New Years Eve

After we finished in Mexico it was such a warm, sunny day we decided that we needed to get back and go to the beach again. We had chairs and were set-up for the beach and it was so warm I promised the kids I would get in the water with them this time. That was not a good idea. By the time we went to the room and got ready to go the clouds/mist moved in from the ocean and covered the sun, dropping the temperature. I kept my word but I did not stay out in the water long.

I like to keep my shirt on for obvious reasons, but in this case I took my shirt off to get in the water because I wanted a warm, dry shirt to put back on when I got out of the water. This is of me out in the water with the kids. It was too cold for me so I did not do any body surfing with the kids.

The kids wanted to go swimming in the hotel pool, which is outdoors, and the day before Lori put her foot in the water to test the temperature and it was cold. The kids kept insisting that we try again and this time it was warm. We later found out that the heater had been broken and it was recently repaired. So, we moved from the beach and went swimming in the pool for a little while because that water was warm enough for both Lori and I to get in and swim with the kids. Flat Stanley enjoyed the swim with Jared.

After swimming we got cleaned-up and went to Pizza Hut for dinner.

Flat Stanley really enjoyed the bread sticks.

Lori bought some poppers to celebrate the New Year but we did not think it would be a good idea for us to use them in hotel. So, we drove out on the beach and did them using the car lights. Jared is helping Flat Stanley do one of the poppers.

Jared doing one of the poppers without the help of Flat Stanley.

Brett doing a popper.

Ryan, Brett, Jared and Lori doing poppers. Lori and Ryan are seen here sporting their new jackets from Mexico. I was wearing mine as well but you cannot see it because I am taking the picture. This activity filled the mini-van with sand so we had to go find a car wash with vacuums when we were done so we could get the sand out. A little reminder of why it is nice to get a hotel on the beach.

We gathered all the streamers from the poppers and took them back to the hotel with us. When the kids were babies we took pictures of them with the streamers and so it is now a family tradition to wear the streamers. Ryan, Brett and Jared wearing the streamers on the balcony of the hotel.

As is our typical New Years Eve, we did not stay-up until midnight. The kids watched a DVD on the TV while Lori and I packed the bags in preparation to check-out the following day. Then we all went to bed at a decent time so we would not be tired for our activities planned for the following day.

South Padre Island Beach

On December 30th we spent the day at the beach. It was nice because we could go straight from our hotel room to the beach. The downside was we did not have any chairs to sit it (Lori did go buy some later) and the place that rented them was not in operation. There were some sand bags by the hotel that were likely placed there to keep the beach from washing away during Hurricane Ike, so we set-up on those sand bags and the kids played.

Ryan thinking about how wet he really wants to get given the temperature of the water. It was like the water in California is all the time so it was a bit chilly even though the weather was warm.

It did not take long and Ryan was in the water despite the temerature. I had reservations but the kids did not mind the temperature.

Anderson's dog, Sandy, loved playing in the water. Sarah taking him out.

One of the favorite activities at the beach is digging in the sand. There was a sand hill that offered ample opportunity to do some digging. Jared, Brett and Ryan doing some digging and climbing.

Jared and Brett out doing some swimming.

Ryan decided the water might be a little cold for him so he stayed out and focused on the digging.

Digging in the sand cannot be done properly without throwing some sand.

Sarah, Ryan, Brett and Jared joining Ryan in some digging.

Trying a little body surfing.

Ryan oscillating between his digging and swimming activities.

Brett, Ryan and Jared out doing some body surfing.

Jared buried himself in the sand.

Brett and Sarah getting buried with Lynn's assistance.

Jared and Flat Stanley buried in the sand.

Flat Stanly liked playing at the beach and being buried in the sand even though he was not properly dressed for the occasion.

Jared, Brett and Sarah buried in the sand after all the work was complete. There was an attempt made to make themselves look short by building some feet out of sand.

Jared with his short legs and feet.

Short legged Brett and Sarah.

Jared and Ryan warming themselves in the sun after doing some body surfing. Brett claimed he never got cold.

Jared digging in the sand/mud.

Brett digging in the sand/mud. The boys love to get dirty!

Ryan playing on the sand hill in front of the hotel.

We spent the entire day at the beach and in the evening when it started to get cool/cold Lori and I had to coax the kids to come in and get showered. We had a great time. We were also reminded that even though it was not very hot, we need to re-apply sunscreen after lunch. I am not sure how to do that when the kids are coated in sand, but we will try and remeber that next time.

South Padre Island/Port Isabel

On January 1st, we had planned to go ride horses on the beach. Unfortunately, the weather had changed dramatically from the night before and it was extremely windy. They canceled all the rides that day due to the wind and blowing sand. We decided to check out the beach and see for ourselves how bad it was.

This is Jared running on the beach in the wind. The kids did not last long because it was tough to keep the sand out of their eyes. It did not take long before Ryan decided he was not interested in getting sand in his eyes.

This is me with the kids on the beach trying to keep the sand out of our eyes. You can see how rough the ocean was from the wind. The kids would have liked to try and boogie board on those waves, but it was too cold and windy to go in the water.

The horse ride on the beach was out, so we decided to go with Plan B. We went to the Lighthouse at Port Isabel. This is Lori and the kids at the top of the lighthouse.
This is looking out from the Port Isabel Lighthouse toward South Padre Island.

It was very windy at the top of the lighthouse where we could go out and look. The wind was so strong it took our breath away. In this picture Ryan is climbing down and the wind is blowing through the lighthouse. You can see his hair blowing.

Brett, Jared and Ryan, the Three Amigos, in the Port Isabel Lighthouse.

Brett, Ryan, Jared and Lori outside the Port Isabel Lighthouse.

Arr, matey. Having lunch at The Pirate's Landing restaurant.

Brett, the one eyed pirate, who doesn't do anything. He is scary!

South Padre Island Beach

I have been a slacker when it comes to my blog lately and I apologize for that. We have been very busy trying to get our house on the market in Illinois and finding a house in the Houston area. The good news is that we finally got our house on the market and we have a contract on a house in Houston. It will continue to be crazy, but I am going to make some attempts to get caught-up again.

This post is of pictures from our vacation over the Christmas Holidays to South Padre Island. On December 31st, we went to the beach. Keep in mind, these pictures were taken December 31st. What were you doing on that day?

Jared playing in the nice, warm sand.

Ryan allowing the sands of time fall through his fingers.

Ryan, Brett and Jared doing their best Bay Watch impression.

Brett has that David Hasselhoff "this is serious business guarding this beach" look.

Keeping in mind that this is December 31st, the water was not bathwater warm like we have grown accustomed to. It was more like the water always is in California. The water temperature did not bother the kids though, but Lori was not sure she wanted to get in after walking in the water.

Here Ryan is trying to talk Lori into going out with him to ride some waves.

Here Lori is talking Ryan into just going for a walk along the beach with her rather than going out.

Brett and Jared were anxious to get out in the water and did not hesitate. The water temperature was not an issue for them.

After unsuccessfully trying to get Lori to take him out in the water, Ryan came to me to take him out.

I went out on the water with Ryan, I am not afraid.

Brett was giving his little boogie board a work out and did not mind the cold.

Jared taking his boogie board for a ride.

This is me questioning if this is such a good idea as the kids splash and play.

Brett riding a wave.

As Ryan gets splashed he is feeling my concern.

Waving to mom who is sitting comfortably on the beach. Ryan is looking for that next wave that is a little cooler than he is accustomed to.

Jared in for a short break.

Brett continues to boogie board in the cold water.

Jared back out catching a wave.

Jared decided it was time to come back in and warm-up in his towel for a few minutes.

Brett was the die-hard surfer who never admitted to getting even a little bit cold, but he did eventually come in to warm-up for a few minutes.

Brett buried in the sand.

Jared and Ryan buried in the sand. We cannot make a trip to the beach without burying the kids in the sand.