Life's a Beach, Galveston during week 30

We woke up one Saturday morning in a new place, after driving all night Friday.

We opened the window, and Aidan, you looked outside and said, "Beach!"

Your Mom helped you out a little. She said, "Ocean."

"Ocean," You said.

Then you thought...

"Fish," you said...

And finally, "Nemo?"

It was an amazing mental connection, and the perfect beginning to a great week filled with family fun, food (lots of food), fun in the sun, ice cream ice cream ice cream and crabs.

I think this our third annual Family Beach trip, which would totally make it YOUR third family beach trip too, Aidan!

And this time you had even more fun than the last two. You're old enough to wrestle with and chase your cousins (although, I recall you chasing your cousins last time too). Even though you got a little heat-strokey and vomity near the end of the trip (just a little), it was a great time. You got to watch movies with your cousins, play with them, hang out with your family and say hi to people you don't get to very often (Hi Taff! Hi Nanny! Hi Beau! Hi Ross! Hi Bekka! Hi Grace! Hi Holdy!).

You got to eat some new foods...You like cocktail shrimp! Who knew?

You got to literally be a kid in a candy store at the Strand's Historic "La King's Confectionary." You liked candy too...but we knew that already!

And you just had a blast every day of our vacation!

So did we! (okay...except for the little part where you got sick. you weren't enjoying that. and mommy didn't like being thrown up on twice. but we did enjoy the cuddles)

You got especially close to "Addson" and "Auma" (Addison and Autumn). It was really cute to watch the three of you bonding.

There are mazillions of pictures between mine, Mimi's and Pops' cameras. Here are a select million for you to enjoy.  

It was a week filled with screaming kids, running kids, sleeping kids, dolphins (we saw dolphins!), gumbo, sand and sun screen, grandparents and aunts and uncles.

It was idyllic!

Looking back on these photos makes me feel nostalgic already, and we've only been gone a week.

But you know me, I'm a sucker for the beach.

Julia, you made a big splash at your first trip to the beach too! Everyone was so excited to learn your beautiful name!

And they couldn't wait to feel your Mommy's tummy to get a chance at feeling you kick!

And, at 30 weeks, they definitely had a lot to feel!

While at the beach we hit the 2-month mark...that's right, Julia you will be here in less than 2 months! And we can't wait to meet you...and soon enough you'll wake up one morning in a strange place...first stop, earth. And later on, because we can't stay away, you'll arise to find yourself at the beach to have fun in the sun, sand and surf with your cousins, grandparents, aunts and uncles, Mommy and Daddy...and your big brother too!

Take Us Out to the Ball Game!

When your Pops turned 72 years old, this was our present to him (pay close attention to the requisite respect and reverence a son must give to his father at all times):

Unfortunately, Pops' birthday is February 15, and there is no baseball in February. So it was a voucher until baseball officially started.


And scheduling just wasn't working out for the Rangers, so a few weeks ago, you, me and Mimi took Pops out to the ball park to see the Frisco Roughriders play ball.


In the first through fourth innings we foraged for food and then ate said food. Except for you. Apparently we're raising you so healthily that you scoffed at ballpark chicken nuggets.

 Although, you did help yourself to many a french fry and ketchup.

By the top of the fourth, we were ready to find our seats, but decided to pose by the foul post first.

Then we found our seats at the bottom of the fourth. Roughriders had just struck out, so you were sad.

Okay, maybe you just didn't want to sit down. But your genius Mommy brought your favorite new toy: a spray bottle. This kept you interested for a long time. And worked well to keep us cool. You sprayed Mommy's hands...

Fed yourself some water...

And fed me some water too!

 

The rest of the game was a lot of fun too.

Pops took some great pictures of you.

And you and I took some pictures of them!

We sang "Take me out to the ballgame" in the 7th inning stretch. After it was over, you said "AGAIN!"

We followed instructions and rooted, root-rooted for the Home team.

Pops even taught you to yell "CHARGE!"

"CHARGE!!!!!"

In the end, the Roughriders won, we saw some fireworks, got free hats, Pops got hit in the shoulder by a foul ball and no one was in a foul mood!

We didn't buy you peanuts or cracker jacks, but we do know that we'll go back soon to the Old! Ball! Game!