Weekly Writings of the Hansen Home: Spring Break Trip

Our trip wasn't done with just Jake's wedding. My brother was flying in later that week, so we extended our trip to visit with him. However, there were now a few unclaimed days in between that I quickly claimed for a fun adventure.

It had been since our beach camping trip in 2012 since we went to the beach. I invited whatever family wanted to join us. My mom came in our van, and Nub Nub (Leanne), Audrey, Tyler and Sam came in another group.

We drove to Suzie's house in the evening. The next morning we woke up, and headed to the Corona Del Mar beach. The kid's had two different reactions to it.

Ready to spring for the beach

Didn't like the sand, the sound or anything about being there

It was a cooler day, and some chilly water. Not cold enough to not get some of your legs wet.

GG, Dexter, Sam and Tyler taking in the waves

Convinced her to try it...nope

Then have a chance to warm up...

His way of warming up

Someone's under the towel

There he is...

Mostly warmed up

For the first 2 hours while at the beach, Kyle wasn't. He actually had a phone interview for a job promotion. The beach didn't have cell service, and would have been loud so he had to drive to find a good spot. He thinks it went fine, although he knows his chances to get it are lower. All during this time was Ellie yelling for Dad and trying to escape the beach. Dexter though (once warmed up) was playing all over again.

Cute little beach dude

Playing with GG

Waiting for the water to roll in...

...then RUN!

Getting our toesies wet

Kyle finally came back, and look who was happier.

She's a daddy's girl

Hugs!

Tolerating the sand

Now we just had lots of fun.

One of Dexter's main excitements about the trip was to dig in the sand and build castles. Check!

Playing in sand commences

Ellie joined in too

Burying him in the sand

It was coming up onto low tide, so we walked to the cover to check out what was there. I had gotten Little Corona and Corona Del Mar a bit confused. Little Corona has good tide pools, but isn't just a walk from our beach over there.
The cove at our beach had enough of the basics of tide pools to interest our kids, and their attention didn't last long so I'm glad we didn't pack up just for 10 minutes.

Poking anemones who try and eat your stick

Lots of hermit crabs around

More anemones

Dad watched her so she wouldn't climb the sharp rocks

Pro-beach goers like Nub Nub know all the tricks

Using a waterscope to look under the water

Some large anemones before they curl up and hide

Here's some out of the water ones

She kept searching with her own net

Water scope

Playing with Uncle Tyler

Loved the waves crashing on the rocks

Family pictures

Family pictures take 2

The kids (and adults) ended up loving the cove though. The sun and air had gotten warmer by this point, but this water is also warmer. Then there are barely any hard waves. Just a gentle sloping shore, with gentle waves coming in. Dexter, and eventually Ellie, loved this and just kept playing.

Poking the little anemones to make them squirt all over

Audrey and Dexter were oblivious to the fact that a seagull almost hit Sam

They loved spending time together

Kyle took the shore duty

Spins

Great place to float

Uncle Tyler gave a dolphin ride

Ellie playing with the water scope

but more like a telescope

She's trying it!!

The next cute couple to get married

Uncle Tyler and future Aunt Sam

...and Aunt Audrey!

Trying to do a cannonball

Big splash!


She likes it...finally!

Aunts and uncles are lots of fun

She also finally likes Aunt Audrey

Took longer than everyone else

But they all like each other now!

He found some shells

We finally had to leave the cove to reapply sunscreen, and meet up with my mom who had gone back after tide pools to hold down our spot.

Liked climbing the sandstone to get to and out of the cove

Well we all got hungry for dinner, and finally had to leave the beach. We took the Balboa Island Ferry across, and then had dinner at Ruby's Diner on the pier.