Harris Beach Week

Several weeks ago we had the awesome opportunity to spend a week at Huntington Beach in SoCal with my dad, step-mom, and my brother's family. We spent every morning at the beach: kids played in the sand, ate their snacks of raisons while sitting on Grandpa Mitch's lap, played in the waves (Alyse was crazy about the ocean-- we had to hold her back!), and then headed home for naps. The adults relaxed, played games, read, slept, etc. during the kiddos nap time. Then, every afternoon we alternated between playing in the pool, the playground, or the "toy room". We split up cooking meals and went on walks every night around the neighborhood (which was landscaped in beautiful CA style, where almost everything you plant flourishes) or down at the ocean/pier. Alyse and her cousin, Yale, are less than three weeks apart and they were so cute together. We had been skyping at least once a week with my bro's family and it was really cool because it actually worked to help them "know" each other. As soon as they were together at the beach they called each other by their names, hugged, kissed, held hands, and were as BFF as two toddlers can be. It was especially nice to all be together since we haven't had that kind of a visit (i.e. spent the night under the same roof) since before Alyse and Yale were born. I'm so thankful for my dad and step-mom for opening their beach house to us and being such gracious hosts. Maybe we'll have another Harris "reunion" some time again.