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. Nancy Wyatt says…
    01/31/2011

    What an amazing time you all must have had and yes, what a gift that place must be! THanks for taking us with you! hugs from Conroe, TX

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

    looks like such a fun weekend ali!!
    do you mind telling where anna's sweater is from. it is darling!

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

      Old Navy :) - a few months ago.

  3. Noelle says…
    01/31/2011

    What an amazing place your parents have!!! Even though we are also on the coast but in CA, your pictures made me want to move! Glad you had such a lovely weekend!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Paulette Sarsfield says…
    01/31/2011

    "dontcha" just love those "gifts".. . Thanks for sharing Ali:o)

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

    wow, I can't believe the weather! So nice -- we are cold and snowy up her in the interior of BC.

    Where did you get that cute red coat you are wearing?

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

      That's from Patagonia. It's one of the best purchases I made in the last two years. I got it for 1/2 off at the end of the season. It's an awesome coat.

  6. Vanessa M. Santamaria says…
    01/31/2011

    LOVE all your wonderful photos!!! Looks like a fantastic weekend with family :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Carolyn HP says…
    01/31/2011

    I like all these photos so much, you are so lucky to have such a peaceful beautiful place to relax in; I love the beach... I love the cute photo of Anna behind the computer, so cute.

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

    Ali your parents are so lucky to have that gorgeous coast line at their doorsteps. What a beautiful place to bring up their grandchildren and all the wonderful memories they will have forever. Thank you for sharing a little bit of America to us Aussie girls.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Allison M. says…
    01/31/2011

    Gorgeous, gorgeous photos! What a beautiful week-end your family had.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Christine S says…
    01/31/2011

    Awesome pics Ali! It makes me wish we had your nice weather here in Michigan. It's cold and we are about to get walloped with a bunch of snow! 2 more months and we will be semi warm! Think Spring!

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Cele Schaffer says…
    01/31/2011

    Your family is so cute being trees-LOVE that picture!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Shannon D says…
    01/31/2011

    Love hearing about your weekends with family. Thank you for sharing. You are so blessed with the place your parents live and being able to visit them. The beach is an amazing place to be, and so great your kids can experience it. We love the beach.

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Debbie C says…
    01/31/2011

    I have always loved the candid shots you take of your family, but lately they have been even more amazing. Something you're working on or maybe just focusing more on the light????

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

      It is something I'm thinking about more - both the light and in general. Thank you for the kind comment :).

  14. stacyj says…
    01/31/2011

    Such happy photos -- I love seeing your family!

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

    All the photos were a delight to look through. It's like you took a professional photographer with you. Such a great collection. Do you still use the Canon Rebel Digital? Deb, South Australia.

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

      Hi Deb - I'm using a Canon 5D. It's more camera than I need but I'm working on learning more and more bit by bit :).

  16. Leanne in CA says…
    02/01/2011

    Beautiful! Thanks for sharing so many photos.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. craftstea says…
    02/01/2011

    Ali, you have so many great photo's of the beach trip. do they go in a seperate scrapbook of events? do you select just a few for project life? How do you handle having so many great pictures from one short time period?

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. Ali says…
      02/01/2011

      I think that I'm going to add another page in Project Life to handle more photos for this week. Some weeks we have a ton and some weeks quite a bit less.

  18. Amy K says…
    02/01/2011

    Absolutely beautiful! What wonderful memories with blessed family! TFS.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Lisa W says…
    02/01/2011

    Never stop doing these types of posts :) They are so calming, inspiring, motivating, and relaxing. They always bring happiness and joy to me. Thanks for so openly sharing bits of your life. . .and always helping start my day with a 'happy heart' :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. kelly libby says…
    02/01/2011

    beautiful photos!!! Makes me want to move to the West Coast. The weather is far better than New England has been.... SNOW! SNOW! and more SNOW!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Nicole says…
    02/01/2011

    Simply beautiful pictures. You are always an inspiration. Now more than ever for me. I have been in a "memory-keeping" rut for almost 2 years. But a loyal reader of your blog and always a fan. Thanks for sharing everything you share with the world.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Chris H says…
    02/01/2011

    How very peaceful..
    That scene at the table with all the computers...looks like our family room in the evenings. TV on, and all of us on laptops...we're all a little weird that way...we surf and watch and share what we're reading. Even the 10 yr old...

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Darlene says…
    02/01/2011

    Perfectly amazing pictures! I have been following your blog for, well, forever, and it really strikes me how Simon's face is changing in that way that boys' faces change at that age - I remember noticing it in pictures with my own son - not noticing it really until I studied his picture. He is really growing up - what a wonderful family. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Christina says…
    02/01/2011

    Ali
    I keep thinking about your comment on kids sense of temperature. Like when my four year old said it was too HOT in the kitchen this morning and it was only 68 degrees, or when I dropped my 10 year old off at the bus stop wearing shorts and it was 47 degrees outside and he thinks it is too warm for pants. And when I was little I loved to go sledding, build snow forts and downhill skiing. Now I can't stand the thought of doing those things. I even moved to Henderson, NV to escape the snow of the midwest. I actually miss skiing but I hate being cold more. Wonder why it doesn't bother them. Maybe the fun cancels out the cold.
    I love the picture of Anna being pushed on the swing by your dad. What a great place to live!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Marilyn Nimmo says…
    02/01/2011

    LOVE all of the photos! LOVE the "tree" picture and the one of you, your dad, and anna all on your laptops--a sign of the times! What a wonderful weekend!

    Reply 0 Replies

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