A few weeks ago, before my kids got sick (Kenley got sick, then Eleanor and I, then Eleanor again), we went the beach. I am ashamed to say that it was our first beach day in 2016. But now that we've gone, we've got the fever! Eleanor asks EVERY day if we can go to the beach, "Me, El-nor, beach, go!".
As much as we love the beach though, it can kind of be the hardest. It was clear on this particular trip when John (he was actually able to come and help this time!) and I were dragging our kids and all their "stuff" while a group of USC sorority girls casually strolled in with the tiniest of beach bags. Oh, to to be young!
Necessary Items for the Beach as a Sorority Girl vs.
Necessary Items for the Beach With 2 Small Kids
Necessary Items for the Beach as a Sorority Girl:
1. One Towel
2. Sunscreen
3. Water (or beer)
4. Magazine or book
5. Sunglasses
6. Phone
Necessary Items for the Beach With 2 Small Kids:
1. Four towels
2. Two or three types of sunscreen (parents', child's, baby's)
3. Water - 4 separate bottles because kids refuse to share
4. Sunglasses - 4 pairs
5. Phone - to capture all of the cute photos to post on instagram, snapchat, etc.
6. Camera - to capture all of the cute photos to potentially frame
7. Hats - to cover bald baby heads
8. Beach buckets, shovels, castle sculptures, animal sculptures, barbies, etc.
9. Puddle Jumper(s) or arm bands
10. Diapers - swim and regular
11. Baby powder - to easily get sand off of wet bodies
12. Snacks - EVERY possible snack because you have no idea what they will actually want
13. Cash - to get ice cream on the way home (how I bribe my kids to leave)
14. Beach blanket or sheet - for an extra sitting area
15. Beach Chairs (we actually don't bring this but some parents do)
16. Beach tent or umbrella - gotta keep the kids in the shade when possible
17. COURAGE
Maybe it gets better when they're older? But then again, we'll be bringing surfboards, wetsuits, and even more courage. 'Cause teenage beach boys terrifying me.
First Beach Trip Photos
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| beach babe and beach barbie |
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| E with sand toys, USC sorority girls with phones (in the background) |
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| burying my big |
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| baywatch. this kid is NOT afraid of the water. a pro and a con |
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| extra set of hands to collect water |
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| e's turn for water! |
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| posing with daddy under our tent |
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| posing with mommy |
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| veggie chip snacks - the one thing I thought they wouldn't eat |
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| attempted simpson beach selfie! |
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| see ya later beach |
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| ice cream bribe |
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| e's first ice cream cone |
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| "is there something on my face?" |
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| will rodgers - our go to |
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| mommy/daddy car date in the driveway while the babes nap in the back |
