AE | The Weekend Lens
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A last minute trip to spend time with family and cousins near Long Beach, Washington seemed like the absolute best course of action this past weekend.
It was made that much cooler when we found out a kite festival was in the works. The conditions seemed to be just perfect.
It's amazing how much you can pack into one day with these guys. We started the day off with a bike ride for doughnuts and then walked through the kite festivities (with a quick detour through this arcade next to the doughnut shop).
A little bit of magnetic darts (and a little bit of asking Anna to please move out of the way).
Another bike ride down to the beach.
And much of it just happened to be along this awesome bike path through the dunes.
The weather, though it looks sunny and warm, was actually pretty brisk right on the beach (hence a great day for the kites). That did nothing to deter the kids from swimming and playing in the water.
At least for a bit until they got way too cold. Simon could have lasted longer but the other kids were ready to be done.
This was one of my favorite kites. It was a ways down the beach from the actual kite festival - it's really large and so beautiful.
Cousin snack time.
There was lots of jumping happening on this visit. And between these two there was lots of play - just like last time when we were able to stay at John & Liz's house. They've got a great little friendship connection growing.
Feeling so, so thankful for an open arms, no-matter-what family.
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40 comments
Amazing photos, Ali. Such vivid colors. I always get great inspiration from you and since I just recently got my first SLR camera (a Canon T3i) I'm learning so much from your Weekend Lens posts. Thanks for sharing.
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Love your photos! So neat to see your blog post today as I live in Long Beach, WA!
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Enjoyed your post. It reminds me to get out and go live.
Thanks!
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That kite really is awesome. I'm looking forward to seeing a bond grow between my kids and their cousin (who is due next month). We live so far away from my other brother that we don't get to see those cousins as often.
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Love the kites! I so miss the Kites on Ice festival that we used to have here in Madison. It was so beautiful - and the show they put on at night with lights was AMAZING!
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Beautiful beautiful pictures. Thank you for sharing it with us.
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ali, i doubt you remember me. it's been a while. you helped me and my two boys (along with cathy Z, tara whitney and em falconbridge) when my husband died, about two and a half years ago..... at the time i lived in a place i hated. i have since sold the house we shared with my husband, and moved to astoria, oregon. which, you probably know, is about 30 minutes from long beach. not even sure why i am telling you all this.... i still read your blog. there was a time i couldn't contemplate more than two seconds in front of me. there was a time i didn't think i would ever survive losing james, and my children losing their father. but we have. and had we not been in portland when the kite festival was going on we would have been at the kite festival too. hope you are well. maybe some day we will run into you..... i hope you all are well. kimberly
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Great Photos of the kites and kiddies also!
something about a kite really gives me a sense of freedom...suppose it is the floating aimless in the air that can produce that effect. thanks for sharing. See you on Friday for class
blessings and safe travel,
sharon dryjanski
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I am fascinated at how great you are when it comes to capturing images. These photos would really look great in any scrapbook album!
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We stumbled into a kite festival in Chicago once... it was amazing to see. We had just come from a charity dog walk and had two big dogs with us, so couldn't really stay or take pictures, but it was breathtaking.
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These photos made my heart sing. Long Beach is my hometown, and my parents and sister still live there. I hope you bought groceries at Sid's Market -- first my dad's; now my brother's store. :) It's wonderful to see that brilliant blue sky and your family having so much fun. Isn't that dune trail amazing? Simon looks like an old pro on his bike.
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Thanks for making me smile. I love that you shopped at Sid's!
We sure did Sally! My brother and his wife's family own a home there.
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Great pics!! Thanks for sharing!!
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[...] View the photos and read the whole story. [...]
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Great photos, Ali! Wonderful combination of close-ups and big view. The color is spot on.
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What a great beach, and I love the long path to get there!
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