25 feet of beach

because of all the interesting things she wanted to pick up.

Peanut One's instinctive urge to swim in the ocean,

get out, and promptly roll in the sand.

Our last night we were sitting on our deck looking at the ocean and Peanut One said to J, "It is going to be hard to say good-bye to my cousins, but even harder to say good-bye to the beach".

I couldn't agree more.