A Day at the Beach

Dear Mother Nature,
Can I call you Mom? Ok, sorry. Mrs. Nature, how've you been? I'm sorry we are destroying the planet. It would be nice if you had the ability to heal yourself, like Claire Bennett. But that's neither here nor there.

The reason I'm writing is because it's October 1st, and I would appreciate it if we could stop all this heat nonsense. Once it's October, the 100 degree days really become tiresome. If you could do something...what? This weekend? High of 86 on Sunday? Really? Wow. You have no idea how much I appreciate that. Thanks!

Love,
Shelley

Because of our strange 'modified year-round' school schedule, we have already been in school for nine weeks, or a full quarter. Half a semester. Whatever. Anyway, the way our school year is structured, we get a two-week break after every quarter. My kids are on fall break for the next two weeks.

Last year during this time, we took a vacation to San Diego, which you could read all about here, in a four-part series. Complete with pictures.

This is Kylie a year ago on Mission Beach in San Diego. It was a great trip. We seem to do something every other year, and this isn't the year, for more reasons that it's just not the year. I think it might have something to do with the whole money/economy/world ending thing. Maybe.

Anyway, the challenge is trying to keep children busy and happy during the break. Ok, actually the challenge is trying to keep a very active six year-old from driving me nuts, and trying to do at least one thing a day with her.

There is one plus side to the 100 degree days we are still having: we can still swim. So we decided to go to the beach and swim today.



That's Kylie on the left, and some random little girl she started playing with on the right. Shyness is definitely not one of Kylie's personality traits. I'll bet sometimes people wish it was.

Now, you might be saying to yourself, "Shelley, where is there a beach in Arizona?" That's a good question, although we do like to make jokes about California dropping into the ocean and having us some oceanfront property in Arizona. I believe there's even a song. Just kidding, Californians! Love ya!

Ok, we didn't actually go to the beach. Some friends invited us over to swim, where they have this really neat, huge swimming pool with it's own beach.



So we pretended to be at the beach today. All we were missing is some waves and a few Mojitos. Kylie had a great time. I think as long as there's sand and water, she has a great time.

Before you ask, no I have not taken my six year-old to the tattoo parlor. Those are some sort of kid/temporary tattoos. I think. That's her story, anyway.

She proceeded to bury her new friend in the sand. Then the friend buried Kylie in the sand. I think whoever came up with the whole beach in a pool idea is a genius. The sand goes partway out into the pool, then there is a small barrier between the sand and the rest of the pool, topped with some sort of grate that catches any wayward sand. It seems to work well, as the rest of the pool didn't appear to have any sand in it.

Unfortunately, Kylie couldn't say the same for her bathing suit. Girlfriend had sand in places that no girl really wants to have sand, if you know what I mean.

So, what's on the agenda for tomorrow? I don't know. Please, someone give me an idea. And if it doesn't cost any money, you get bonus points.