To the beach

On Friday morning Aunt Heidi drove down to meet us for a day on the sand in Newport Beach.

While we were waiting for her arrival

(L.A. traffic...pfff!)

the kiddie pool called our name.

On went the swimsuits and out came the new donkey swim ring

Oh how loves this donkey!

p.s. this is the first picture I've looked at that makes me think,

"hey...maybe he does have my hair color!"

(and cowlicks...poor baby)

After a while, Daddy showed him a new way to "hang out" on the donkey.

....he was laughing, floating along...

...loving his new skills...

...until this happened.

I have to admit, even now when I look at this picture it makes me laugh!

How did Talin happen to catch this exact moment??

Poor Ezra!

If I wasn't right there in the pool I'm sure I'd feel differently...

...but he was a trooper, he stood right up, gasped a bit...

...then tried to climb back on...

...at least until it almost toppled again.

SAD!

He decided to reassess his love of the kiddie pool.

After some serious thought...

..he concluded that swimming was more fun then sitting...

...or rather...

...floating on a stable object was more fun then his swim ring.

HA!

Dried, dressed, and ready to go, we made the short trip down to Newport Beach and marveled at Southern California's beauty.

After finding the perfect spot, we plopped down our blankets and commenced relaxing,

digging...

...chasing...

...playing...

...talking...

...exploring...

...loving...

...and laughing.

I think this was my favorite day of the trip!

There's not much that can compare to a day full of nothing but family, nature, and simple pleasures.

We watched the sun set, the tide come in, and the surfers catching the last big waves of the day.

Then headed for home sun kissed and happy.

Not to get all sentimental or anything, but I have a million wonderful memories on the beach with this girl.

During those first awful days of our arrival in Oakland, she pulled me up off the curb in our neighborhood as we waved goodbye to our parents departing for Utah.

Bundling me in the car, we headed out for the beach...

...ANY beach...

...I'm sure she didn't know any at that point.

But, she found one...

...and as we sat there, the sound of the waves and the huge orange sun grounded me, and somehow I was able to find my strength again to face an uncertain future.

When I had a horrible time getting comfortable at the start of the school year in a new classroom, she quietly packed a picnic and spent almost an ENTIRE Sunday on the beach with me.

We stayed until the sun sank into the ocean.

As I watched it come up over the hills during my morning commute the next day the aching loneliness I'd felt the week before vanished with the knowledge that I had just watched that same sun...

...that would be shining down on me all day...

...set with my sister by my side.

I knew that my family would always be with me no matter how alone I felt.

I've shared my deepest fears, oldest (and newest) secrets, highest hopes and lowest despairs in the salt air on a blanket next to her.

Whenever I think of you, sweet Heidi, the ocean is never far behind.

Thank you for being such a wonderful sister and friend.