I {Heart} Summer Vacation

Summer is quickly drawing to an end here in So Cal. Many students have started school already, but over here we have 2 more glorious weeks!! This past week we spent primarily at my favorite spot: the beach!

The best vacations {in my book} are stay-cations! Especially when we are lucky enough to live 15 minutes from beautiful scenery and days like this:





Even though we were close to home, we felt miles away because we were CAMPING! It’s a new family tradition that we do every year! My son has even learned to set up the tent {mostly} by himself.




The campground is right on the beach, which means we got to spend most of the days with our toes in the sand, splashing in the water, riding our bikes on the trail and just RELAXING!! Here are some pictures of the fun we had this week!






My friend, Valerie, made these neon yellow shirts for all the kids to wear! With so many families (10!) and kids, it made it easy for the adults to see which kiddos belonged with our group! I’m also glad they were all the right ages not to be ‘too cool’ to wear them!

My loves xo

Both my boys enjoyed some of their  favorite activities – riding bikes and boogie boarding!

Our last night we all got together and had a potluck. I was amazed at how well we ate for camping! (That is all in thanks again, to my friend Valerie who organizes this all! I would probably starve and freeze if I tried to go camping alone!)



 







Homemade Ice Cream while camping? I think yes!




During one of our beach days one of the parents found a whole bunch of tiny brittle stars on some seaweed that had washed ashore!! {Don’t worry – they all made it back safely into the ocean!} There’s nothing like a little marine science education when you’re at the beach! {Yes, this teacher makes everything a teachable moment - wink} Can you make out the tiny sea star my son is holding?




We even learned how to fry a freshly caught fish. Really.



Despite all my 8 yr. old’s pleas, he was not allowed to eat it. I know. Mean mommy. But actually he was more fascinated in the bones afterward anyway. {That fish still grosses me out! But, hey, that’s nature! More power to my little nature boys.}

And of course we enjoyed the bonfires, s’mores, family time and beautiful sunsets…








No matter what we were doing this week, we just HAD FUN together because that’s what vacations are all about, isn’t it? Until next year…



Do you have a family vacation tradition? Where do you like to go?