Our Mini-Vacation: The Ocean

September 13-15 we decided to take an impromptu family trip.  We hadn't been anywhere on a vacation together all summer long and we needed an adventure!  Ever since we've lived here we've wanted to go to the beach but haven't had the chance.  It's only a few hours away.  Well...like 6.  I researched some places and we decided on Mustang Island State Park.  It was a little further than going to the Houston area but we thought it sounded perfect for us.  We were excited to be able to camp on the beach!

After leaving in the evening after school and work we ended up arriving pretty late and of course it was dark.  There were lots of warnings about a very high tide because of a tropical storm that was due to hit in the next couple days.  Since we had never been there before we were a little worried about finding a good spot where the water wouldn't reach us.  As we were scoping out the area we saw several trucks heading out with dripping wet tents and equipment in their beds.  Yikes!  We focused our search on higher ground.  We found a spot, Tory and the boys put up the tent, and to sleep we went.  It was so great hearing the waves crashing right outside our tent! We could hardly wait for morning!

Of course at first sign of daylight everyone was up and excited to see and feel the ocean!  This was the first time for everyone but me!  Tory had seen the ocean when he was really little but didn't remember it at all and had never swam in it.  So we thought we'd just check it out "real fast".  Yeah...we should have just put our swimsuits on then.  Who can resist warm ocean water splashing on you?  After we got our taste of the ocean we changed into our suits and set off to make the most of our day at the beach.  We only had one day so we had to make it count!  It was such a blast and we all had so much fun.  We only stopped for a few minutes to eat our picnic lunch and back we went.

First sight of the ocean!  Everyone was a little hesitant at first.

I'm pretty sure we were the first ones up that morning.  The lighting is deceiving in these pictures.  It was barely light out when we got in the water.

Getting a little wet!

 Austin and Coen

And...it's over.  We should have put on swimming suits first thing!

 Back to the tent to change.

 A quick breakfast of apples and muffins from home.

 Finally in the water!  It was so warm and the waves were nice and big!

Dallin diving into a wave!

 Tory and the two little people.

Building Sandcastles

We had beautiful weather.  There were big clouds and we even got a bit of a sprinkle with a beautiful rainbow afterward.  

Where did Dada go?  Can anyone find him?

Claire exploring the beach.

 Fun in the water.

 All the boys in the big waves.

Hold on to Beckham!!

Claire building a sandcastle.

The end of a perfect day at the beach.  We were all sad to have to leave but we knew we had made the most of it!  We were one sandy, sunburned, tired crew!