South Padre Island

We just got back from South Padre Island! It was a really great trip with the Garrisons! We left Tuesday afternoon. It has been so long since I have been to SPI. We have gone to Port Aransas several times, but this was our first time to SPI as a family. SPI is about a 5 hour drive compared to the Port Aransas 3 hour drive. That is a big difference with 3 little ones. I knew we would probably stop about half way to give everyone a break from being in the car and feed Elynn. Lisa and Rob recommended a little hole in the wall restaurant in Kingsville called "The Kings Inn". It ended up being about a half way point for us, so we drove down this country county road 10 miles to find it. They serve seafood by the pound and you get tomatoes and their famous sauce with every meal. We ordered fried trout, which came with fries and the tomatoes, and an avocado salad for the all of us. It feed us all and there was not a crumb left on the plate. It was delicious. After everyone loaded back up, we got on the road and arrived at the condo around 8-830.

Wednesday morning we woke up and Ezra was ready to get on the beach. We ended up out and on the beach by 830! I am pretty sure, we were out on the beach until lunch time. It worked out great. By the time we were ready to eat lunch, we walked back to the condo pool area and ate our sandwiches by the pool and swam some more at the pool. After we were done swimming, we headed back up to the condo to bathe and rest. Rob and Brent decided they wanted to go fishing at the bay that evening. Rob, Brent and Ezra headed to the bay to fish while Lisa, her girls, her mom and dad and me and my girls went to dinner. After we ate dinner, we met the boys at the bay just in time to catch the sunset. It was so pretty.

Ready for the Beach

LOVE that belly!

Feeding the seagulls our left over french fries. (um..ezra and brent EXACT same throw except different arms)

Had a blast feeding the birds

Thursday morning was no different. Ezra was up and wanting to be at the beach right away. This time though, Rob, Brent and George (lisa's dad) had gotten up early to meet a fishing guide to go fishing off a boat for the day. So, Lisa, her mom and I took turns rotating staying at the condo with the two little ones and being on the beach with the four older ones. Ella and Elynn came to the beach everyday but not for a long time. Elynn LOVED the beach. She would splash splash splash splash when the water would come up to her and then when it receded, she would just scoop up as much sand as she could get in those tiny little hands. She LOVED it! Emersyn, on the other hand, was NOT a fan of the water and waves. It was so sweet. She was scared of the waves and would hold on so tight to my arm when we were in the water. I really think she thought the waves were going to take us away. One time, Brent was sitting next to Elynn while the waves were coming up to her feet and Emersyn ran up to her crying and just grabbed her so tight, saying, "NO, Elynn. NO!" She thought the waves were going to take her. So cute.
So, that afternoon, we did the same thing. Ate lunch by the pool and then came in to rest a bit. This time, we prepared sides for the anticipated dinner of FISH that the guys were going to catch. It was probably the best meal we ate there. The guys had a great day of fishing and caught a good amount of fish! After dinner, we headed back down to the beach and had a great time! We threw out the cast net and caught some little fish for the kids to play with. We also went "shrimping". So, you know those little holes you see at the beach after the waves go back?? There are SHRIMP in those holes. Rob got a "shrimping" device that you stick in the hole, suck up the dirt, and then push the dirt back out. If you kinda look through the dirt, you will find this little white, soft shrimp with no shell. I don't think you can really do anything with them, but the kids LOVED catching them. That night we had a bucket full of fish and shrimp. Emersyn was in heaven! She LOVED picking up the fish and carrying them around. Who would have thought? HA! When I was taking a picture of her and the "baby fish" at one point, she looked at the fish and said, "Fish, look at mommy!" Ha! I loved it.

Emerysn "saving" Elynn

She loved the feel of the sand

Cutest thing EVER!

Awe, my beautiful girl and her momma fish.

This is when she said, "fish, look at mommy!"

Our princess and knight castle

Belle went with us everywhere!

Our castle decorated with seashells

Friday morning. Friday the guys had planned a special fishing trip for Ezra, Hailey and Sydney on a fishing boat out on the bay. They were going to be gone till noon. So, Lisa, her mom, Emersyn and I went to breakfast and did some Island shopping. It was a fun morning. We found a really great shop, that I could have bought several things at. Love when you find shops like that.
By the time we were done shopping, they were done fishing, so we picked them up and headed back to the condo for lunch. After lunch, of course, we headed to the beach. We stayed at the beach for most of the afternoon. That evening we headed to Pirates Landing to eat dinner. It was a fun place to take the kids and it was right on the water. After we got back, we tried to pack up as much as we could so that Saturday we could spend our last morning at the beach.

Ready for fishing

They caught 3 fish!

Ready for dinner

Captin Ezra Eilers

Sydney, Ezra, Emersyn, Ella and Hailey (Elynn was sleeping)

Saturday morning, Brent, Lisa and her mom took the kids to the beach for one last Hoorah!. I had to do my 6 mile run, so by the time I got back it was about that time to shower, pack and go.

We had such a GREAT time at the beach. We are so thankful for good friends to share it with. THANK YOU GARRISONS!!!