Beach day

Today we took advantage of one of Sydney's amazing ocean front beaches. It took us 45 minutes by bus from where we live but on the plus side we were able to do it all on one bus line. Once there we met up with a friend, her husband and their two year old daughter. Alexa went to college with me and Brian but we didn't know each other well. Our friend Helen pieced together that we'd both be in Sydney at the same time and we were eager to see each other, catch up and compare notes.

Alexa and her family are traveling the world for six months while her husband takes a sabbatical from his job at Columbia. Emmy and Tess adored playing with little Leah. They generously shared their baby dolls, held her hand on tricky spots, and helped her mother with carrying the stroller up and down the beach stairs.

Coogee beach consists of a long, sunny stretch of sand leading up to the roaring surf. It also includes a more sheltered saltwater pool where the waves still crash over the edge but in a more contained way. Alexa and I each took turns getting in a quick dip and then we sat down to the busy work of playing in the sand.

We escaped the sun for a nice lunch and a quick ice cream before heading back home by bus. I hope we can meet up with these three again before they head on their way at the end of the month. Maybe next time we can show them around Balmain.

Emily, Tess, and I are all sandy, salty and tired but I still think we'll fit in one more pool dip before dinner. Any day that we somehow fail to swim in the pool I hear about it at length at bedtime.

Alexa aids in sand castle construction.

Ems by the saltwater pool. There's a shallow section for kids and a deeper one for adults.

The girls got their own camera for Christmas. They have a lot to learn about taking pictures but I do enjoy seeing their perspective on things. (Photo by Emmy)

Laura and Alexa

The girls chose to bring their babies for the bus ride. Emmy gets a lot of good smiles for wearing her carrier everywhere.