Beach Week

Grammy and Grumpy Shepherd booked a week in a condo on Galveston for all the grandsons to get together and play on the beach and we had been looking forward to it for months.  After a long day of packing (is it time to go yet??), driving (are we there yet??), unloading (can we go to the beach yet??), and unpacking (can we PUH-LEASE go to the beach now??), we finally made it to West Beach on the island and let the boys get wet.  I don't think they could ever tire of sand and water!

It was fun watching Reid enjoy his first trip to the coast!  I don't think he was a fan of the sand at first but he sure came around.

 

Each morning started out the same - breakfast, sunscreen, and BEACH!

Alex loves "quicksand" beaches.

The boys loved gathering feathered friends at lunchtime.

More, please!

We happened upon this terrific hole one day and Ben loved building on it and playing in it most of the day.

Back in the condo, there was a lot of playtime and plenty of books to go around.

Matt brought some fishing gear and Ben loved reeling in a catch by himself.

Not quite big enough to eat, but sure fun to catch!

Big hats were the fashion all week!

Alex loved this kite and walked it around like a little pet.

Two mornings we did get talked into the resort's mini golf course before we hit the sand.  It was the first time the kids had really played and they loved it.  Ben played a few serious holes and actually did quite well.

Alex, on the other hand, considered it a race and declared himself the winner both days because he finished the fastest.  Maybe because of his huge backswing?

These crazy boys went to bed late each night and were still the first ones up every morning.  Thank goodness for cartoons to keep them busy while the rest of the world came around.

One day the entertainment was a big car track around the tent, complete with a tunnel.

Good thing there was so much entertainment in the sand because mid-week the beach was swarming with jellyfish.  Stacey and I were quite entertained with catching them and collecting them in a bucket for disposal.  I'm sure it made no difference in the overall population, but it made us feel better that the water near our kids wasn't teeming with stingers.  Most of us got little stings eventually, but nothing terrible and it didn't put a damper on our trip.

I love seeing these guys together!  They all left several shades darker than they arrived.

Another big hole that was supposed to turn into a swimming pool, but I misjudged the tide and it was more of a muddy swamp.  Didn't stop anyone from playing, though.

Cousins!

Ben and Grumpy made several sand creations, including this octopus.

I wish (as usual) that I'd taken more pictures of everyone and gotten at least one group shot.  It was a great week together as a family and fun for big and small alike.  Thanks, Grammy and Grumpy, for making it happen!