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.

No dogs in the bathroom

 In this world there are those who follow the rules and those who don't.  And somewhere in the midst of this are three year old girls.  Ms L currently is a rule follower.  Every time (and I mean every time) we went to the bathroom while camping she would stop and point out the signs at the entryway.  "That's me when I 'm a grown-up," she'd say pointing at the woman.  "See, you can tell because I don't have a dress on now."  She would then remind me, "no smoking and no dogs allowed in the bathroom."   We discussed what to do if we saw smoke in the bathroom (I was speaking of the smoke that comes from a fire, as I wasn't about to get into a moral/health discussion about smoking with her in the bathroom)  We decided we would tell a Ranger right away.  I did not address the issue of what to do if there was a dog in the bathroom, didn't think it would come up.  Oh, silly, silly mommy. Really, I should have seen this coming.  After all the gods certainly would want to reward such diligent behavior. "no smoking, no dogs"   Didn't Miss L deserve a chance to show off her skills as a good rule follower?  SIGH... Final morning, off we go (for what seems to be the umpteen-millionth trip to the bathrooms).  First things first.  Stop at the men's room to what, see if the sign has changed since we last walked by?  "Look Mommy, it's the boys' room.  There's N, when he's a grown up"   Around the corner we go, stop,  "Look it's the womens' bathroom.  That's me!  No smoking and no dogs allowed"    We go in, and while waiting our turn, sure enough, in walks a woman with her dog.  "MOMMY!  There's no dogs allowed in the bathroom.  No dogs allowed." She waits, briefly as if expecting me or someone to do something. (woman with the dog does a fine imitation of a wall, and hears nothing) "Well, I guess we'll just have to tell the Ranger."    ...and scene.