A week at the beach

We just got home from spending a week staying at a beach house in Galveston. My mom and dad treated the whole family to a great vacation to celebrate their 40th anniversary. I guess after 40 years you don't mind celebrating with chaos all around you! Mom and dad spent the first four years of their marriage in Galveston while dad was in medical school and they've always wanted to show us where it all began...let's just say they've come a long way! Ellery and Reagan had a great time playing with each other everyday until they were exhausted...we're still trying to catch up on rest. They got up around 6 every morning and would "call" for the other one to come play, it was pretty funny. Ellery would kiss on Reagan constantly, she loves her cousin. I'm pretty sure that he got tired of all her kisses...he would roll his eyes and pull away from her. I've attached a bunch of photos of everything we did...

Day 1

Ellery's first plane ride. She did great! She said Dada for the first time on the way there.

Reagan getting his diaper changed while standing in the front seat.

Ellery kissing on Reagan...he looks thrilled!

Let's go out to dinner!

Grandpa and Ellery during dinner at Gaido's.

Day 2

Ellery playing with her beach toys...inside.

Grandpa and Ellery ready for a walk on the beach.

Grandma and Ellery after a walk on the beach...too much fun!

Ellery's first day in the sand, she spent most of the time crying.

Ellery and Mommy at the beach.

Look at that little butt!

Ellery and Reagan playing in the sand.

What is this stuff???...Maybe we should taste it???

Ellery did better sitting next to Reagan.

Ellery's duck bath made the trip too!

Day 3

Arriving at Moody Gardens to go to the aquarium and rainforest pyramids.

I love this picture even though it's blurry, she was so excited to watch the seals.

Mom...did you see that?

Ellery watching the penguins.

Grandpa and Ellery checking out the birds like they do at Grandpa's house.

Ellery and Auntie Em.

Ellery at the rainforest.

Ellery the tree frog.

That was SO much FUN!

Second time in the sand, we took the ducky out to make it a little less traumatic.

More time in the sand.

We also took the binky out so that Ellery wouldn't eat the sand.


Day 4

On Wednesday we took a drive down to UTMB to check out where grandpa went to school and where grandma worked. Here they are in front of "Old Red". Grandma used to work in this buiding and grandpa had class there...A LONG time ago! Jason and my aunt and uncle arrived Wednesday night.

Day 5

All of us went on a DUCW (duck) tour. It was actually a lot of fun. Ellery had a great time and we learned a lot about the island. Reagan fell asleep shortly after this picture.

Ellery stood and watched like this for almost the entire hour...it was so funny. She had a great time and loved it!

Daddy and Ellery getting ready to go for a walk on the beach. Ellery thinks her sunglasses make a great chew toy. My cousin Ashlee and her boyfriend Nate arrived on Thursday night.

Day5

Ellery at dinner...back at Gaido's and having a great time.

She did so well out at dinner!

Ellery and mommy at dinner.

Daddy and Ellery at dinner.

All of us after dinner...Emily, Reagan, Matt, Grandpa, Ellery, Nate, Ashlee, Uncle Donny, Aunt Jamie, Grandma, Me and Jason. My cousin Jason arrived later that night.

Day 6

Ellery and Reagn being silly. They had spilled a bunch of goldfish crackers on the floor and were picking them up and eating them...yummy! I never thought I'd see the day where I would be ok with Ellery eating anything off the floor!

We love each other!!!

Ellery eating goldfish...off the floor! LOL

Give me a kiss!

Day 7

On Saturday night we went to dinner at the Kimball's house, Dr. Kimball and grandpa met at UTMB. The Kimballs still have a vacation home in Galveston and were nice enough to have all of us over for dinner. Ellery had fun swinging in their swing out on the deck.

Daddy and Ellery at the beach by the Kimballs house.

Mrs. Kimball bought a kiddie pool just for Reagan and Ellery.

My cousin Jason and Ellery, this picture cracks me up.

Jason, me and Ellery at the Kimballs.

Ellery at the beach...look at that tummy!

This is my favorite picture from the whole week...finally she was ok with the sand.

Almost crawling.

Ellery watching the waves.

Ellery covered in sand.

Ellery loved watching the waves from the stroller...she felt much safer!

Back at the Kimballs. She fell asleep before we even got back, it was 4 houses off the beach! She was so tired. The bad thing was that she fell asleep in her swimsuit, without a diaper! We had to hose off the stroller before heading home!

The next day we headed home. We had a great time, but it was good to come home. Thank you grandma and grandpa for a fun filled week at the beach!

Last Saturday, before we left, Jason went turkey hunting and shot a tom. He called him into his decoy. It was his first turkey, so he was pretty excited. Here are a few pictures. He weighed 22lbs and had a 9 1/2 inch beard.