We are back from vacation! We spent an entire week in Port Aransas, and it was wonderful. I was a little nervous about my kids becoming totally sick of the beach/pool routine, but they really did well. We headed down there on the last Monday of August and spent three days there with Steven's parents. Steven said he couldn't even remember the last time he'd been to the beach with his folks. That's preposterous to me since I came from a beach family--we sought a body of water every summer, and I grew up on the coast. 
We were one of maybe 3 families total at the condo complex early that week, so we basically had the place all to ourselves. It was so quiet compared to the noise level at the weekend. 
Both Matt & Will were elated to be at the beach and with the sights and feel of the sand and ocean. Will's favorite activity was running into the water (only to about knee deep) and then running back out. And then again and again. He loved digging in the sand, too, and was not bothered when every inch of him was covered in it.
Matt wasn't too involved in any sand castle construction or hole digging although he did participate some. His sand play involved him drawing roads with speed limit signs, road work signs, and highway signs. Steven drew the entire United States out for him, and Matt did his best to draw in the states. That kept him occupied for a long time.
Let's not forget the snacks. A lot of time was spent rifling through my bag in search of the right snack. My children are grazers.
Matt loved the water as well. He liked jumping the waves with either Steven or I. But what is most incredible is his progression in the pool from Monday to Sunday. Matt is not a swimmer. He's got some fears. On Monday he was clinging to us and would only let go when he was in an area where he could stand. He would not jump from the side either. As the week went on he got braver and braver. I don't know if it was because he had an audience; first his grandparents were there and then later all his little buddies showed up swimming like fish. He started putting his head under and actually swimming to us. Then he went out into deeper water where he couldn't stand and swam to us. Steven helped push him to the bottom of the deep end, and he was so proud to tell me he touched at 8 ft. And then he started jumping in from the side of the pool. I'm telling you it was the most amazing transformation. I'm so proud of him. He was really loving it, too.
It was so wonderful to get to experience it all with Ken & Joyce there with us too. We thoroughly enjoyed their company and are so happy they made the trip with us. They got to witness our children's behavior (or lack thereof!) up close and personal for a few days and still gave our kids big hugs and love when they left. :) Will is terribly 2 even though he's only 1.5, but I'll save that for another post.
Thursday morning we said goodbye to Ken & Joyce, and went into Corpus Christi for lunch and grocery shopping to get ready for the next wave. That afternoon we greeted several of our friends. And that's when it wasn't quiet anymore. More next time!
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