What Ana Does

Call me crazy, but I often forget that I live near Lake Michigan. And that looks a lot like the ocean. And there are plenty of days that I miss the ocean and a proper beach. I'm certainly not alone in this feeling -- as there are many people who find peace looking out over the vast, rolling waves of an ocean. It's healing. Climbing the Rocks So on the Sunday before school started, I tossed the kids and some supplies into the car and drove down to the first beach I found on the map. Well, it turns out you have to be a Lake Forest resident to park near their fancy-schmancy beach. And the 5 long-block walk from the free. church parking wasn't going to happen. So we drove to the next beach in Lake Bluff. Great parking, beautiful neighborhood but once we walked to the beach entrance they charged us $10 each to get on the beach!! I mean really! So fine, we paid it and were on the beach. And it was lovely. And they had complimentary beach chairs and toys. And clean ba...

This year we were at a cousin's house in Bradley Beach, NJ for Thanksgiving. They lived just a quick walk from the ocean so, of course, I said hello to the extended family (my husband's) and hit the sidewalk as soon as I could to check on the ocean. Yup it's still there! And still amazing. Sunset on Thanksgiving Someday I will live near an ocean again. 

This evening I'm reviewing the pictures we took while on our Aruba vacation. We only ventured out with the camera a few times, being too concerned with it in hot, sandy, wet, humid weather, to keep it out with us all the time. Our strategy is, we pick three or four venues during the week, drag the camera bag down and take turns snapping artsy-fartsy photos of the girls. There are over 400 total pics! Overall, the pictures seem to prove that Aruba is indeed "One Happy Island," as their motto suggests. Sunset on the Beach Gathering Seashells (We Used My Shirt to Hold Them) Big Smile From the Pool Water Slide! Glad I brought the Googles Because this trip includes my in-laws, I'll set out to create a little photo book of everyone together to send to my mother-in-law as a memento. So, that's my next task. Wish me luck!