Day 3: Cocoa Beach & Good Friends!

We needed a vacation from our vacation. So we went to Cocoa Beach!! Since it's off-season, the town was pretty deserted. We found a little Cuban Cafe and were the only patrons. It was muy delicioso! It was a windy day but still warm enough to play in the surf & sand. I taught Kaden & Perry how to boogie board and they LOVED it! They took right to it and were out there for hours. Daddy tried to help Charlie do it, but as soon as he put him in front of a wave... wipe out!! Poor buddy. He got pretty tired so i wrapped him up in my hoodie and I dug out a sand bed, covered it with a beach towel, and the tired boy took a nap under my chair. I remember napping at the beach when i was small like that. I hope he remembers this day. :)

The wind was so strong, a few times the boogie boards were lifted into the air while attached to the boys' wrists, and they flew like kites! They laughed so hard and had a hard time getting them underneath them. The kids dug holes, made sand castles, buried each other... the works! Kaden & Perry had a blast together. Exactly what I'd hoped for them.

Josie had fun playing in the sand and running in and out of the waves. Daddy liked getting the kids to lay down to wait for the waves to take them over. Josie thought it was fun, even when a wave washed up so far it covered her face & went up her nose! She just popped up snorting, gave me 2 thumbs-up and said "I'm ok!"

This was my favorite day... I love the ocean so much! Just never liked the sand. Of course it was everywhere and in everything... including every nook & cranny. The memories and the fun were worth every ill-placed grain. :) I loved this day! We simply relaxed and enjoyed the world around us. No rushing, no standing in line. Just family bliss on the beach!

The Shields Family moved away from our ward in Fishers last year to live in Kissimme, FL... in the same town where we are staying!! So of course we had to meet up. Alecia has always been a good friend to me and I miss our long crazy talks while I did her hair. Our kids were all friends too and it was hard for them when the Shields' moved. Especially Josie because Savannah is her "bestest friend". :) The 3 older kids & I met up with Alecia, Brantley, & Savanna at a restaurant. Spence stayed at the condo with Charlie because it was going to be a late night. It was so great to see them! I cried when I saw her. She just had open heart surgery to remove what they thought was an infection, but came back that it was cancer. Naturally, it's been a devastating time. But you wouldn't know it by looking at her or talking to her! She's so positive and faithful about the whole ordeal. I love her so much and we are praying for a miracle for her.