Watch those waves at Crissy Field

It’s Saturday, and with pancakes as a start – we decide to head to Crissy Field for our family adventure. It was a beautiful day, not too windy just enough to add some drama to the water. The sun became brighter as we approached our destination. We had no problem parking – which we thought was either due to the 9:30 hour or the grey skies in the morning scared people away. Everyone in our car was in a good mood. Mama needed coffee off the bat so we started out with a stop at the Warming Hut. Daddy watched Eva and Eli. When I finally came out of the hut after unbelievably slow service – the late maker certainly could never get a job at Star Bucks. It took her 15 minutes to make three orders! Anyway, everyone was already pleased with the day. Eva was climbing on a big rock under the cypress pine and Eli was in the stroller momentarily – soon to get out and walk along the wall holding daddy’s hand. Eva soon joined in the game. Eva and Eli kept darting from side to side along the path – making me a bit nervous that they would be run down by one of the crazed joggers or a team of weekend bikers. It was fun being out with all the people. We spend so much time during the week at parks and places with just other moms or nanny’s. there were also many elderly European strollers out. They were all round and well dressed looking as if they were promenading along the main esplanade from what every country they hailed from. It added a nice mix to the usually overly fit-crazed Californians we meet on the path. We spent a bit of time with a family Eva picked up – mom dad and baby David (18 months) and the main attraction, Dexter 3 ½. Eli immediately jumped on to their Kettler bike - happy to sit in the seat of honor for a while before pushing it along. Eva ran up and down the hill with Dexter – chasing birds eventually - to the dismay of the elderly woman feeding the pigeons by the trash cans. Finally we got to the beach. Eva was finally in her element. We got her pants off but thought her froggy rain boots would be a good to leave on to protect her from the waves. Well, after 5 minutes of romping with daddy a wave got her and her boots – not phasing her a bit. Eli was happy to play with the sand toys, though he did brave the waves one or two times. We were not as smart and his pants got soaked immediately. Soon we had diaper clad children roaming the beach. One of the elderly woman walked by with a sour look on her face and said to me,” they must be cold?” and walked away shaking her head. I’ve always torn about this subject. How to keep them warm when they love to play with the water? Doon dexter and David were as naked as our children. THEN came the cool German mom with her mother and two boys we often see at the park. Both of her boys never got near the water, stayed completely clothed, never complaining - hats coats and all. I looked at Art - and we discussed what we’d just learned about keeping warm. Soon we pulled Eva from the water – clothed her in a dry shirt, pants and coat. She kicked, cried and rolled in protest of her new state. Eli’s dawned with a hooded coat (no pants due to water log). Soon we saw dexter and David equally dressed. The smart German mom put some sense back into these local mamas.