The Weekend Lens

A grading day + a furlough day (not a good time for schools around here right now) = a four-day weekend. For us that meant a Friday afternoon trip over to the coast to visit my parents.

SATURDAY

Saturday began with Anna doing a little reading in our bed. She was chattering right along.

Before heading out there's usually at least one lap around the tall grass.

Our main outing was a short walk at the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.

It's a really beautiful area. Trees, water, wildlife.

Pretending to be trees.

Back at the house we ran around a bit in the tall grass before heading out to dinner.

And a round of hide & go seek.

SUNDAY

Mornings at the beach are often for watching movies or surfing (on the computer rather than in the waves).

And conversation.

In the afternoon, on a sunny day like this, it's all about the beach.

In my own opinion it really wasn't warm enough for swim trunks, but I remember that I had a completely different sense of temperature when I was a kid.

And this kid, well, he's an experienced beach-goer and knows just what he likes.

There were definitely moments we felt bathed in light.

And moments of sheer delight.

Back at the house there was time for a swing.

This place is such a gift.

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94 thoughts

  1. dawn says…
    01/31/2011

    I love your weekend pictures. They are full of fun, laughter, love, tons of priceless pictures. I think we all need a place like this to go to on weekends. Love seeing how tall Simon looks with Anna looking so tiny next to him. Love that swing also. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Gaele says…
    01/31/2011

    Seems you had a great time and that place over at your parents looks wonderful! I so wish I had such a nice weekend but I spent my time grading papers (181 papers to be precise) and working on my classes for this week. I didn't get to spend any quality time with my boys as I usually do on my weekends and I was feeling really frustrated. I find it so hard sometimes to be able to handle it all, be a good mother, a good teacher and a good wife. Well, the kids didn't complain but my husband did!

    Reply 2 Replies
    1. Gaele says…
      01/31/2011

      Well, I made it up tonight with the boys. After school we baked a cake and read books, now they're in bed and I'm off to my office (at the other end of the hallway!) for more papers to grade!

    2. Ali says…
      01/31/2011

      It comes and it goes doesn't it? I'm familiar with all your frustrations :).

  3. Lori R says…
    01/31/2011

    ohh. i totally enjoyed those pics. It looks wonderful. The weather! Wow! We are getting another snow storm here tomorrow then an ice storm.. yuk. I cant believe how nice it is there right now. Great pics for scrapping. Enjoy!
    Lori R

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Allison says…
    01/31/2011

    beautiful place, beautiful family and beautiful pictures. thank you so much for sharing those. it made me warmer on this cold, cold day!

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Krys72599 says…
    01/31/2011

    Thanks for that photo of Anna reading Jonathan Livingston Seagull - two of my favorites in one photo: children reading, AND that book!!!
    I collect quotes and use many of them in my scrapping. I think Jonathan Livingston Seagull is probably one of the most quoted books in my collection!!!
    I also picked up an old hardcover copy at a garage sale for $2 and have used pages as background for my art journaling...

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Lee says…
    01/31/2011

    This is just what I needed! We're in the midst of an extreme cold alert and the furnace went out last night. Your bathed-in-light photos are the perfect remedy. To warm up this weekend I was listening to the Jonathan Livingston Seagull soundtrack - I like Anna's reading material :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Tracey Holdyk says…
    01/31/2011

    being with family is truly a gift from god.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Teresa says…
    01/31/2011

    This post makes me so happy- what a wonderful gift, indeed! :) It also makes me desperately miss my in-laws' beach house we visited so often before having kids and moving 1/2 way across the country (no beaches for hours). My girls would (and will) love to experience it someday! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Bec Kilgore says…
    01/31/2011

    I love getting to share your adventures. Brightens my day.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Pam says…
    01/31/2011

    Your pictures are great. But what struck me most was how some people really live in beautiful places. I want to live where your parents do!!! How beautiful.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Liz says…
    01/31/2011

    Beautiful pics and stories Ali - and the place where your parents live looks gorgeous!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Michelle L says…
    01/31/2011

    I wanna ride on that swing! =)

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Jennifer Levin says…
    01/31/2011

    Ali, these photos are just gorgeous! Thank you so much for sharing them with us. These pictures make me want to visit the Pacific Northwest so much! ~Jen

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. linda says…
    01/31/2011

    Beautiful thanks for sharing

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. amy says…
    01/31/2011

    Love the pictures, what a perfect weekend! You all look so sweet, like someone I would be friends with IRL. Thanks for sharing your life and beautiful pictures with us.

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Cathy says…
    01/31/2011

    As the snow continues to fall here, I dream of enough degrees to warrant shorts of any kind. : )

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Amy Albert says…
    01/31/2011

    A bit jealous! Its so cold here in Maine, we have lots of snow and more on the way! My seven year old daughter saw the picture of Simon in swim trunks and said "no way, it must be nice, thats not really around here is it"? Great pictures and family time! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Lisa W. says…
    01/31/2011

    oh YUMMMMMMMMMMMM those pictures are priceless. You will HAVE to add a 2 page layout in that project life for these awesome pics...lol. You children are darling. love that:) Thanks for sharing

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Sarah says…
    01/31/2011

    Looks like a lovely weekend spent with those you love. BEAUTIFUL PICS & MEMORIES! I think kids have a different set of thermal-regulators in them... because you look bundled up and slightly chilly as Simon wears swim trunks. Brrrr!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. JillT says…
    01/31/2011

    "This place is a gift." I would have to agree with you. . .just from these few pictures. Beautiful!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. christy a says…
    01/31/2011

    These are beautiful!! Love all that you captured.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Sue TR says…
    01/31/2011

    What a lovely weekend! My favorite pix is the one of all of you...you in a coat, and Simon in his swim trunks...you can just tell he's saying "i'm not cold, i'm not cold..." We went to the beach in Maine a few weeks ago to see the snow on the sand...we were wearing parkas & snowpants and even the dog couldn't wait to get back in the car! More snow and ice on the way for Boston this week...keep those non-snow pictures coming!! Love the quality of light you have up there in Oregon!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Deb J says…
    01/31/2011

    What a blessing to have a place like that to go. What a great weekend. Great pictures too. happy for you.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Ann says…
    01/31/2011

    Wow I can't believe how green it is there!! It's solid snow and very cold here so it's just a shock to think someone not that much further south is enjoying it so much warmer... send some our way LOL

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Laney says…
    01/31/2011

    Wow, you had a lovely week-end! Anna is so cute, how old is she now? And I can tell that Simon is going to be super handsome.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      01/31/2011

      She'll be two on the 10th of February.

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