Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Soothing The Soul

In the sad days since Dad died we find ourselves again and again seeking comfort. Seeking solace. Seeking optimism.

And I don't know about you but I, for one, have always found that both kids and the beach are the perfect antidote for soothing the soul.

So we went about finding ourselves some kids . . .

Oh, look! A Jelly Roll!

And a niece and a nephew!

. . . and finding ourselves a beach.

We threw in some friends, a couple of coolers . . .

. . . and we had ourselves a lovely, comforting, soul-soothing day.

It was Jelly Roll's first beach outing and he loved it. Loved it. He gurgled and kicked and flailed about all day, happy as a little jellyroll could be. (Pay no attention to that furrowed brow; that's his ever-present look of concentration.)

The kids had a blast too. Uncle Bill took them on the rocks, to the waterpark, and on the waterslide.

The San Diegans left for home this morning, sob . . .

. . . honestly, I don't know how we're expected to cope without them.

[Don't ask me; I have no idea.]

We also had the great good luck to run into our neighbors whose girl suffered the same rare condition as Jacquie's boy. Wobble Boy, meet Wobble Girl.

Those wobbly days are long gone for both these two, though. They are the opposite of Wobble Boy and Wobble Girl now. Now they're Stiff As A Board Boy and Stiff As A Board Girl. Just as it should be.

And Jelly Roll? Oh, he just carried on his horizontal dancing.

Mistah has an uncanny ability to take photos of hot young babes even when he's holding the camera in front of himself, taking his own photo. It's a real talent.

Kids and the beach and the sun and the water and the horizon and a spectacular hot summer day in Connecticut . . .

. . . The perfect way to soothe the soul.

10 comments:

unmitigated me said...

I hope you all know how lucky you are to have such awesome siblings! And the kids! And access to a Jelly Roll! Just the thing to help heal the heart.

Debbie said...

Great photos. And you are so right - the beach and kids are the perfect antidote!

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Jelly roll is so grown up! And adorable.

And those SD kids are so brown. And adorable.

And those wobblers so solid! Adn adorable. How crazy to run into her. What are the chances that you know two people who've had acute cerebellar ataxia? Amazing.

Only one thing is amiss -- where is your polka dot bikini, Ellie? Jacquie had on hers! Oh wait, I think you DO have on yours....no photo?! What gives?

So glad babies, beaches, and beers can still bring you some peace :-)

xo,
Beth

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Third photo down, Beth. All the way over there on the right....

Ellie

Me, You, or Ellie said...

No, no a photo together, of the matching polka dots, like the photo with you and Nancy...

b

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Oh, yeah, you're right.

Sigh.

Come back, Jacquie.

E.

needs the beach in PA said...

babies and beach work for me...and it's cheaper than therapy.
LOVE that wobble boy seems to make sure his arm is NOT touching wobble girl. He must have been paying attention in that "family" class at school. :)

Me, You, or Ellie said...

Awwww, that was indeed a perfectly soothing beach interlude. Everything is all tinged with the sad, but it's so nice to find joy, and what better way than at the beach with good peeps?

I cannot explain that photo of my children. Tres weird.

xo

Jacquie

Mom C said...

Gorgeous pictures Ellie, I miss those munchkins sooooo much. love, mom

Hsin-Yi said...

Jelly Roll and I were honored to be part of the beach outing. It was the kind of day that just plain makes me happy. I hope Jelly Roll grows up to be as cool as Jacquie's kids are! Cheers to a fantastic day and fabulous people.