and then i see my aunt’s foster son chase in all these pictures and immediately, my heart breaks.  chase was put back with his father’s family last month.  my aunt and uncle were in the process of adopting chase so it broke my heart to tell my sons that their cousin they had just met and bonded with, is gone – forever.  

during my tears, duke asked me what was wrong and i told him that i “miss our family” and that i really wanted to see grandma and grandpa again.  duke tells me, “i know, mom.  i want to see grandma and grandpa too.  i really miss our family – would you like to go back to alabama again?”  wiping away the tears and asking my strong and wonderful 5 year old for a big hug – i tell him yes.  i wish we were all closer.

chase had been with my aunt’s family for almost a year.  he was 8 when he came to live with them, his parents were racist and drug addicts who abused him.  they never enrolled him in school and he didn’t know what time of day breakfast, lunch and dinner is.  there’s more to the story but i’ll spare everyone the horrible details, just know that he shouldn’t be placed with anyone in that family.  granted, i don’t know the family but who doesn’t immediately fight for custody of a small child?  i would’ve been banging on doors for custody of ANY of my nieces or nephews.  & i’ve since watched the documentary “dear zachary” on netflix so my paranoia is at threat level red and i don’t trust anyone in chase’s family.

the afternoon i met him, i was sitting with my aunt and he came home from school – he ran up to us and gave my aunt the biggest hug and kiss, my aunt introduced us and he gave me the biggest hug, like he knew me forever.  he wasn’t afraid to hold back and i admire him for that.

kids aren’t racist, they are taught.  kids are taught love, understanding and compassion too.  so next time a child wants to hug you tight, do it – no matter how long it’s for.

uncle vince (my aunt’s husband – chase’s foster dad) with chase and ena – duke and damien are on the other side enjoying a ride on uncle vince’s train!

we got up super early on sunday to beat the crowds headed to the beach.  we chose huntington beach because it’s about a 15 minute drive for us.  parking was $15 and even though we stopped at our bank on the way, i made a mental note that the lots do, in fact, take credit cards!  we chose to take a spot near lifeguard station #9 which wasn’t that far from the pier.  it was close enough to the bathrooms, a concession stand and a bike rental shop.

the sky was overcast and downright gloomy but it was sooo nice.  chris & i enjoyed the breeze in our chairs and let the kids dig holes, fly kites, look for hermit crabs & have a silly string fight (most of which did end up on them so no worries about birds, crustaceans or fish eating the string).  we stayed for about 4 hours and decided to call it a day.  the beach was starting to get packed and we were all starting to get hungry & tired!  surprisingly, the only money spent there was on parking!  GO US!

*my baby almost got swept away here! thank goodness he’s a quick thinker and let go of the shovel, dropped down and crawled toward me so i could grab him!

*i don’t get the tent phenomenon at the beach, it was like their own little cities.  remember, i grew up on an island, we didn’t do this type of stuff!

another thing that made me laugh was that my teenage son ty pointed out a lady sprawled out on a towel with an ipad.  he asked why anyone would need an ipad at the beach… maybe someone can help me answer this?

on monday, we decided to go to ty & dame’s grandparents house for a bbq/pool party.  rusty (ty & dame’s grandpa) made the best fresh strawberry daiquiris i’ve ever drank in my life.  chris and i don’t really drink anymore so it was a one hitter quitter for me, i caught a very nice buzz!  it was really nice chilling with their grandparents, we all had a great time!

*duke getting comfy in floaties!  finally!

we didn’t stay for fireworks but when we heard our hood poppin’ off we decided to check ‘em out – everywhere i turned, there were awesome displays of fireworks… blocks on blocks on blocks!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!