Rainy day

More fun times

We spent the morning in the pool playing and being silly.  Ryland loved the pool because he could touch past the steps.  It gave him a new found confidence.  He would jump in and swim like an Olympic swimmer.  Reed really liked the pool as well and copied everything his brother did.  It was a bit odd discussing why they haven't worn swimsuits in this pool.  We normally swim after we have been to the beach, so we also are rinsing the sand away.  Well this morning, the boys went nude again.  They loved it!

I took the first shift of catching the boys, and I got caught by the camera.



After a morning of swimming, a pizza and Capri Sun lunch was delicious.  The sweet treats of vacation.

After a couple hours of napping, it was time to hit the beach.  We headed out to enjoy the sun, have a snack, and play!  Reed was such a trooper and loved wearing his sun hat and sunglasses.  He looks so cool.



Ryland was full of energy and ready to run wild.  We could barely get him to sit still for snack  before he was off.



We thought it would be fun to fly the kite this evening.  There was a good bit of wind, and the boys were thrilled.  John Chris got it set up and got the kite in the air.

He explains how it works to Ryland and how it is important to hold on, so we don't lose the kite.





Reed adds his two cents worth on kite flying directions, or he is telly Daddy just to give it to him so he can try.





Ryland does an awesome job of flying the kite.  He holds on tight and walks against the wind when the kite started dropping.  He loves it.





The boys took turns flying the kite until Reed let go.  The handle and string took off, and Dad had to run really fast to catch it before it was gone for good.  Another great day.

Such a hard life

Reed was upset because the cheese puffs didn't come out fast enough.  Really?  Look around kid.  You shouldn't have a care in the world. He quickly realized he had a cheese puff in his hand, so the crying stopped immediately. Gotta love snacks on the beach!

The boys were being silly and chasing each other around.

Reed almost becomes a casualty.

Ryland isn't giving up.

John Chris grabs him and runs into the ocean.  The laughter is delightful and contagious.

Reed and I sit in the sand and play with the cups.  We dig and pile sand while chatting about life in his very mature and intelligent toddler language.



Ryland and John Chris got creative and made a bulldozer and a pay loader.  Very impressive skills.

A day in paradise

We enjoyed another beautiful day on Shoal Bay East.  It was beautiful!  We walked down the beach to the spot where John Chris and I got married.  We told the boys that fact, and they just looked at us like we were silly.  "Why?" said Ryland.

Reed was determined to walk in the sand.  He would waddle back and forth not wanting any help.

We would dig a big hole in the sand close to the water.  We would play trucks, tractors, and anything else that Ryland would come up with.  This is one huge sandbox!

After a fun day, we headed back "home" to get changed for dinner.  Reed didn't want to follow the sidewalk and kept walking off into the lush landscaping.  This really upset Ryland, and he tried grabbing Reed's arm and making him hold hands.  He kept telling Reed that there could be snakes in there.

We tried a new place for dinner tonight.  We heard about Blanchard's Beach Bar on the other side of the island, so we had to go check it out.  It is a little, casual grill house beside their other restaurant, Blanchard's.  We had hamburgers, chicken strips, fries, and rum drinks while sitting at tables in the sand.  After finishing their food, the boys played while John Chris and I talked.  This is the perfect place for us.

After a long day of playing in the sun, it was time to get some sleep.  The boys picked a movie and got comfy in their pajamas.  It was the best day with our boys. 

The beach

We spent the first day on the beach.  We played in the sand and water for hours, and both boys had a blast getting wet and sandy.  I completely forgot to get the camera out until early evening before sunset. It has been a wonderful day!

Anguilla

We are finally on Shoal Bay East, the most beautiful place in the world.   We were greeted by the sweet scent of paradise and the refreshing breeze.  It is gorgeous!

Ryland ran out on the sand and started playing.  He ran back and forth to the water and ended up rolling around in the surf.  He was all about the beach.

Reed was very apprehensive.  This was his first time to experience a beach. He didn't want to let go of my hand, and he started whining a little when he touched the water.  He usually loves the water, but I think the waves and the sound created some concern.

After a few minutes of studying the ocean and the wet sand, Reed noticed Ryland laughing and playing.  I guess Ryland having fun made him feel more comfortable.  Reed started running and rolling in the sand and water.