Bruce's birthday beach bash

Bruce's 31st birthday celebration wasn't nearly as wild as his 30th birthday party. However, we managed to enjoy ourselves as we indulged in our first time in the Atlantic Ocean in Seaside Heights, New Jersey. We went with our friends Lisa and Tyson Heaton (their two boys Sawyer and Becket). Bruce's cousin Brindi and her family met us there. We were there the majority of the day, and Bruce played in the water nearly the entire time. He is a little fish out of water, and although it was a little cold at first touch, he kept going back.
Warning: Before I post the pictures know that I look absolutely awful in a swimming suit. Feel free to skip past those ones. :)

We started out our time picnicking in a no picnicking zone. To defend ourselves, we didn't see the sign until we already pulled everything out. By then, I was too hungry to care if we were breaking the beach rules, and we were trying to feed four young kids. If it really bothered the officials, they would have told us when they walked past, right?

Arriving on the beach!! Woo hoo! Soft white sand.

Although it looks like Bruce is enjoying the sand - don't let it fool you. He spent four of the five hours we were there in the water.




That looks more like the Bruce I know.




I prefer to spend my time sitting on the sand or relaxing in the sun (it was actually kind of cloudy).

Believe it or not, I did get in the water too.

BRRR!! That water was cold.

I had a hard time in the water. The Atlantic Ocean literally swallowed me up, then spit me out on the shore. One wave would come and knock me to my knees. I had a difficult time getting up before the next wave would come and knock me over again. Time and time again, waves came over my head as I was on my knees. Finally, after being beat up by wave after wave, I crawled to the shore coughing with my hair so full of sand it took me three washes in the shower at home to get it all out. I was actually covered in sand from head to toe (under my swimming suit too). I had to try to brave the water again, just to wash the and off so I wouldn't start itching. My legs have scratches on them from crawling across the sand. After this, I volunteered to watch the baby on the sand where I was safe from the water.

Doesn't baby Aiden (Brindi's youngest son) look cute sporting my sunglasses.

Yes, I could definitely get used to this.


Time on the beach couldn't be complete without burying someone.

Sawyer tried burying Bruce, but ended up just throwing a bit of sand on him.


Ah! A day at the beach. What a perfect way to celebrate a 31st birthday. Happy Birthday Mr. Bruce.