We went to the beach this week for my sister’s birthday. I feel like I write about birthdays a lot, but that’s one of awesome things about having a big family – it’s always somebody’s birthday 🙂

We drove out to Anna Maria Island. It was a bit of an ordeal to get there (flat tire, lots of potty breaks, and plenty of are we there yets from Kaden) but once we got there it was worth it! After setting up all our stuff we walked down to feel the ocean. It was beautiful. The sky was so blue with pretty little puff clouds dotting the horizon in every direction. The sand was soft and white and squishy as it molded under your feet. The water was refreshing without being cold or warm. It was so clear and turned into thousands of little bubbles as its waves reached the shore. There was a gentle breeze that blew across your face and through your hair that made you feel wild and free. I don’t think it could have been any more perfect.

When we walked out into the water we noticed fish everywhere! There were some big ones with long pointy noses that reminded me of little sword fish. There were tons of smaller ones that surrounded us swimming in every direction, faster and changing direction when a wave would come, and nibbled between our toes if we stood in the same place for too long. There were seagulls and pelicans and all kinds of birds passing by, some swooping down and under the water to catch a fish, others to rest on the beach. Landon saw dolphins out by the booey and a manatee too. Faith found a little crab living in a pretty shell.

Alia got to swim in the ocean for the first time. She’s a water baby, so of course she loved it 🙂 She smiled and yelled and tried to get in faster.

Kaden happily occupied himself with the sand toys. When I’d try to get him to come down to the water and swim with us and he would just respond “I’m building!”

We had lunch at The Sandbar. It was right on the beach! I had a blackened grouper sandwich (fresh caught from the gulf) with Spanish rice and it was just really good, exactly what a lunch on the beach should be. Kaden has grilled fish and rice too. He liked it, but whispered to Faith that it was “spicy!”  We went back to the beach afterwards. More sand castles, swimming, & sitting in the shade. Happy Birthday Roo Roo! Now take me to nap 😉