Chasing birds on the beach

Here is my first installment of beach pictures (I can't do too many pictures in one entry because it gets a little frustrating manipulating them).

I'm starting here because it's still one of my favorite memories from this weekend's beach trip. I can't really explain why, maybe it's because AJ really thought that if he chased the seagull long enough he might actually catch it. Maybe it's because it's a perfect example of his persistence which is a trait I imagine carrying him through many rough patches in life. Whatever the reason I look back on this moment with a lot of fondness.

We had just gotten settled in on the beach on Saturday. Steve was at the water's edge with Kaeli, Paige and Ryan. I actually fooled myself into believing I might be able to sit and relax in a chair for a moment-until AJ spotted a seagull walking around nearby. AJ started walking toward the seagull while I watched in amusement. I was mostly intrigued that the bird didn't just fly away. Fortunately, the beach was mostly deserted so I was able to let AJ walk for quite a distance before having to follow him. I grabbed the camera before I decided to catch up to him. I believe he followed that bird's every move for a good 10-15 minutes. It really was fascinating. Toward the end I found myself becoming concerned that AJ might actually catch it so I assumed the bird was injured. Finally, the bird flew away. So, I can only assume the wind was so strong that the seagull was doing everything he could to stay grounded. I guess he finally decided this kid was NOT going to leave him alone and so he'd be better off just braving the wind.