Beach Trip

Last weekend, we loaded up the Suburban and took our first trip to the beach for the summer. A little late I know, but we have not had any time. I did try to get reservations back in July, but the places we looked into were full. We drove down to Pensacola and the weather could not have been better! The beach wasn't too crowded and the water was crystal clear. The best part is that we only saw two jelly fish and no sting rays!

Everyone enjoyed the sand, water and sea shells. There was a beach (Sea of Japan) about 300 yards from our hotel in Vladivostok. We walked down there with the kids while we were there, but you couldn't pay me to get in the water (the Gulf Coast has spoiled me with it's clear water). So Polina, Nastya and Dima had been to the beach, they just had not been in the ocean. They loved the water and after an hour or so, they even enjoyed getting knocked down by the waves.

Lessons Learned

Well, we have had the kids about two and a half months and have had some struggles, but there have been tons and tons of joy! Children really are a blessing from God. They keep me down to earth and I am reminded daily of their complete innocence. Don't get me wrong, they screw up just like anybody else and tell a fib now and then and will try to manipulate you. But their love is unconditional. The hard part is remembering that emotionally, they are a year or two younger than their physical age.
I have a hard time punishing any of our kids. Considering the past of the three youngest, I really have a hard time punishing them when they do something wrong. But, we have to teach them boundaries because they really do not have any. Time sitting in momma's or papa's lap is the most common form of punishment. In the long run, they seem to be okay with it and understand when they have done something bad (fighting, taking something not theirs, etc.). This type punishment would send the oldest three screaming!

One of the things we have recently learned is that the two youngest have no concept of ownership. They do not care if a toy they have been given is destroyed or thrown away. They do care if someone else takes their toy, but that is where the attachment to the toy stops. Lesson, buy toys from the dollar store.