Hey, Hey... Port A!

Back from the beach... for over nearly a week now and I'm just now getting around to blogging about our fantastic trip! Truth be told I was waiting for my photog sister-in-law to upload all of the pics, (which she did several days ago... so there goes that excuse!) because other than the randoms Justin and I had from our phones, she was our source... not that it is all that different from normal. We have come to count on Aunt Ree Ree but we have a feeling come September we are going to have to start fending for ourselves in the photo taking.... but I digress...

Port A...Hey, Hey! We were SO excited to go to the beach this year. And Kaki and I were excited to actually get to see the beach... last year we were still on our postpartum fog... but this year we were READY.FOR.SOME.FUN.IN.THE.SUN!

Or shade... but more on that later...

On our way to Port A we stopped in CC to see Albi and have dinner! Yep, that's right Kk and Albi are on the move again... this time to CC... oh my! It REALLY is hard to keep up... but nonetheless we are excited they will live "at the beach!" 

Albi was sweet enough to treat us to a Hibachi-style dinner... Caden and Kaki's first... we did have a few tears in the "WOAH the whole table is ON FIRE" department... but we survived, mostly unscathed! And the food was delish, as always! And I think it is safe to say that it made a lasting impression on Caden when he was "pretending to cook" for us Hibachi style at the beach house! Throwing forks and all! I think he has a bright future in Hibachi and according to our chef, you don't have to be Asian anymore... the future is ours!

So we got to the beach house just in time to help Nana and Bop unload so Nana and I could head to the store to stock up for the week! We needed to get ready because come the next morning we were OFF to the beach...

The next morning was glorious... it was cloudy and cool and the PERFECT weather for a morning at the beach when you have little kids. You don't have to worry (as much) about the sun and they stay comfortable and cool. And for our kids who go NON-STOP it was great, although I think Nana and Bop were still holding out for our typical Port A sunny days! 

Kaki and her Daddy had a great time on the beach... the only way we got her to stop crawling HEAD FIRST into the ocean, taking wave upon wave in the face (without caring one bit, I might add) was to feed her... of course! She's a Cox... she likes food!

This is just a side note, but am I the only mom who celebrates when her child learns to master the snack trap??... game.changer.

Out in the surf...

We did a lot of playing in the house each afternoon! Kaki couldn't handle being away from Penelope and her stroller for nearly a week so they came along for the ride! And lucky for Kaki, Nana had Baby Stella ready and waiting too! So Kaki had plenty of friends to tote around all week!

She was everywhere...with her purse on her arm... ALWAYS! Hehe!

On Wednesday (we got there late Tuesday), Aunt Ree Ree and Uncle Tag FINALLY showed up! :) We were so excited to see them! The fun could really begin for our kids... because their Aunt and Uncle LOVE playing!! 

Uncle Tag was a TROOPER and did just about EVERYTHING Caden wanted to do. And for anyone who knows Caden, knows that ALL things require energy and typically lots of it! And most likely it also involves a ball... or bat... oy!

They kicked, they threw, they batted, they tackled, they paddled... I mean it was ridiculous... but I'll let y'all in on a little secret... I think Uncle Tag likes playing ball just as much as Caden does! :) 

Oh and Daddy and Caden DID build a few pretty impressive sand castles... I mean look at that thing... masters level I tell you!

Oh yes... and there was Ladder ball...

Kaki was a fearless little beach girl! She didn't think twice about any of it. She had been to the beach before on our trip to AL earlier this year, but now she's a crawler and all over the place. It never crossed my mind that she'd be scared because she is a brave little girl, but I never thought she'd plunge head first into the ocean either! That girl!!

And that boy... NON STOP the entire time! 

And she's off...

On Thursday night we did our annual fam pics at the beach... this year's color scheme... navy and white... can you tell? It might be my favorite yet! 

Here is our best attempt at a fam pic... not too bad!

The grands with the littles...

Best all together fam pic... WHOO HOO! We got one!! That's all you need, Amen?!

Then we capitalized on our one "nice outfit" night and went out for dinner... yum!

Sweet Nana and Bop... always the gracious hosts!

Those two... cute!

And these two... new parents... double cute!

But in my humble opinion this next pic is the CUTEST!! My boy... my boy!!

No dinner on the island is complete without some cream to top it off... in a cone, of course!

The next day we had a Ranger game moment on the beach when the lightening struck and the thunder clapped and we all ran like little girls into our cars... some of us (not naming any names... katie) who left their child sitting helpless in the sand while she ran for the car! Nice! 

So we made some fun out of a rainy morning in town and did some "shopping" and "shark hunting"

And lighthouse touring... 

But the afternoon turned out to be glorious and sunny so the day ended just as it should...

With the Coxes and Agnews enjoying the fun in the sun on Texas' very own Redneck Riviera! :) 

Baylor fans, much?! 

Caden, was thrilled that Nana and Bop remembered their "Star Spangled Banner" flag... phew! That was a close one!

The rest of our days at the beach including more of ladder ballin...

And some bocce ballin...

And a little poolside lounging...

And wave surfing...

And CUTEST BOYS EVER posing...

And dude snacking...

And some Uncle Tag playing/loving/feeding...

And some attituding... :)

And last... some family bonding...

What a great week of fun in the sun... and some days clouds! A time where Caden played a record number of sports each day and where Kaki received a daily salt water sinus rinse. We played poker and LCR and lost money to Uncle Money Bags Tag. We made memories and cherished old ones. We laughed hard and only shed tears as we all said goodbye to another fun week in Port A!

As always, THANK YOU Nana and Bop for treating our family (and our GROWING one at that) to a fun-filled beach trip each year. Year 5! I can hardly believe it. We love you and appreciate all you do for us!

Happy Beachin'!!