Padre Island 2011

The boys were stoked to go on our beach trip this year! As soon as we woke up on Friday, they were ready to go. We hit the road around 10:30 am so we could stop for lunch in San Antonio at one of our favorite places, The Alamo Café.

We arrived in Corpus Christi around 3 and on the island about 3:30. As soon as we checked in, we ran up to our room and changed into our swim suits. While I was helping Luke get his suit on, Tyler decided it was too cold in the hotel room and tampered with the AC unit. He turned the heat all the way up! I did not notice until I smelled something burning which caused the fire alarm to go off. I was certain we would get kicked out of the hotel because they have a strict policy against smoking and burning the hotel down. Thankfully, Geoff was able to turn the alarm off. As soon as that fiasco was over with, we headed to the beach. It was calling us. Another funny story from our beach trip was when the boys were having a snack on the beach and the seagulls swarmed us, trying to get a taste of it. Tyler freaked out and it became a scene out of Hitchcock's The Birds. I couldn't help but laugh, it was so ridiculous.

Once we got to the beach, Tyler ran for the surf and Luke for the sand. It’s funny how they are such polar opposites. Tyler loved having the waves crash on him and was Mr. Adventure. Luke befriended a little boy, but refused to share his sand toys with him. He found some seaweed and enjoyed running around with it in his hands, yucky little boy he is. After 2 hours at the beach, the boys were ready for the pool; then Dairy Queen blizzards and bedtime. Our next day at the beach was just as fun; we got there around 7:45 am and enjoyed the coolness that early morning had to offer. The boys were so wiped out on our way home that they slept nearly the entire way.

There’s something so calming and powerful about the ocean -- the waves crashing on the shore, the sea breeze on your face and sand caressing your feet – it’s incredibly therapeutic. I’m hoping next year our destination will be to the beautiful white sand beaches of Florida. It was just the break I needed from my studies. To watch the boys embrace it brought a huge smile to my face. This is just another one of life’s moments that I live for.