Labor Day Weekend - Sunday

Sunday was the day that the kids had been waiting for. Alayna talked about going to the beach all week. Again we loaded up the cars and off we went.

We followed my parents once again and ventured towards Venice Beach. I hadn't been there since 8th grade! I remember it vividly because my mom let me get a henna tattoo and I thought I was the coolest kid in the world. Ha!

Once off the freeway there was so much to see. Every you looked there were people on bikes... I'm sorry... beach cruisers. It was pretty crazy... like millions and zillions of them.

I also loved looking at the pretty beach houses. All sorts of bright colors. I told Jr I would love to have one... if we won the lottery of course!

After circling the area a bit we found a parking lot and parked. $15!!! Holy Cow... that's what we paid for parking... insane... but whatev.

Then it was a short walk to the beach. So many sights to see.

Once there we set up our blanket and headed for the water... yipee!

It was Arielle's first time to the beach. Jr and I were so proud like she hit a milestone or something. Haha. But it was fun. I know she won't ever remember this day but I am glad that my cousin took a million pictures of her and I for her to look back on.

Holding Mommy and Daddy's hands... Look at those chunky legs...

Alayna was so excited to be in the water that she ran around in it full speed... tripped... got a taste of the salty water... and ran back to our blanket...

Where she stayed for a while because she was mad.

Diego and Arielle on the other hand were having a blast!

Arielle and her Nina Rebecca

As we were all getting ready to go in deeper to play in the waves... we're notified (along with many other people on our stretch of beach) that this area was for surfers only and we couldn't actually go out and swim.

So we entertained ourselves for a while by watching the waves, and the surfers, and the boats go by.

Jessica and Alayna

Arielle and I

Diego, who actually preferred not going too far into the ocean... must get that from his mama... was content just to sit and play where the tide barely washed over his feet. He looked so lonely but was completely lost in his own little world for a while. I just sat and watch him from afar.

Eventually Junior and Alayna decided to join him. They dug tunnels trying to make something... but every time I asked them Jr and Diego would tell me that it was a secret and they couldn't tell me. I never found out what they were trying to do... but it never was done. They ended up covering all the holes.

And of course we couldn't miss the opportunity to write in the sand. It's one of my favorite things to do at the beach... but being that I had my nice camera with me... and I was being extra careful not to wet it or get sand in it... I just walked around taking pictures as my cousin wrote in the sand.

Then Jr wrote me a message and suggested we have my cousin take a picture of us... I love how she got our kids in the background too!

Then Jr decided to be Mr. Acrobat and did all sorts of tumbling tricks in the water. Some lady even stopped to watch and was all smiles as she told him how great he was. I laughed because she must have thought he trained to do this as a child... but in reality my husband was a child who used to jump fences and flip off of rooftops, with his brother and cousins, just to see who would get hurt first.

Maybe I'll post a video soon of his little stunts...

My little family

After that we all got hungry and decided to leave the water, walk around, and eat. After ordering pizza, teriaki chicken with rice, and pupusas we sat down on the side of a street in front of some garages and ate. Yes, we're ghetto... but we don't care. ;)

See? Layna agrees.

And after more walking and picture taking we decided to call it a day.

But not before we watched the coolest and funniest little street show. Some dudes who do some crazy acrobatics.

And my cousins got their henna tattoos.





Then it was time to head home.

I was so tired that I got back to my aunt's house... showered... and then fell asleep until the next morning. So much fun but tiring with 3 kids and a husband.