Did you know South Bend was in California?

We went to the beach yesterday. It was absolutely beautiful. Sunny, not too hot, a little breezy. A perfect West Coast day. Except it was up in Michigan. Off Lake Michigan. Now I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't think "Michigan" when I think "beach", but there we were, in St. Joseph, Michigan (correct me if I'm wrong, SB Ladies, but it was Michigan, right?) playing on the beach.
The water was a little chilly for my tastes, and Olivia had warned me all morning that she was not getting in the water. All those crocodiles, fish, and sharks had her really worried. However, it seems she forgot her fears once we got there, and she was doing her very best to bodysurf those Lake Michigan waves.
Now, everyone from Toledo--I want you to specifically notice that there are no signs that say "The State has determined the levels of bacteria in this water are too high for safety." I didn't really have any worries that my children were going to emerge from the water with a couple extra toes or an ear growing out the back of their head.
And the beach sand went for quite a ways out into the water. It wasn't thick, gooey Great Lakes mud a couple feet in. It was a lovely, lovely beach.
This little fella is Luke Brady (isn't he cute?). I've taken and posted the picture of him in a pink dress for future blackmail purposes. Not every little guy can pull pink ruffles off like he can.

So, all you Toledo-ites and Indianapolis-ites and Utah-ites and Alaska-ites--come visit. We'll see the beach. (The invitation is also extended to the Californians, Hawaiians, and Marylanders, but I don't know if it's as tempting for them.)