Going to the Beach on a Cold Autumn Day

Yes, we go to the Beach even when it's cold outside. We went to visit Grandma and of course Baby Girl said "Lets go to the beach." The kids were stir crazy, it's an hour long ride, we were indoors at home before breakfast and at Grandmas indoors on arrival. It was time to "get our energy out." So we did.

Safety First! Everyone gets dressed in layers, to prevent getting sick and just for the sale of comfort. We don't want to go outside and have to come straight home because of complaining "Mommy, I'm cold!" 

Mommy wears layers too, because its crazy to leave an activity if I am cold! I need to be just as prepared as the kids.

Boys and Baby Girl wear either their fitted Pajama Pants, or their long johns under their pants (baby girl has thick cotton tights). Pants are something wind resistant like Jeans or Sport Pants (not joggers). Shirts are a long sleeve shirt, short sleeved T-Shirt and a sweatshirt or sweater. Hats, gloves, scarf and a jacket. 

Is getting all this clothes on worth it?

ABSOLUTELY!!! We hit the beachfront for about 15 minutes. To escape the wind, we drove a short 1 minute in the same state park to the playground with swings and climbing area. Grandma took older son for a walk, and I stayed playing hide and seek with the 'lil ones. We were outdoors for nearly 2 hours! And time flew by!

These photos were taken the day after Halloween 2014, when we had SNOWFALL in Chicago on October 31!!! I don't ever remember a snowy Halloween. 

These photos are nearly untouched. I love that you can see the Chicago skyline on the right side of this photo. The yellow tones in the picture were the actual colors that day, great contrast against the greys of Lake Michigan (eventho that grey is sediment / dirt in the water). The Lake Michigan waves were 20 feet the day before. We guesstimated about 5' tall in these pics.  Grandma ironically said she'd be warm having on a thick sweater and thin wool red coat. She was the first one in the car, and the kids still wanted to climb the dunes... Good thing Mommy had warm layers on! Baby girl and Baba walked up to the shoreline. The water is grey because of the tumultuous winds causing the high waves, and the waves make the water bring up sediment from the floor bottom of the Lake.

Make Mistakes. Breathe, reflect and Laugh.Out.Loud