Port Aransas, Texas

We have lived in Texas for almost 5 years and had not made it to the beach. I think that I was in the right frame of mind when planning this trip. I certainly could not expect Hilton Head from all that I had heard and there is a nickname for this beach. I hear they call it the Redneck Riviera. How about being on a beach where all you see is Texas or UT tents and flags?? With all that said, I can say that we just had the best little family vacation and will certainly go back! So this is how it went:

There is a small channel that you have to cross to get onto the island. You drive your car right up on the ferry and they take you across. Tom and I wondered if they have heard of building bridges but the experience was pretty cool so let them keep the ferries.

The water was much clearer out farther where the ocean gets deep. In closer was more brown but the waves were better than what I had thought. The beach was not the cleanest but it had sand and waves, beach, sand. That is about all that we need to have a great day.

We stayed in a condo that was right on the beach. That was so nice for us to have a short walk and be able to go back and cool off with a nice lunch. The sand dunes were very big and we would have to get over them. You can actually drive right on the beach here. One night we drove to dinner on the beach. That is a different thing for us but also had the cool factor.

We did not spend much time at the pool. The water was very very warm! We just loved spending the time out at the beach. The sun is more intense than Hilton Head and we all got a little too much. I have to remember that next time. We are very close to Mexico making it very hot.

The entire island is more of a tourist place with tons of gift shops, restaurants, etc. The kids LOVED the gift shops. I don't think that they have experienced all the tacky tourist shops. The 99cent shark necklaces were a hit. As well as all the shells and creatures made out of shells. Larson basically wanted everything that he saw. Tom and I just let them go in one after another.

Being so close to the beach made it easy to to and take a walk at night. We had the supplies for smores but were not prepared with the fire supplies. You could have made your own fire right on the beach. Pretty much anything goes on this beach. We ended up making smores back at the condo at night time.

We had fun at the restaurants for dinner. This was Moby Dicks. A fun kind of pirate themed seafood restaurant. This was a really hot hot night.

We took this vacation to help celebrate Toms birthday. We seriously had the best family time. It was something so different from what we were use to but we totally loved it.

Good Morning Pat Pat

So snuggly in the morning.

I miss you Pat Pat!

Larson's First Sleepover

Another one of those Heavens Opening moments for Larson. He got an invitation to spend the night with Zane. I know it does not sound right for a 5 year old to be spending the night with a friend but Larson is way beyond his years. He was just so happy and loved his sleepover!

I need to say that Jackson has to go down as one of the best big brothers ever. Zane and Jackson are both in 4th grade and have been friends for many years. Both Jackson and Zane have always included Larson in everything they do for about the last 2 years. It is just really impressive that both boys are compassionate enough to let him be the 3rd musketeer!

Larson desperately still wants his hair cut like Zanes. I just try to put it off and not think about it. I am not sure if I should let him or not??

Oh What Do We Do in the Summertime?

OK so I am spoiled but I dont like looking at it that way. The way I see it is its just the only way I have ever known it. I dont think that makes it sound any better but I am just accustomed to spending all of our summer days at the beach. The last two weeks in Austin have been a little trying for the kids and myself. A little bit of the we dont know what to do. Then I look at our pictures and realize that we have done some things.

While the neighbors are away: The Roberts play

We totally had an invite from the Pratts to swim in their pool while they were out of town. That was really fun for us to just go out our back gate and have a nice swim. The only problem is now the boys keep asking to go and I will not take advantage of that.

While Jordan was at camp, we took the boys and Zane to a little water playground. Fun was had but I learned a lesson that day. The big boys are way way too big for this. They were just too big to be running around with a ton of little kids there. I will not be taking them back to that.

This was our first time to actually swim at the Barton Springs. We all drove down to Zilker and would just play it by ear. I decided not to take Logan in because the water is a very refreshing temp of 68 year round. I just didnt think that he would appreciate it. Apparently Jordan didnt either. However that had allot to do with the fact that Jordan and a friend stayed up the entire night before and I did not know about it. She just could not function very well. Larson did the best he could but it ended up that Tom and Jackson had a blast.

They found the diving board and had fun displaying their non diving talents. It was really fun watching the "diving board show". One guy did a complete belly flop and you heard the oooooohhhhhh from everyone watching.

Tom thought that his 1 1/2 twist dive won overall. I told him that he looked like superman trying to take off and fly.

Logan and I hung out at the playground and he loved chasing all the pigeons. It was really hot!!!!

We made a stop at Sno Beach and each got the worlds best snowcone ever.

It seems like we have been spending allot of time at Zilker. This was Jordan's youth group night and they met at the Hillside theatre to see the Music Man.

I guess my expectations were of just a little play on a little outdoor stage. I was wrong. This was a full on production and I loved it. Such a cool thing that happens every summer in Austin and after 5 years I finally figure it out. I was in the Music Man in High School and it was cool to see it again. The costumes and set was really good. I loved being outside and downtown.

Jordan really enjoyed it and thanks to Tom for staying home with the boys!

#2 & #4

We are just reliving Jackson over again everyday

Makes Me Laugh Everytime

Bumper Cars always brings a smile to my face. It is so funny to watch the kids attempt their driving skills. Jordan will get so mad when she gets stuck but then is so happy the next moment that she is cruising along. Jackson laughs the entire time. Larson just wishes that he could be the driver.