Welcome. To the longest picture post man has ever known. All from one day at the beach… which as you can see, we’ve perfected by bringing two tents, two portacribs and one high chair. Oh yeah, and 9 kids with four adults.
It takes a lot of photographs to cover that much action! The eating…
The sleeping…
both on one’s foot…
And siting up. That’s right. Circus baby!
And while the babies eat and sleep, the children play.
And we talk.
You know, in between twitch-like neck jerks checking the ocean and road.
And the boys even found some time to play a little Frisbee.
Don’t you just hear the Top Gun volleyball soundtrack kick in… “Ohhh, oh- playin’ with the boys!”
No? That’s just me? Ah, well. Not the first time.
When did my baby lose all his fat and become this gangly thing?!! WAAAAHHHHH!
Ohhhhh-oh, playin’ with the boys….
Mr. Bates is all mature like that… teasing the toddlers.
Check the “toddler” out. He don’t need no help. He carefully checks out his position and look at that follow-through!
…whoooa-oh, playin’ with the boys… Sorry.
Now this move, he calls the gorilla. Not quite as sleek, no. But he takes after this guy, so…
Ya, know, what can you expect? But that’s ok because REAL MEN FEED BABIES. *so hot*
So let’s move to the water where the surfer girls are chillin’
Shannon tried to keep up but surrendered to sand play.
Sam made castles, too. Well. Sam poured water. I think that would be more accurate.
And Joshua was just charming and cute as usual. That’s it. That was his only job and he did well.
Big brother’s pretty crazy about him, isn’t that sweet?!
We even tried a photo shoot… but one wave came and that was over.
But that’s okay, but that gave us a chance to get pictures of daddy soothing baby Princess.
And those are kinda priceless, so ya know… it all worked out.
Speaking of work outs, Charlotte spent a good amount of time giving daddy’s hat a work out.
At what age did the genders start dividing like this? It amuses me.
He’s happy.
No really, he is.
Wait for it…
wait for it…
See? Happy.
Just dramatic.
I have NO idea where he gets that from.
No, I do. My mom. Totally my mom.
One of my friends has started calling him “pantsless Sam” but I think these pictures illustrate the phenomenon behind that title.
Now look at my oldest boy in this here shot. Is he FLIRTING? You know, the way boys are mean to girls when they first start to flirt?!
This is the stuff that puts them to sleep for the ride home!
Oh yeah…
My Jack. Just turned 5. Oh Jack, there is so much to say… I’ll save it for another post, another day…
And then he entered a surfing competition when we weren’t paying attention. He did alright.
So much fun having friends at the beach with you! GIRLS, Madalyn, GIRLS!!! Grow, Charlotte, grow!
We brought home no small amount of sand that trip.
One day the mothers will end up in some photographs… am I being unrealistic to dream for that?
I know, I know! ENOUGH PICTURES already… just a few more…
It’s my new way, apparently… neglect the blog for three months and then finish off any last lurkers with a 500 picture post. Anytime.
