The Swim Cap

Could this be a future Olympic water polo player?

One of the big bouncy balls popped, then ripped.  How clever of Luke to create a swim cap out of it!

Clam Digging

I'm not sure what prompted Luke to start digging for clams.  But all of a sudden the boys were doing a happy dance because he actually dug one up.  The complete joy they expressed was awesome!  And then they kept digging and digging.  Even Emma got in on the fun. 

The clam dance!

Luke was SO proud he dug up a clam.

Emma attempting to dig up clams.

Jack got one, too!

Making sure the clam would bury itself in the sand.

More digging!

Beach Bum

What an adventure for Miss Emma!  She flew from Minnesota to Seattle with Grandma Sue and Grandpa Ken.  After spending a night with us in Seattle, the trio flew to Sitka for 5 days.  Then it was back to Seattle for for 5 days, including trips to a Mariner's game and Long Beach.  What a lucky girl to go on such an awesome adventure, and we were all thrilled to have her along for the ride!

Emma loved how the warm tide pools felt! 

Hail Hitler

We all got a kick out of how the sand on Ryan's face stuck in the perfect spot to make him look like Hitler.

He was not impressed with us laughing at him. 

She Surrenders!

Luke captioned this photo.  How perfect!

Kendall had so much fun jumping the waves with her cousins. 

The Deer

Wildlife at it's best!

I was videotaping the girls doing gymnastics in the yard when all of a sudden this beautiful deer runs along the fence line.  It was so exciting!  Kendall completely freaked out and thought the deer was going to eat her.

Photo by Jen.  I love how this gives you a sense for how close it was to us.

Jack ventured down the beach path to get  some more awesome shots of the deer having a snack.  So cool!

Cheeks

Butt cheeks hanging out of little girl's swimsuit:  Priceless.

Mohawk

Emma, Grace and Aunt Jen had fun giving Kendall goofy hair in the tub.  She loved every minute of it!

The Beach Wildlife House

These kids have the most amazing imaginations!  They created a self titled "Beach Wildlife House" in the beach grass.  Here is a little tour given by Emma and Grace:

This is the dining room.  If you look closely you can see a plant hanging from the stick in the middle.  This is the chandelier.  The log lying on the ground is the bench where they sit and eat.

The molted crab shells are the plates.

Emma and Grace showing off the television in the living room.

Emma's room.

Grace's room.

The art room.  The smoothed sand area is their canvas.  The buckets of sand and water are what they used to create their art.

The Garden Farm.

More of the farm.

The gymnastics area.

Each of the kids had their own room, and chopped down beach grass to create a bed for themselves.  The boys also created a hunting room where they stored all their guns.  Luke even shot a bear! 

Food is Essential

The kids had a blast eating and visiting at every meal!  We loved listening to their conversations.

Best Friend Cousins

Our weekend at the beach was anything short of AMAZING!  The weather couldn't have been more perfect, and I really don't think the kids could have had more fun.  Emma and Grace even created a "Best Cousins Forever" handshake.  Fun, Fun, Fun!

Here is our weekend at the beach in pictures:

The Superb Seven.

Sisters.

Jen found this in the sand on our way back to the beach.

Kendall shooting her gun.  LOVE this!

Funny faces.

Gymnastics on the beach!

My little sand monster.

Emma showing off her knife and spoon.

The joy of sand.

Miss Kendall pouting.

Gathering supplies for the fort.

Little Miss Flexible

Somersaults!

The Gang.