Oh how I hate the cold...

...which reminds me why I always wanted to return to the home of my youth. Nothing like perfect weather in November! Only in San Diego, where even your wildest dreams come true! (I told Dave just about a week before all our hospital calamities that I had made a goal to enjoy winter this year. We both laughed at the idea and wondered how that would ever be possible. Then I promised, I really would find a way. Moving home wasn't what I had in mind at the time, but I certainly found a way to enjoy it now didn't I?) Really, living here in the gently perfect Fall sun after being away almost 7 years is like a dream come true, minus one big factor (Dave, of course! I couldn't miss him more. Our previous time apart record was 12 days, which we set in June...we are now going on about 18 days I think, with no end in sight for that matter. I always used to say we would never make any decision that caused us to be apart longer than 2 weeks, but I guess you should just never say never!). It's all so bitter sweet... like finally making it to paradise (or the Celestial Kingdom if you will), without your favorite and most wonderful e.c. (eternal companion, duh). On the one hand, it's better than you could ever dream of, on the other hand, why have everything you ever dreamed of without your favorite person to share it all with? Oh well, there is no use just droning on about it, so I am trying to enjoy what I can (besides that is what Dave would want me to do anyway) and Saturday at the beach was nothing less than enjoyable!

I will start with a little narrated Film strip, starring Lucy, of course:

First, examine the territory and pick the most deluctable plot of sand.


Second, disect the sand to find the juiciest bite possible.



Third, take the tiniest taste possible, as always with new foods.



Fourth, cram as much in as you can before Mom ruins the fun. (Where is her Mother, anyway?)



Fifth, sit back and just dwell on the magnificent, lingering flavor. (If you look really hard you can see that her tongue is on the tip of her lips)



Last, ask Mom in sweetest voice possible "Can I do it again, Mom. Please..."

We thought this trip to the beach was just going to be a quick walk in the sand, so I didn't bring Lucy's much needed swim suit. She was soaked and cold by the end of this trip because I just had to let her play in the water to her heart's content. You may be wondering why I let my child eat so much sand. Well, I had this brilliant logic that if I let her try it she would realize it was gross and not do it again, but apparently she likes that gritty feeling and salty taste, so now I guess I only played part in forming a new Lucy addicition. Honestly, I just don't know what to do with this little sweetie. She won't drink apple juice or eat anything yummy and sweet, but give her a plate of sand and she'll go to town. I'm curious to watch her tastebuds as they continue to develop!


But watching Lucy eat sand at the Beach isn't all we did. After my littlest sister, Heidi, went swiming, we decided with her long semi-wet hair and the aqua blue towel she was cuddled in (not to mention, the sunset glow) that she couldn't look more like a mermaid. Of course, in my family, such a realization called for a photoshoot, so here is our mermaid:

She is so beautiful! Sorry boys, she's only 14 so just back off already!

Chillin' in the glow of the sunset

Experimenting with the flash and the sunset behind us. A little dark, but cute.

If you get up closer it works!

A perfect sunset to end the perfect day! Of course the day was really no where close to being over, what with it being opening night for the big show, "Beauty and the Beast" that my father and sister, Sierra, star in as Maurice and Belle, but that is another story for another post!