Port Aransas: Feeding the birds

Port Aransas: Easton

Again, Easton wasn't a huge fan of the water and the waves, but he loved playing in the sand!

He kept making his way back to this little hole that someone had dug out, just perfect for him!

Trying to ease him into the water, I brought his toys closer to the water on the second day and let the water get our toes as we played.  Sometimes he would jump and run away when the water came, and other times he would yell, "No get us water!"  I love spending one on one time with him and cherishing the sweet conversations with this precious 2 year old.

Luckily Easton is not shy about still needing a solid nap everyday!  He doesn't get fussy, just extremely tired and calm.  It doesn't take much for him to fall right to sleep.

Port Aransas 2012

We try to make it up to the beach in Port Aransas at least once a year since its so close!  After our experience last year, I was hopeful that my kids were going to love the beach this year.  I was hopeful but also realistic and prepared for either way.  I think I was probably holding my breath as I watched Ella walk out onto the beach, just waiting for her reaction.

Awww...what a relief to watch her run and splash in the water!  She loved it and this picture makes me so happy!!  :)

And how appropriate that she even had a shark tattoo from her haircut the day before at Sharkey's! :)

She only had 2 complaints about the beach year...the seaweed and the smell!   Luckily she was able to get past that and still have fun, but I look forward to our family vacations this year where she will get to experience a beaches outside of Texas! 

Memorial Day at the Pool!

After a fun weekend at the lake, we came home and were able to spend the entire day in our backyard with our family enjoying the pool!!

 We even had a handsome server (in a pink towel) passing out strawberry daiquiris all day!

And virgin daiquiris for the kids of course!

Memorial Day Weekend: All of Us!

I love this one of the 4 kids.

And all eight of us!

Thank you for another perfect weekend at the lake!

Memorial Day Weekend: Just Ella

This picture makes me laugh...

She has had a band of solid ringlets at the base of her hairline...I love when they peek through her ponytail.

I can never ever take enough pictures of her swimsuit hiney.

We all love early mornings on the porch.

I love these natural shots I got of Ella.

But after trying to adjust the exposure and re-create the "natural smile", this is what she came back at me with; a smile with all her might!

Memorial Day Weekend: Fishing

Ella really enjoyed fishing during this trip to the lake!  It brought back memories of fishing with my dad when I was her age with our little tiny fishing pole.  

When I first looked at this picture above, I wondered, why is my nice camera sitting on the ground, right next to the fish with dripping water all around it??  Then I remembered, when Ella caught her first fish, her gut reaction was to throw the entire fishing pole back into the lake!!  I guess I had to quickly free my hands to grab it!!  Funny memory!

Such a cute little fish, and everyone gathered to see it.   

Ella didn't want to touch it, but Addie was not shy!