Every year since I was young, our family has traveled to the Texas coast for July 4th. We celebrated with the same friends and went to the same place to watch fireworks every year. This is a tradition that we have continued into our adulthood and are now sharing with a new generation of children! What a joy it has been to watch our children run along the same stretch of beach we grew up on and to see this special place through their eyes!

As always, we made the trip with my parents, but we were so sad that my newlywed sister and her husband could not make it this year. The kids had a blast swimming and playing at the pool and beach. We went to our traditional restaurant for dinner and to watch the sun set over the bay before making our way to “our spot” for fireworks. My husband bought the kids glowsticks and glow-necklaces for that evening, so they were having lots of fun with those before the fireworks began.

I’m not sure I actually saw any of the fireworks myself. I was too busy watching Anna Kate and Connor to see their reactions to them. I could see the glow of the lights in their eyes and how their sweet faces lit up with excitement. That’s really what it’s all about, isn’t it!

Now that I have children, I appreciate even more the country we live in and the sacrifices that so many have made and continue to make so that my family and I can enjoy the freedom to come and go as we please and to continue these types of traditions. I can’t help but feel very blessed!

Even though it is back-to-school time and fall is quickly approaching, we are trying hard over here to hang on to the summer. I am not ready to see it go and am happy that the heat is hanging on. To continue to celebrate this season, we took our daughter to the shore (as we say in Jersey) for the first time. (I grew up in South Jersey and love the shore but haven’t been there much since moving to NYC 13 years ago.) She is two, and we have read several books about the beach, but she hadn’t been yet.

We talked about our upcoming daytrip quite a bit, and she was very excited for the big day. We rented a ZipCar and headed out of the steamy city toward the Jersey shore. A little over an hour later, we arrived in Ocean Grove, NJ. After lunch and a quick purchase of some sand toys, we were off to the beach. The approaching Earl prevented us from swimming in the ocean as the double red flags waved in the wind, but that did not stop our little girl from having a blast. She dug in the sand and played happily for quite a while. In fact, I think she would still be there if it weren’t for my suggestion that we go and get some ice cream.

We finished up this idyllic day with ice cream and a stroll around some shops in town. On the ride home, our daughter said, “Beach again soon, Mommy?” I assured her that we would visit again on another day.

It is definitely the time of year for beach days if you live near the coast of Florida. We have had an absolutely beautiful summer. It is always a wonderful start to the day to take the children to the beach early in the morning and be home by 11. The children start out the day outside playing in the sand and water. I always find it amazing that no matter what the age of the child you see at the beach they are so happy with the simplicity of playing with just a bucket and shovel. From toddlers to teens, digging a hole and searching for sand critters or building a sand castle seems to be such simple entertainment at the beach. When they are hot, they can run out in the water and jump the waves. The beach is really the one place I do not see the use of modern electronic technology. Life is just back to finding the simplest things for enjoyment. Everyone is happy. Such serenity!!!!