At the Beach

We took a rare family vacation together last month to the beach.  Having littles so close together is tough on the vacation schedule, so we were overdue.  A had been begging to go to the beach, just knowing she was missing out on some marvelous adventure.  We were happy to oblige, though I knew deep down she would not be as enamored once she actually got there.

We left on a Thursday in a light rain, drove through a tornado, camped out in a Dairy Queen with no electricity for an hour, avoided some flooded roads, and finally arrived at bedtime.  Our friends who were meeting us there had an even more grueling trip.

Friday morning, J took the girls down to the beach to explore while Z took his morning nap.  I wasn't there to witness the drama, but J was thoroughly convinced the girls got all my genes when it comes to the beach and none of his.  Later that morning, I walked down with Z and got to participate in the fun.  There was no convincing the girls to get anywhere near the water.  We both tried carrying them to the waves, only to be climbed like trees.  A said it was too dark, too loud, and she was scared she would be washed out to sea.  C was speechless and just followed her big sister's example.  We hung out on the playground that afternoon.

Saturday morning, we went back to the beach to watch some sea turtles that had been rehabilitated be released back into the ocean.  A asked me on the way if we would see Diego.  (I think my kids watch way too much tv.)  I told her there would be animal rescuers there, but I wasn't sure what they would look like.  Just so you know...

Then we went to the Texas State Aquarium and saw all types of sea creatures up close.  We especially went for the dolphins.

That's A trying to reach the dolphin.  The aquarium had a fantastic splash pad that was probably the highlight of our trip for the kids.  They've asked several times if we could go back to the beach, but that line of questioning always ends with a splash pad.

On Sunday, we braved another trip down to the waves.  After all, that's why we went!  We didn't ask the girls to go in the water and they never got wet.  But they had a much better time, building sand castles with dad, racing friends down the beach, flying a kite.  It was a much better experience to remember.

You can always pick our family out of a crowd at an outdoor event....we're the ones with the hats.

J got to see if he remembered how to boogie board.  I didn't get to watch much because I was trying to keep Z from eating sand and crawling into the ocean.  I'm so grateful to my friend for capturing all the photos of us!

Z was pretty much fearless about the water.  I couldn't keep him from going toward it.  Once the waves hit his fingers, he would slow down because it was so cold.  But I think he may have got the lion's share of beach genes.  Or he just doesn't know better yet.

Sunday night was our last night in town, so we went to the souvenir shop and bought some requisite shells (which definitely did not come from a Texas beach).  And we took the requisite campy tourist photos.  The shark was another highlight for my girls.

No, I'm not dropping Z.  But yes, he is a wiggly little guy.

Our weather was much better on the return trip and we were all so glad to be home again.  Vacations are wonderful to expose you to new things, see life through a different lens, and make you grateful for the familiar.