Surf's Up Dude!

Another spectacular day at the beach brought about a new development--

It started off like any other ordinary spectacular beach day.

We arrived at the beach a bit later in the day than we typically shoot for and were not able to find a space (large enough) for all of us close to the water. This ended up being a good thing as you will later see.

We ate lunch soon after arriving and Josie was chilling under the sun umbrella.

I'm hot-- time to head to the water!

 The waves were ginormous! Some more so than others and we didn't realize it at first-- how quickly the waves were actually rolling in.

I know-- we go to the beach all the time, we should have known!

There was much wave jumping and the next thing I knew . . .

 Josie was body surfing the waves-- seriously-- I didn't have my camera to start , which actually I probably would have lost the camera if I did have it at the time because I made a dive for her thinking she been slammed by a wave.

 But there she was all giggles and excited-- yelling-- "I did it! I did it!"

 Because, you know, Daddy and Jie Jie body surf all the time at the beach!

Clara Rose Watching Jie Jie-- that is her head in the middle.

FYI: Josie did NOT body surf a ginormouse wave like the one in the background.

We don't even carry the girls out past our waists when the ocean is like this.

Josie body surfed a waves like the one in foreground-- still quite the accomplishment!

Wow! Those are Biiiig Waves!

 Clara Rose was pretty wound up with all the waves, body surfing, and general fun!

 The three mermaids sitting ashore watching the big waves roll in.

They were about 5 to 9 feet.

 Jose body surfing with Jie Jie, what a great big sis! 

(a bit closer to shore than Jie Jie usually does it).

Duh, all the time we were playing in the waves, sitting closer to the tide and lauging as the waves rolled in-- all over us. We completely missed the fact that all the people between the tide and our beach-spot had moved-- BeeeeCauuuse . . .

The Tide had come up that far!

We totally felt like tourists!

Happy 4th of July- Random Family Shots

Not least of all, just a few random family shots . . .

Clara Rose greeting her Nie Nie and telling her all about the big fireworks show from last night.

"Nie Nie, I want to see baby fireworks-- Not big fireworks."

 Clara Rose playing with cousin Abbie's hair.

 Jie Jie, Nie Nie, Clara Rose and Ge Ge all hanging out.

 Clara Rose checking out the kiddie-pool, hanging tight to Nie Nie's hand.

 Group shot.

 Folks kicking back after feasting on yummy clams.

That's Wim laying on the ground.

 Yes, more picts of Clara Rose with her Nie Nie.

 Aunt Cheri, cousins Abbie, Emily, and Ethan.

 You guessed it!

Nie Nie let me have some more chips!

It was a really great day! The girls made it through the whole party without a nap and no melt downs.

All smiles, but feeling a little sad in the van to head home.

We don't want leave! We want to stay and play some more!

Two minutes after starting the van for home.

 Five minutes after starting the van-- we aren't even on the highway yet!

 Our fearless driver and all around shirpa.

Are we home yet?

Happy 4th of July Everyone!

Happy 4th of July, Kiddie-pop Fun!

While all the clam bake activities were going on, the smaller set kept busy with everything water, water, water.

Josie and Clara Rose upon first arriving to the clam bake.

Dressed in their Happy 4th of July attire.

Well, that didn't last long-- their fancier duds were soon discarded for their kitty swimsuits-- let the party begin!

Whoa! Cousin Nate can really get some air!

 Time out of the kiddie pool for some slip sliding fun!

 Clara Rose/Cousin Nate collision-- all in good fun.

 It was a water frenzy!

 That's Josie, center stage dressed in pink, doing a water dance.

The slightly older set (a wee bit older set in some cases) took to a game of soccer ball.

 Where are their shoes????

 What better way to end a fun day of play than with a yummy cookie?

Happy 4th of July Clam Bake

Wim's family always has a big New England style clam bake for the 4th of July.  The girls love it-- always a lot of cousins with lots of fun to be had.

It is a pretty big deal so I'll start off with just a few picts of the actual clam bake partion of the day.

Starting the bon fire to heat the rocks.

Manning the fire.

 After the fire burns out, loading the hot rocks, seaweed, clams, and accessories into the metal drum and sealing the top.

 Here comes the steam!

 It sounds like a locomotive coming down the tracks!

 About an hour later-- pulling out the yummy clams and other food.

 No hot dogs for this little girl!

 Clara Rose's snap shot of me with a clam.

 "What do you mean no more clams?!"

"You better give me some more clams!"

"Yeah! More clams!"

The clam benefactor-- Uncle Jack!

Thanks Uncle Jack!