Our First Family Vacation!

In late September we took our little family on our first "family vacation" to South Padre Island. We rented a condo on the beach for 4 nights and got to spend some serious quality time together! Ava could not get enough of the waves, sand and sea shells. She put her sand castle molds to good use every day we were there. Elizabeth, at almost 3 months old, spent most of her beach time napping or protected in the shade wearing a sun hat.

Ava wore Adam and I out! She wore herself out too, taking almost 3 hour naps on a couple of days!
One TIRED girl waiting for her dinner at a brewery/restaurant we went to one night...

Miss Ava got 2-3 showers a day, between beach visits, trying to get the sand out of her hair and every crevice between her nose and toes!

We spent a little time at the pool as well, during the sunniest times, to be sure Elizabeth didn't get too much sun.

Adam whipped up his famous eggs, sausage and biscuit breakfast each morning we were there. Getting to eat on the condo patio with a view of the ocean was a treat!
Adam taught Ava how to feed the seagulls from the patio...

She laughed and laughed and didn't want to stop giving those crazy birds all the crackers in the package...
Miss Ava had NO fear of the waves and even when they would knock her underwater, she'd get right back up, sputtering, and attack them again. Adam had fun throwing her into the waves...she LOVED the splashing fun!

Ava got a kick out of chasing the seagulls...

Peek-a-boo, Elizabeth...what a sweet girl. She was so patient and good for the whole trip, including the plane ride there and back!

Ava and Mommy buried Daddy in the sand and made him look like a mermaid!

Ava had a great time stomping on the sand to break Adam free...

We had so much fun at the beach that we're planning to go back every year as a family to enjoy the beach and, more importantly, one another.