Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Six Weeks Old: New Adventures/Old Rituals


"Luke, you are now six weeks old.  It is time for you to return to your roots."

"Roots? What roots?"

"We are going to where your ancestors have lived for years and years...and that mean..."


"I'm going to SAN DIEGO???  Cool!!!"


"Good thing I've already got shades.  No dude should ever be in San Diego without shades...."

So on Luke's sixth week birthday he had his first bus ride, and plane ride, and first hotel stay.

And he also got his first visit to the beach.

La Jolla Shores beach was packed.
I think it was the first time ever that it was a warm Memorial Day weekend at the beach.
Usually the end of May is gloomy and cold and definitely not good beach weather at all.

I feel like a bit of an expert on this subject: I grew up three blocks from this beach. 
I had my first date with Bernie here.
My mom and dad met at a party on this beach when they were teenagers.
Both of them grew up going to the beach as well.
Jeff was taken to the beach a few weeks after he was born.
Going to the beach is hard wired into our family's DNA.

There have been changes in the area around the shores over the years.
The bath house with the red tile roof replaced a very small building that was there until a few years ago.

 Scripps pier is still at the north end of the beach though.
 
 

The surf was really good.
The water was warmer than usual.

A perfect combination for the traditional First Time in the Ocean toe dip.
 
 

The sound of the surf surrounded us as we watched the breakers just as it has for us over the decades.

He liked his first dip so well he got to go in again.

Kelp!
Oh the fun things you can do with kelp at the beach!

Just two or three more years and we will be building sand people with Luke here, and we will dress them with kelp for hair and swim suits.


Sandy feet...just part of life in the summer when you are a beach baby.

We all will teach him how to body surf, and boogie board, and then his father and grandfather will teach him how to ride a surf board...both short boards and long boards.
It didn't seem too long ago that three generation of San Diego raised kids were out in the surf together and Jeff was the baby back then.
 
Oh Luke.
What fun you will have here over the years.
But your San Diego adventure is just beginning.
Wait until you see what is planned for you next!

14 comments:

ellen b. said...

It really does look like he enjoyed his sea water foot bath! What fun that he could visit San Diego with all of you! Fun...

Vicki said...

How fun! I love how our little guys are being immersed in the beach scene so young. Everyone appeared to be having fun!

Lorrie said...

What a great introduction to the ocean - and his roots. You have a lot of history with that beach. I love all the smiles.

Judy said...

So many firsts...and I think he is enjoying them all! It looks like a fun time in San Diego over the long weekend.

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

A day at the beach and only six weeks old! There have been a lot of firsts in Luke's life recently...well, at his age, I guess almost everything is a "first" isn't it!

Purrfect Haven said...

that looks so sweet and fun too... love Helen, Darcy and Bingley xxx

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Such wonderful photos, Jill! We live near the Atlantic Ocean so my grandson's also had to have their first ocean initiation on visits here. Luke definitely seemed to enjoy the surf!

Vee said...

Love it all... But there's just something about those final three...

Anneliese said...

Aw.. love the toe dip! Keep those traditions going...

Lovella ♥ said...

OH I loved this post! What gorgeous photos you took of the happy family.
I was thinking that none of you who have had first feet in the ocean experiences ever had such loving photos taken of the event. It is enough perhaps to know that your parents felt the same amount of tenderness when your feet were dipped.

Kathleen said...

First day in the ocean!

Kathie said...

Glorious!! I can hardly wait to introduce our babykins to her beach heritage! :)

Thoughts on Life and Millinery. said...

I can hardly wait too! Wish your mom's swim group could be there for the event!

Just a little something from Judy said...

I could almost smell the ocean air as I looked at your beautiful pictures. Isn't it a privilege to watch the next generation following in your footsteps and learning to enjoy the same things you do? What a blessed little guy to be born in your family.