A day at the beach

So if you know me, and if you're reading this, chances are you do, you know I love the beach. Seriously. Love. The. Beach. There is no place in the world I'd rather be.

Until last Saturday.

It started off as a good day. Any day we can all get up, eat breakfast, and get out of the house before my planned time is a good day. This day was particularly good because we spent the night at my parents so there weren't just 4 of us to get ready but 6, and 2 dogs, and still we left 10 minutes early.

We get to the beach, get settled. Rob starts building Colin's "Gullah Gullah Island" (it is not a true day at the beach until Rob starts building in the sand- I think I've mentioned that before). I get myself settled in the chair next to Mom while Dad and Kels head out into the ocean and Colin helps Rob build.

OUCH. What the heck was that and why is my foot on fire?! I look down to spot a little red ant taking off across the sand. Who knew ants could live on the beach in the sand?! As I'm cursing this ant- yes it was little but it HURT, my mom notes my toe starting to swell. Great. We figure, we're at the beach- salt water- it's a cure all. Into the ocean I go. All is well.

Until.

We start looking for shells to decorate "Gullah Gullah Island" I reach down into the sand...and get bit by a freaking crab.

Luckily it didn't get me too bad, just a warning pinch I suppose, but he still drew several dots of blood. At this point my day can't get much worse right? I mean who in the world comes to the beach and gets bit by an ant AND a crab in one day?! Surely I must be done.

Wrong.

Kels wants to go back out in the ocean. Now, let me tell you a little known fact. I am a wuss when it comes to water up my nose. I hate it. I hold my nose if I have to go under water. See? Wuss. It's okay. I'm okay with it. Really. Well the water up the nose fear is why I let my Dad take Kelsey into the ocean and I follow. He is always holding her hand and I am free to hold my nose but can also grab my daughter if the need should arise. Well Dad and Kels started coming in as I was getting ready to go out and join them so Kels asked me to take her out. I said okay (In hindsight I realize maybe Dad's look of amusement wasn't so much amusement as concern).
We got to the breaking point and the waves were coming faster and harder than they were when I was out there earlier. No sooner do I say "Kels, let's turn around" than I am suddenly on my back with my first born child literally on top of me (She later told me "I thought I was on the sand, but I felt hair and thought 'Oh no, that's Mommy.' ) with water rushing up my nose and down my throat. Salt water in that amount tastes disgusting. Heck, let's be honest,salt water in any amount tastes disgusting.

At this point you're probably thinking it cannot possibly get any worse. Wait for it.

We left the beach about an hour later (Not soon enough for me at this point. I have had my fill thank you very much). Mom, the kids and I head out to finish up school shopping for the kids. About 2 hours later we are in a department store and I feel like I have something in my throat and start coughing.

I cough up sand. No kidding. Actual sand.

Luckily the rest of my weekend was pretty uneventful. Shopping, more shopping and a drive home.
I forgot my camera but used Dad's (Kodak Easy Share ROCKS). These were my 2 favorite shots of the day ~


Even at the end of a bad day at the beach, it was still a great day.

For some of us.