Live in the Sunshine...

"Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air's salubrity" -Ralph Waldo Emerson

I am an ocean lover and we don't spend nearly enough time there.  Nowhere does life calm itself quite the same way as it is does near the ocean.  Some of my favorite childhood memories are filled with sand and salt water.  I am hoping to recreate the same for my kids.  In the spirit of that, we surprised the kids with a day at the beach on Good Friday.

I cannot remember a time in 9 1/2 years that we have gone down to Galveston with just our family.  Every memory involves extended family and friends.  That made this trip all the more special.

Something we have never done before but will do again is take our bikes down and ride the sea wall.  SO FUN!  Even Rylee only complained just a little at the end.  She hates riding when we are camping because there are hills to go up (even though the down hill is a blast!).  The sea wall is flat and paved- easy enough for her!

Colton has decided the waves are called waterfalls.  Everytime waves came toward him, he would run back to shore screaming (happily) "the waterfalls are getting me".  IT.WAS.ADORABLE.

Over time I have learned there are a few things that MUST happen on a trip to the beach:

1. Sand in the eyes.   You must have sand in the eyes for atleast one beach goer.

2. Bury yourself in the sand.  You must cover 100% of some portion of your body in sand.

New favorite pic of this girl!

3.  Sand bucket "sand castle".  You must empty a bucket and have it successfully stand for a decent length of time and therefore declare it a "sandcastle".

I have the son that adores his dad and of course with 2 girls coming first, daddy thinks his son is golden, too. While laying down in the sand looking up at them, I caught one of  those moments.  I absolutely adore these two guys.

And watching them play soccer in the sand (yes, with a volleyball) was great.  And, catching a photo of them walking toward the ball in perfect step with each other, well, that was priceless.

I love these next pictures because one day soon my girls will not be behaving this way at the beach.  They will someday soon be lying on a beach towel in their bikinis tanning their skin and consider that a great time.  I did.  Until that time, I will revel in these wet sand covered little girls.

Daddy also got a hold of the camera and managed to catch a picture of me with each of the girls (I am RARELY in pictures!)

We finished off our beach day with showers at the State Park (thank you State Park Pass!), dinner at Joe's Crab Shack (mediocre food, fun by all), and dessert on the Strand at La Kings.

Oh my!  Ice cream at La Kings is a new must do for us when in Galveston.  Cute little ice cream and candy shop with DELICIOUS ice cream.  How we haven't tried this before I don't know!

Fun in a classic phone booth on the strand.  They were fascinated!

Our family had an amazing day, and we cannot wait to do it again!  It's getting me excited for 6 days in Destin this summer!!!