With autumn just beginning, I’d like to reminisce on some of our summer fun. Until we moved to NYC the kids had never been to a beach. Their first experience was on the Hudson River for Labor Day last year. Camila was a bit afraid of the sand and wouldn’t move once placed in it. And Christopher was fascinated with how far he could throw as many sticks into the river.

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Fast forward to this summer. We visited Coney Island for the first time. That is the touristy thing to do when you move to NYC. We kept it simple and just went to Brighton Beach. No aquarium and no park. Just the beach. We will save that for next summer. We picked the perfect spot – right next to the restrooms – things you have to keep in mind when traveling with tiny toddlers.

A few of the things we packed were water bottles, apple sauce packets, and grapes to hold us over as we let the kids run up and down the beach to the water. I brought these really cool collapsible chairs I purchased for Macy’s Day Parade last year and the guys hung out on them and carried away over a drink and military talk.

Christopher and Camila played with their friend and made sand castles, running back and forth with their pails of overflowing water to mold their masterpieces. Camila refused to get into the water, as she did the sand last year. And Christopher boyishly, jumped in and out of it giggling with pure joy.

Me and my girl, walked the boardwalk and scoped out the restaurants for lunch. We summoned the guys and the kids and ended up going to Tatiana Restaurant to enjoy some seafood. We were surrounded by Russian soccer fans which made for lots of cheering and intense hand gestures. The overall mood made for good conversation and great fellowship. Farewell summer.