Ballston Beach

This is the Ocean side of Cape Cod. It stretches on all the way up to the end of land in Provincetown where the ocean curls around to meet the bay. It's beautiful and when it's low tide it's a great place to body surf, or boogie board. When it's high tide, the currents are strong and you can feel the power of the ocean...it's too scary to go in, unless you are a strong swimmer. Low tide is fun because Ava can splash in the water and you can look for sand dollars. We didn't find any this year, but we saw many seals. I was lucky enough to sit up the beach from one while it napped by the shore one afternoon.

Ava really loves the beach. She was excited to be there and would squeal when we brought her in the water. She liked to jump over the waves and splash, or sit in the sand and watch the water.

It was fun to capture the moments of joy she experienced at the beach. The beach, in my experience brings out the best in us (except in my teenage years when I would be grumpy or embarrassed to be with my family), but I've always wondered if the beach is what Heaven is like?  Most people are happy and relaxed when they are at the beach and though there is nothing there, but water and sand there is SO much to do and so much fun to be had.

I couldn't get Ava to wear the top to her bikinis, but she loved her floaties. In calm water we would let go of her for a few seconds and cheer her on as she floated on her own. She learned quickly that she could even move forward if she kicked her legs under the water. She also learned that, as thrilling as it was, it scared her too and she'd rather us hold her :)

Look at those smiles! SO genuine. The Beach is fun.