Surfs up dude

N fell in love with the ocean this camping trip.  He had a blast.  We couldn't get him out of the water until his lips were blue and he was shivering.  Even then it was a battle and only with promises that he could go back in, once he was warm, could we successfully keep him out.

He started out slowly, like any sane person at the Oregon coast where the water is shockingly cold, first running in and then running out giggling all the way.  He'd come back in for a few seconds.  Laugh uproariously when the waves hit and then scamper back to dry land. But it didn't take long.  Before we knew it he was begging to be on the boogie board and in the water ready to call, "ride the waves, dude!"

Finally, we put the kids in suits and traipsed back down to the beach.  L was content to dig and roll in the sand (yes, like a puppy).  N strapped on his life jacket and marched straight to the shoreline.  He was determined.  And while the actual boogie boarding idea was not a success, there was much joy to be had.  He and Patrick stayed in the water for what seemed to be hours.  They chased the waves back towards the horizon, giggled and laughed as the waves returned the favor chasing them to the shore.  They'd stand still and jump as waves came crashing in.  It was a sight of pure joy. 

In addition to being pure joy to watch it was a snapshot into how much he has grown and changed since our last camping trip.  Last year he put his toes in the water once deemed it too cold and that was that.  Nothing could get him in the water again (last year it was in the 90s, this year the high 70s).  

Last year he was content to dig in the sand and climb on a few logs on the beach.  This year he wanted to try everything.  He climbed to the top of the dunes at Cape Kiwanda, went on a nature hike, earned his JR Ranger badge and roasted his first marshmallows.  There's no stopping this kid and his curiosity.