The Mercedes Files - Part 3

The boys wanted to take their cousin to Pacific City while she was visiting. So....we waited for Russell to finish his homework. Then we grabbed some snacky foods, water, towels and flipflops and jumped in the car. It was super duper hot here today. I believe it was 98 in town. At any rate it was worth spending time at the beach!

In the car and on our way! Love the Michael eyes?

At the beach in Pacific City and on our way to adventure!

Mercedes is comtemplating this very large sand dune. I think she would have gone all the way to the top but we had one very large problem. The sand. When you first step on it - it felt really nice. Then before you know it - it's literally boiling hot and starting to burn the bottoms of our feet! I have never been in sand that hot in my life! Apparently the sand closer to home (Oceanside) was the same way!

Nephi braved the hot sand dune for a little bit.

Mercedes was braver than I thought! I still haven't climbed the "dune."

Cooling off those burning feet! The water was cold - but it wasn't too bad...

as Nephi will demonstrate.

"Don't smile......don't smile! Hey Donovan....hey - I'm talking to you!"

Russell coming to join us. This beach is interesting because cars/trucks can drive down on the beach and boats can take off directly from the beach as well. When the boats come in they have to blow their horns really loud so the people near the shore will move out of the way.

Russell braved the burning hot sand dune and went to the top. A boat was coming in. We are near the center of the picture in the wet sand.

Russell is cooling off his feet after the hot dune climb.

Mercedes with her shell treasures.

Mercedes, Donovan and Chris exploring. I tell you...this beach has everything! Dunes, caves, rocks to climb, very little wind, small waves, cool boats to watch, surfers, etc. We had a great time!

Nephi, Mercedes and Michael exploring.

Russell's sunburned toesies. :(

The "big" boys taking a break....

patiently waiting for the explorers to come back down the rocks.

I liked these footprints in the sand.

We made it back to our little area for some snacks and water. That was THE longest walk since I didn't have my shoes on. Mercedes said if I ran then just my toes would get hot. She had a point.

Mercedes enjoying her snack.

Nephi and Russell having snack.

Donovan, Christopher and Michael having their snack as well. I should mention this all took place before 12 noon. I still couldn't believe the sand was that hot before then!

Will he sunburn or will he not? That is the question. (In the end....he did not.)

Family picture courtesy of Christopher!

I guess if you dig deep enough the sand eventually cools off.

Chris, Michael and Mercedes went back to the ocean to cool off.

Donovan and Nephi kept digging away.

Hello midget and giant!

All packed up and heading back to the car! It was a fun beach trip!

We got home and got out the sprinkler so the kids could get the sand off of them in the yard and not down the drain.

We had Young Women's/Young Men's tonight so I took Mercedes with me to our YW activity. A beach clean up at Happy Camp - right next to Oceanside. Talk about a complete opposite of Pacific City! It was cold and windy. Here is Mercedes showing off just how cold she was! It didn't last long though.

Checking out a sand hill.

Just think Becky - in 4 1/2 years you will have your very own Young Woman! She had a great time with our girls.

Walking on a little log back to our van. I love this picture!