B-B-B-Bell Bell and the Reds a sandy adventure.

Four years people, it has been four years since my family has gone on a vacation that didn't include a trip to North Carolina. 

Not that I wouldn't love to see all my NC family friends, but it felt REALLY awesome to pick a place on the map and just go. Not because we had to be there, but because we wanted to be there. 

Our family on the beach. We stayed at a hotel right on the beach so that the tiny people could take naps as needed during the day without interrupting everyone's beach fun.

When my husband waltzed into our house Thursday after work he told me that he had a long weekend. It had not even dawned on me that Monday was Columbus day! YES! 'We're getting out of Austin', was my first thought, and my original plan was to get cheap Allegiant Air tickets to Las Vegas, but because of the music festival in Austin, and a holiday weekend the tickets were REALLY expensive. 

My purely Joyful child. Ryker loved the sand. 

So we decided to take a drive down to Galveston Beach. It was the first time my husband and kiddos had been, and the first time I have been back there since 2002. We really had a fantastic time, just the five of us. Kyle's mom and step-dad live about 45 minuets from Galveston, so they met us for dinner Saturday night. Our weekend was full of fantastic adventures in the sand, pool, pleasure pier, and a very fun trip to Moody Gardens. Mix all that goodness with a side of sea food and a lot of candy, it made out for a pretty good weekend!

The big brother. Fox just wanted in the water with 'the sharks'. 

I will forever be grateful to my Father in Heaven for the jobs that Kyle and I have, we are very fortunate to be able to provide in abundance.  I am also grateful to have such awesome kiddos. Fox and Ryker keep us laughing 24/7. They're probably not going to remember this last weekend, but I will, and those memories will be cherished for the rest of my life. Bellamy is just a lump (a very cute, precious, special lump... but a lump none the less), so we just adored her the whole time. Not bad for a spur-of-the-moment trip to the beach. 

My heart, soul, and purest joy. #mommyjoy

Their bond extends far before this life and into the great eternities.

My serious princess. 

Went for an hour long boat ride around Galveston. 

It was such and adventure, and I vow to do it a least twice a year!