A Week At The Beach

We arrived at my mother-in-law's beach house in the middle of a record breaking heatwave so the first thing the kids did after 6 hours in the car was take a cool bath in the tiny pool Avo Rosa bought them!  Be prepared to see mostly pictures of Noah taking baths: he hates the heat and his grandma gave him an average of 6 baths a day to try and keep him cool.  As he was banished to the house upon his pediatrician's order to "under no circumstances is this baby to be on the beach at.all" his only relief from the overwhelming heat was baths!!!

My travel buddy, friend, helper, confidant, little sister and my children's "tata" (big sister in Portuguese), Amanda.  We were so glad she could join us for our marvelous week at the beach.

If Chloe wasn't in the water jumping over waves, she was digging for hours in the sand.

Late afternoon and evening were the most refreshing times to be on the beach.  After the scorching sun went down, the beach was actually pleasant.

Cuddle loves with Tata after a wonderful, but tiring day on the beach!

Enjoying a bowl bath...

One finger...

Two fingers...

Three fingers...

And when three or four fingers is not enough he gets both hands in his mouth!!!

Pool bath with floaty ring!

One of the two times he appeared on the beach...after dark and usually sleeping!

We were thrilled when Avo Jorge and Daddy showed up to spend 24 hours with us on Saturday evening.  Chloe's grandpa Jorge is a fabulous story teller and she was so tired here that she just sat and listened to his stories while Noah slept and mommy and daddy enjoyed a swim in the dark ocean!

My BIL and SIL joined us for a marvelous four days the beginning of our week.  Here is the only truly refreshing break from the intense heat of the day: the waterfalls are wonderfully chilly, clean and coolly refreshing to hot, sweaty bodies.

Me, experimenting with my camera!

Chloe and daddy love!

Noah's Tata keeping close watch while he slept.  He was allowed to go the waterfalls with us only with a thick covering of sunblock and deep shade trees!

Our sleeping prince.  Just can't.get.enough.of.him!

Amanda and Dhamarys, a sweet young girl that W & T brought with them to spend a few days with us.  These two girls hit it off well and we truly missed her when she left.

Noah Miguel watching mommy from a second story window as she hung clothes on the line.  And no, he is not there alone.  His grandma is holding him to look like he is hanging out alone several meters above the ground!

My two little loves

Chloe Maria, always, always, always pushing the safety limits and thoroughly enjoying doing so!

Her heart melting, mischievious grin.

Our last, glorious day on the beach.  We enjoyed several hours at a friend's "kiosk" the roofed, open-sided covered restaurants that flank all the beaches along the Brazilian coast.  She served us delicious food (which we have no pictures of because frankly, I was just enjoying playing with Chloe on the beach most of the day) and visited with my MIL while Rosa cared for Noah.  We went away with all our longings for good fish fulfilled, refreshed by all the glasses and glasses of fresh limonade and pineapple juice, ice cream and acai and coconut water we could hold.  It was a delicious day in all respects.

This is about how much Mr. Noah enjoys the beach!

But he did LOVE his first taste of coconut water ever!  He thinks it is a lot more interesting than plain water!!

Getting ready for his hammock nap.

We have been to this beach twice now and both times the Lord provided a wonderful little playmate for Chloe.  These two little girls spent a splendid couple hours together playing, alternating between jumping in the waves and digging in the sand.

My girls getting browner with each passing day in the sun!

Girl after her mommy's heart: passionate about ice cream in every form there is!

A few random comments:

I LOVE being on a hot beach in January!

I LOVE seeing my busy, active, energetic child with space, sand and water to play in for HOURS at a time.

I LOVE how she fell exhausted into bed every night, tired because she had actually used up that "endless"  supply of energy!

I LOVE how easy going and gracious my little man was about being left everyday by mommy so I could  spend some much needed time with Chloe.

I LOVE how gracious and giving my mother-in-law was to spend everyday taking care of Noah and  cooking  one fantastic, tasty meal after another for all of us.

I LOVE that I got several hours to visit with Tati, my beloved SIL, whom I rarely get to sit and talk  uninterrupted with.

I LOVE the rugged, wild, nearly untouched beauty of the Brazilian coast.  

I LOVE that God sent us unrelenting heat instead of the rain and cool weather that has marked many of our beach  trips!

I LOVE that I was able to drive to the coast and back, without getting lost, and now know I can do it so will  be able to go to the beach more with my children.

I LOVE that when I got home it was HOT here, too and my laundry is caught up in an amazingly short time  of three days.  That is a record for those who follow my stories and know my deep distaste for trying to get  mountains of laundry to dry in the wet, cold weather that so often descends on us Sao Paulians!

I LOVE that on our trip home Chloe said, "Mommy, can't we just turn around and go back to the beach?  I  miss the beach!"

Until next time.  Be blessed.  Be safe.  Be happy!

JAMA