After many months of planning and preparation by the Taylor girls, our families convened at Booper's beach for a reunion full of good times!
I love this picture of JP, Courtney's oldest. I've looked at it many times. So comfortable. So perfectly where he wants to be.
I don't think anyone walks to the beach on the first day without a little reservation of being in a bathing suit in the full honesty of sunlight. It feels like you're making yourself too vulnerable to judgement, but once garments are scrapped, that apprehension seems to quickly fade. No one's noticing, no one cares.
Take the peaceful feeling that comes from being in paradise (clothed in not much more than your birthday suit), combined with the company of family who loves you no matter what and everything about this picture feels right.
Shell shed. Exposed. But free and happy.
Glory.
Josh wasn't so sure about me at first. He would scamper off if I tried to sneak in for a hug, but he was interested in us. After mine was snoozing, I grabbed the opposite end of the couch from Josh for a little tube time. He got to wiggling and wouldn't you know, a few minutes later I had a sweet little snuggle bug in my nook. I loved being around this sweet kid! He is fun and playful and makes your heart smile a bit over how cute little boys are!
These two were immediate best friends. No warming up necessary! When she realized he wanted to do the things she wanted to do, we just let them be. So fun to have a beach buddy!
Pretty much the only picture I was able to grab of Andy! He is a water bug which thrilled the kids! The water was very calm and warm so it was perfect for snorkeling!
"How are you doing, Baby?"
"Good, Mom!"
Thumbs up and not even a sideways glance. There was serious work to be done!
Not as hard at work but thumbs up from this bodacious babe too! :)
One of my best friends in the whole world. She makes me so happy I almost can't keep it all in!
Family game of ocean frisbee
DAD MADE IT TO THE BEACH! It is no exaggeration to say that this is the first time in easily 10 years that I've seen my dad step foot on the beach. It was like an albino alligator sighting. I couldn't stop staring because it was SO UNUSUAL!!! :)
The happy grands with all their crazy kids! Look at the Boopster. Adorable.
Sweet Jennifer and Doug
Sweet Courtney and Andy
My boo, Lauren and Barry. I have NO pics of Lauren! She spent a bit of time nursing sick kids back to health. When she wasn't with all of us, my heart ached. ALL of our people were there but Lala and I needed her close too! I love her so much!
Night out for delicious dinner with this crew! We had SUCH a fun time!
Her first pair of goggles. She LOVES them!
Gah Lee. She's so lovely!
This is the hilarious view of London that we saw most often! As always, her bravery is greater than her concern for safety, so I had to keep an eye on her to make sure she remembered to surface and breathe! Luckily that juicy little rumpus serves as a nice floatation device and keeps her from sinking to the bottom!
A fisherman's bounty!
Cheerleading crew while Barry was grilling the MESS outta some tuna and ..... something else delicious! I've forgotten what fish it was!
Very fierce night storm that popped in the last night we were there!
But the next morning brought the most beautiful view in the whole wide world! :)
Gosh. I get a lump in my throat just thinking about how to explain my amazing brother this weekend. Barry was ALL IN. London has alway loved her unc, and he walked justly in his hero status this weekend. He was in the ocean and pool with the kids the entire time flipping them and throwing them and being the being the 'pool monster'. He made up silly stories about the spinny winny fish that would grab him while he was holding the kids and spin them around in dizzying circles. Or the roly poly fish that kept swimming by and sending their blow up boat into whirling havoc.
London's never had a big strong guy at the beach with us to toss her in the air like she were weightless or to be the inexhaustible source of good times. Barry was a knight in shining armor to her this weekend and it made me marvel over the way he loves his family and ours. Well done, Brother. You are a truly great man.
I know, I know. Enough with the sappy stuff, but I can't blog about Caden without gushing over how I love him. He honestly is the kindest boy I've ever met. I've never met someone who just naturally places everyone else first the way Caden does. He cares deeply for people's feelings. He is extraordinarily compassionate. It oozes out of him and is remarkable to observe.
At only 6 years old, HE is the example in flesh to me of Philippians 2:3-4:
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain coneit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others."
I took a quiet minute to speak truth into this boy on the beach one day. I told him that God makes people with special qualities that rise up out of them and shine bright. I told him that it was obvious that God made him incredibly kind hearted and that it is easy to see that God is already using his kindness in a big way. I went on and on about how amazing it was to see this clearly defined gift in this little guy and he just kind of sat there, wobbling his little stick legs back and forth.
I said, "Caden, you know you are remarkably kind hearted don't you?"
He said, 'Yeah.....
Lizzy is too.'
Lizzy is too.'
Then I turned away because I couldn't speak through the lump in my throat and I needed a second to blink back the tears. What an amazing child.
I guess this is Unc's 'Super Hero' gear! :)
Another storm rolling in. The dividing line between a really fun day and a super sad day!
Being back in the pool brought back Barry's rich memories of swim team shenanigans. JP was our guinea pig! This is how the cool kids put on a swim cap!
{video}
Just before impact!
I sat and watched him eat his hot dog right out of the bun. It was so funny! The more he ate, the more that dog pushed out the other end! Silly little darling! :)
We had a great weekend of reconnecting. It made me miss Papa alot. The memories that I have with this family all included Papa. He was always a part of the story... usually he was the silly, fun part of the story. I miss him.... but I'm so thankful that you can still experience him through the little traits he passed on to his family. His life was rich in quality time spent with the people he loved. You could tangibly feel his investment in us paying off this weekend. He created a family that loves each other, that wants to keep adding to the database of memories together, that enjoys blowing the dust off the old stories of growing up in Papa's family. It made me remember how important it is to invest in each other and to always try to be 'in the moment' with the people I love.
I'm thankful to have spent a weekend feeling him smile over us.
