Florida Babies

In our daily driving we often pass a sign on the interstate that reads "Gulf Beaches" this exit, and each time I think to myself, how cool that my girls are growing up THIS close to the ocean. I mean really, what percentage of American kids grow up within a few miles of the coastline, heck, if you really think about it many kids don't ever even get to visit a beach! They will likely have no idea how special it is, but I do. We get to head to the beach for an hour or two any given weekend. We think, ugh, it's so much work, the whole 10 minute drive, all the sand and such, blah, blah, blah. Then, we get there and it's just magic to watch them play and giggle, get knocked over by the surf and giggle some more. They pick up shells like they've never seen one before, chase birds and search for crabs. Heaven to little girls. Parker's two years old, and barely bothered by saltwater in her face. This weekend I took them with some girlfriends and at one point looked over to see both of them floating around on noodles chasing eachother and making trains with their girlfriends. Bliss.

And then a really special opportunity came our way this weekend, we were invited to a turtle release! So after a morning at the beach with our friends we packed up with Grandma Jackie and headed BACK to the beach in a thunderstorm. I have to tell you girls, Grandma thought that maybe I'd flipped my lid dragging you all out with lightening and rain, but in the end it was great and the beach didn't have lightening (not much anyway). You girls ran around playing with all your friends in the rain up and down and around the boardwalk and eventually were so excited to check out the baby turtles when the turtle rescue volunteers finally arrived. They were so tiny, but kicked their little feet like they were going places, which in the end they certainly were. We stayed until around 8:30 (way past bed time) when they were finally released. I think that Parker was somehow under the impression that she was going to get to keep one, or maybe she was afraid for them, but she started crying for the turtles as they released the babies and they crawled for the water. Rita (Ava-Charly's grandma) calmed her right down by telling her that they were going to go find their mommies. Seems like Rita's got these little girls all figured out! I'm pretty sure that you girls won't remember the night, but I sure will. I'm also certain that we'll have to do this again!