Since having kids, I've found the most difficult time of day to be between 3:30 and 5:30. Everyone's tired, including me, and a downward spiral of temperament and behaviour inevitably kicks in in those post-school, pre-dinner hours.
I'm loathe to turn on the television and don't want to venture out in rush-hour traffic. I've been looking for simple, restful activities and have recently discovered that a late afternoon visit to the beach can be just that.
The beach has a different mood in September than in summer. The boisterous stretches of sand and water have become serene.
We don't pack a picnic basket or beach toys. There's a lot of gazing at the water, thumb-sucking and quiet play.
We're soaking up every last bit of summer while we can. It won't be long until the afternoons bring wet leaves and early nightfall, and I'll be on the lookout for other ways to occupy three little ones and their spent mother.
Ah, moments to remember. Nice pictures.
Posted by: JeanMac | 15 September 2008 at 01:57 PM
love the kayak pic!
Posted by: slydi | 15 September 2008 at 04:59 PM
Lovely, lovely. I could stare at this post all day. Let me know what your rainy day plans are. I'm already getting anxious about it!
Posted by: Mary Smith | 15 September 2008 at 08:21 PM
My brother and his wife call that time "the witching hour". Love your solution, makes me wish we had a beach nearby. Although I'm sure my kids would love the park across the road just as much.
Posted by: Rachel | 15 September 2008 at 09:26 PM
Ah... I remember and don't miss Vancouver winter rain.
But wait, I live somewhere that the mercury routinely dips below -20 C...
Loved the beach photos. Beautiful!
Posted by: Liana | 16 September 2008 at 07:09 AM
Hmmmmmm... looks heavenly:) I know EXACTLY what you mean about the 3:30-5:30 stretch... good times:)
Posted by: Amy Hoogstad | 16 September 2008 at 11:20 AM
Arsenic hour is the term we learned from an A Rocha friend.
Posted by: The Other Pete | 16 September 2008 at 10:23 PM