Hanging with cousins

We were all very pleased that Aunty Shona had the week off work and was able to bring their cousins out for a play (and a much needed catch up for us mummys!).

What's this? More sand? GREAT!

We headed out to one of the best spots in the Bay for little ones - the "Hot Chick" beach.  Sand, water, a huge playground AND icecream - you can't get much better then that!  The girls adore their cousins, they have really grown up spending a lot of time with each other at Granma's house - the only problem with this is that sometimes they act more like siblings then cousins, and can bicker...but not today! They were far too busy enjoying the perfect day to do any of that.

Brianna and Jaimee build castles

Kate and Jakob jump over waves

The ultimate summer playtime

ICECREAM!!!

Hanging with cousin Brianna

My monkeys show off their skills

I needed a bath after this!

The kids were all on their best behaviour and Shona and I were able to sit back and watch them enjoying the beach and each other.  We chatted in the sun while Luke ate numerous fistfuls of sand....every time I turned him back to the blanket, he promptly turned himself back around again and started eating it!  I had to wash his mouth out using my water bottle which he was quite surprised at - having cold water squirted over his face (I know, I am so mean!).  There was sand everywhere when we got home, I had to give him a bath!

 

Warming up in the hot sand after a play

On the way home, the girls and I were able to have a good chat about how to deal with friends who say/do mean things.  Apparently a cousin had laughed at them at some moment during their play, it was nothing horrible but I have learnt to grab these opportunities when they arise, and use them as 'faith sharing' moments...so we had a big talk about love and kindness (following on from our faith box time last week) and how we need to not let these things bother us because God/mummy/daddy loves us and thinks we are special and that's all that matters at the end of the day.  We also talked about how we need to show God's love and kindness no matter what others say/do.  Jaimee piped up with a good point from a previous discussion: "mummy, a friend might not of had enough sleep and be having a bad day eh?"...excellent, some of what I tell them does go in!

All in all, a great day.