beachy beach beach

so, as you know, i am an aquarius- the water sign. its' official, i love the beach. in chicago the beach is a totally different experience. when i was a freshman in college, my roomates said, "lets go to the beach for the day!" i did not even know chicago had sand on the lake- so it was new news to me that there was a beach. so, we packed up our baby oil and headed down to oak street beach. it was amazing and i felt like i was on vacation- it was so cool- awesome in fact. just as i was walking into chilly lake michigan, i was about waist high and i hear a primal scream that came out of a horror movie. without hesitation- i ran, like everyone else around me. after the screaming subsided that when i heard the sirens and the emt's were headed into the water.
there was a body.
floating in the water, a homeless man, in full clothing had washed up on shore. it was surreal- i could not believe i was in the water with a BODY! i was grossed out and sad my first day at the beach. bummed me out- no punn intended. but i will say, i waited about 8 months and we went back to the beach all the time.
now, that i have children and we live in CA it seems so natural to go to the beach. i love it and it feels like i come back more "me" that when i arrive. there is a calming effect that you cannot deny at the beach- especially in california. i am in love with my friend's suzannah's family beach house. its so beautiful and feels like an oasis.
it was cold this trip to the beach and it rained on saturday when we got there, but it cleared up and we were in the sun sunday and even went to the santa cruz beach boardwalk. it was a fun filled weekend with great friends, good music and conversation. oh- and there was a late nite cupcake run- need i say more??

one more thing- the johnson's are cool magnets. they have the nicest friends that we have meet at the beach house. its always a great mix of friends and everyone is always happy at the beachouse- how can you not?