Big Planet Little Family: Mia's Birthday Coast Trip Part 2

Saturday, Mia's birthday, was SUCH a full day. We all got up early and it was adorable to watch the girls interact as they remembered each other, but hadn't seen one another for 8 months. We let them get reacquainted for a bit then we went out to eat for lunch at Mo's where we had clam chowder all around. The girls got french fries (a big treat!) and when they brought out their water cups they had these rubber bath toy sharks on the straws it was funny.

After lunch and nap we headed to the beach, naturally. Dan and Holly had bought a kite and it was very windy, of course, so that was perfect. The sand was much nicer at this particular beach and we were even able to drive right onto it, which is legal in Oregon. Mia needed no explanation this time on what to do at the beach. She just took off running straight for the water. Over and over again, to the point we were both sore in the back, we would pick her up and bring her back out of the water. Rip currents and strong - deceptively strong - waves are not uncommon and it was a FULL TIME job keeping this girl of ours safe. She has zero zip nada fear of the ocean. We tried explaining to her that you needed to enjoy it lapping your toes but she wasn't having any of that, she wanted to be in it 110%. Seeing her this happy was... ah, there are no words. Joy in the purest sense, for sure. She is just like me and was completely in her element at the ocean. I love the composition of these pictures of her and Brad. Their reflections...the feeling we were the only ones there...Mia's smiles and Brad's protective hover.

When we got back we relaxed for awhile, made some dinner and played in the living room that over looked the ocean.

Then we did cake. Poor baby did not love everyone singing Happy Birthday to her and she cried pretty hard. Luckily there was cake at the end to soothe her haha