Alexander Stuart

All photographs 2012 Alexander Chow-Stuart. We're in Monterey to celebrate our beautiful, magical son Hudson's eighth birthday. It is so astonishing to us that eight years have passed since he was born - and so wonderful for me to be back by the ocean, waking to the sound of the waves pounding the beach. I feel as if I've come home, perhaps because my father was born in a tiny Scottish fishing village, Rosehearty, near Aberdeen. Hudson flies his kite - before opening his gifts! It was also incredible playing in the (very cold) surf with Hudson and Paradise. Hudson enjoys bodyboarding - and Paradise enjoys being carried over the waves and scooped up as the biggest ones approach. A wonderful day, an important occasion for us as a family - and a perfect place to celebrate it. Many thanks to the extraordinarily kind folks at the Best Western Monterey Beach Resort , especially the manager, Hugh Hedin, and Genevieve, on the desk, who helped arrange a special b...