South Padre

I love everything about the beach: the sun, sand, water, waves, and adventure.  Even the annoying sand, that never completely rinses off, makes me happy.  This year we stayed in Texas and drove to South Padre Island.  I talked my friend, Shanita, and her family into coming along with us.  Our boys are close in age and as Harrison says "we have a connection" so it makes hanging together a lot of fun.  My cousin, Cameron, was visiting and Shanita even had a matching cousin, Keenen, to bring along.  

South Padre Island

Schlitterbahn South Padre Island

 This place was a lot of fun, but not designed by a mother.  There are rides everywhere with starting and stop points that don't match up.  It was really challenging to keep up with allll of our kids. 

  It had to be an interesting change for Cameron because in his house he's the youngest with two older sisters and he came to us as the oldest of three younger boys.  He quickly stepped into the big brother role and the boys easily adapted to him as a big brother.

Me and my girly, Shanita.  

In the evenings we went out to dinner to fun restaurants.  

We definitely turned a head or two walking in with seven kids and all of them being boys!

Give seven boys any length of time and a competition of sorts with be born. 

 'Let's see who can run down the hill faster!'

And, like any good boy mom, Shanita had to join in the competition. 

 The inner-collegiate track and field athlete never dies!

Celebrating my halfway point in my pregnancy at the Port Isabel light house.

Our friend, Alissa, even drove down to spend a few days on the beach.  

Her boys added to the fun in the sand. 

Gavin really captured the surfer look with his tan, shark tooth necklace, and dark blonde hair.  What he didn't capture, however, was how to skim board.

The boogie bahn was a favorite for everybody.  Staying at the resort allowed us to bypass the long lines and have an hour after the park closed to ride this one over and over. 

Cameron didn't start the mud fight, but he certainly kicked it up a notch!

Cannon opted to not get covered in sandy mud and instead chased the birds. 

Keenen did the 'Heisman' to avoid the mud splatter from Gavin.

It's all fun and games 'til someone gets hurt.

Sometimes you just need a pep talk from a parent to help you shake it off and move on.  Especially when you're the one who started the mud fight.  

After dinner we would play board games and just hang out.  It's not too often that you find people who vacation well together.  We are lucky to have found just that.  We like to sleep in, veg out, eat good food, and come home relaxed.

I love how these boys get along. 

These two are too much!

Cannon took an instant liking to Keenen.  And, by liking, I mean he was constantly attacking, picking, or overall annoying him!  I laughed when Shanita told me Keenen said he actually missed Cannon a little bit on the car ride home.

Evan (9), Harrison (8), Gavin (6)

Cannon loved for Steve to take him in the ocean.  He rested his head like this and laid perfectly still holding tightly to his Daddy.  Cannon and Steve would wade through the waves getting about neck deep.  It almost seemed to lull him to sleep. I tried a couple of times to do this with Cannon and it just wasn't quite the same.  I don't think I provided the same comforting grip that his Daddy did. 

So long beach and summer.  We will see you next year with a plus one!