Labor Day

We decided to go to the beach with some friends yesterday for the holiday and oh boy was that a good idea. It was a perfect day. The weather was fabulous, the water was the right temperature, and the people were fun. Only James escaped without a sunburn but we didn't get too toasted. It was so relaxing, but I have decided that picnics on the beach with a 17 month old don't really mix unless of course you like the taste and feel of sand in your sandwich :) James wasn't too interested in being in the ocean, but he sure loved the sand. We dug a big hole that filled up with water and he liked playing in that the best. He even played so hard he took a nap at the beach. I was carrying him from the tent to the water after lunch and he just put his head down and fell asleep. I got to sit and hold him in the shade for a while. What a treat. I was grateful the people smoking finally stopped though. That was not fun to breathe. There were also some guys playing beer pong (as well as getting more tipsy by the minute) and listening to loud music right next to us. They were even using one of our umbrellas for shade. It was an interesting learning experience for me as I realized what it was to be "in" the world but not "of" the world while I was busy singing primary songs to myself to try and drown out the fowl music. I am so blessed with the knowledge of the gospel. It keeps me free from harmful addictions and so so so much more. I also realized that Heavenly Father loves "ALL" of his children. He is no respecter of persons and he loves those people that were smoking and drinking just as much as he loves me. I'm not saying I had an outpouring of love for these people and their habits, but I was able to see them in a different light...I was able to differentiate the person from the habit so to speak. Never thought I would have that kind of learning experience at the beach, but we are here to learn after all. And we have the spirit with us always when we choose the right so I suppose most of us live far beneath our potential to have spiritual experiences no matter where we go or what we are doing (as long as what we are doing is wholesome and in line with the commandments of course :)

Anyways, after James woke up we took him back in the water and after a while he started falling asleep again. Guess he was just tired. When we were finally ready to leave we came home, showered, and went to Red Lobster for dinner. We had an awesome waiter and then went for a walk. It was a good day, so good in fact that I didn't manage to snap any pictures because we were having that much fun :) I'll post some old ones though.

The chairs weren't close enough so he found this box and pushed it over to the table. He's a resourceful kid that keeps us on our toes. 

Went our walking, got caught in the rain, and forced to share some fries and a root beer float in an A&W. James loves french fries. Probably because he doesn't get them very often. 

My little dishwasher. He was helping me with dishes and insisted that he would be more help if he was sitting in the dish water. I didn't get any more dishes washed, but we had fun. 

It's much too hot in Florida for a sweater vest and a plain white shirt just wasn't enough for church, so I made him a few ties. He didn't keep it on past sacrament meeting, but maybe one day :)