Port Aransas 2016

Port Aransas! How I love you, you weird little place, you. This weekend we went to Port A with Brendon's mama and his brother AJ to celebrate AJ's FIFTEENTH birthday. I remember AJ in diapers, so it's a weird but cool thing seeing him as a (very tall!) young man. We had such a good time. Port Aransas is such a relaxing place. Every time we go I love it more.

And we were obviously super excited to take our little fish to see the ocean! I had a feeling Indiana would like it, as she looooves any sort of water, but goodness, she LOOOOVED the ocean. She was all about it. I thought maaaaybe the waves would scare her, but NOPE. We sat her on the edge to test it out and she was happy as a clam, so we figured we'd try farther out. We jumped in the waves with that baby out in the ocean! She was in heaven. Smiling and laughing and doing those happy screams. I guess when you nickname your unborn child the Seahorse... Destined to love the water.

So here are the pictures! Of course there's a ton.

I love this picture of these two. Too cool for school. We got Indiana some rec spec style sunglasses so she couldn't pull them off and eat them. They were definitely not the most flattering things in the world, but they worked really well! And she looked hilarious.

The view from our condo balcony! Casa Condominiums is our favorite place to stay in Port A, and we've stayed at a lot of different condos. This was our second time there and seriously, I don't think we'll stay anywhere else! It is SO close to the beach, the shortest walk of any condo I've stayed in. The rooms are great (huge kitchens), all of them have a good view, and the whole place isn't that big so no matter which room you're in, you're close to the beach. Some condos, I swear, you spend most of your time walking through the resort to get to the other side! Anyway, that's my schpeal. Best place in Port A.

The sleepy head birthday boy and Indiana, also a sleepy head. AJ is the sweetest fifteen year old I know. He was so good with Indy! It was awesome getting a whole weekend with Deb and AJ. We live far enough away from family that we don't get to see them regularly, so this was a treat! I loved seeing Indiana with them.

Okay here comes the onslaught on Indy at the beach photos. And omg, please forgive the dang confederate flag in the background. I was not paying attention when I was taking photos and did not realize that silliness would show up. Our beach neighbors were... special. We are obviously NOT about that, at all.

LOL THOSE SHADES!

There was a pretty spectacular storm brewing over the ocean. We got to hear the thunder and watch the lightening, but it was sunny over us!

Hollaaa at my running "tan"! Palest folks on the beach award goes to me and Indy.

Birthday boyyyy! Indiana's like, yo, can I get some of that cake?

Two goooood looking dudes! They look so much alike here! We've been talking about how strong the bones are in Deb's family. Her baby photos look just like Indiana! I'm forever grateful that that baby has my eyes, because dang, she's all daddy.

And of course, the shark mouth photo. Indiana's first!

What a fun weekend! I am a mountain lover at heart, but man, I do love the beach. And traveling with family is aaaaawesome because, more hands to help! Brendon and I even had a "date night" on Friday! We had a blast with Deb and AJ and are already looking forward to next year's birthday trip. What an awesome birthday tradition, lucky kid. ;)

And Indiana was so good. This was her longest car ride (4.5 hours, without pit stops) so we were a little wary. But she was great on the drive down, although... she did had the most massive blow out we've ever experienced half way to the beach! I mean, it was crazy. All the way up to her armpits. She got stripped down in a gas station parking lot, people were laughing. Other than that though, smooth sailing! We left a later than we should have Sunday so she was a little fussy on the home, but really, she did so dang good. She's the best baby to travel with. She's just so happy and loooves exploring and looking at stuff. That being said, traveling with a baby, no matter how easy going, is exhausting. There's just a lot involved. So much STUFF. It's always good to be home and back in your routines again. We've spent the last two weekends out of town, and I'm ready to not go anywhere for a while!

Thanks Port Aransas for a great trip! We love you and will see you soon! Here are our past trips, if you care to walk down memory lane and watch AJ shrink.

California 2015 - the last day!

Oh man, I have drug this out haven't I? Sorry/deal with it. :)

Our last day in Cali we flew out during the evening, so we had some day time to play with. We hadn't actually SWAM in the ocean yet, so this was our goal. And it was the perfect day to do so! The sun was out and it was nice and warm! We played in the water for a while and then Brendon got bit by something? I don't know, he stepped on something that he swore bit him and he hauled ass out of the water. It was hilarious. He did have a little cut on the bottom of his foot, so something did in fact get him. Whether or not that something was alive or not is debatable. He got back in later with my dad to attempt body surfing. I don't know how successful they were, but it looked like they were having fun! Lynne and I just laid on the beach and soaked in the sun. With SPF 100000 on of course.

Those stairs!!! Dang, workout central.

This photo reminds me of this photo I painted in college:

Daaaang, throwback! I think I took this photo in 2008 and painted it in 2009. Bet y'all forgot I went to school for all that jazz, huh?

Baby bump, out in full force and as vampiric as ever.

This was a really good trip you guys. Extra relaxing and extra fun. We are so grateful to have gotten to go! Big thank you to my dad and Lynne for spoiling us rotten (seriously) and for my step-gma for letting us stay at her timeshare. And to Brendon for taking time off work to come play in the sun with me. It was a much needed trip and escape from the day to day humdrum. Plus it was a blast and I don't think I've gone on a vacation with my dad and step-mom since... that photo up there I painted! It was pretty wonderful.

I am still ever so in love with California. I don't know if it tops the mountains (it doesn't), but it's up there on my favorite places to be. One day I'd love to see northern California. San Francisco! Or Monterrey! I have a feeling I'd adore it, cooler temperatures are my best friend.

That wraps up our bout of traveling for a bit. Well, I guess the wedding we went to in Houston this past weekend was the end. We have another trip planned at the beginning of December, but until then I think most of the craziness stays near home. Which is okay with me! Although the itch to travel is never far away. Maybe we can squeeze a few more getaways in before the Seahorse arrives. ;)

California 2015 - part 2

PHEW, it has been a busy couple weeks! Actually, a busy month. Busy life? 

Do you think if you spend a lot of time in the car while pregnant, your baby will come out enjoying car rides? Because good lord. I have spent what feels like DAYS driving lately. The Seahorse will prob come out with her license. We drove all over super Southern California while we were there, then Wednesday we flew home into Dallas and then had to drive home from there (at midnight, Brendon drove though to be fair), Friday I drove to New Braunfels and back to take care of my momma while she had surgery (everything is A-okay!), Saturday we drove to Houston for a wedding, and Sunday we drove home. Monday I did not leave the house. But today (and tomorrow) I drove to Austin for work. So much car time. I need an oil change. The thing about Temple is it's about two hours from everywhere. Smack dab in the middle of the state. Which is good, but also terrible. Life! Too crazy! And there's no end in sight! If there could just be a weekend where we shut ourselves in and do absolutely nothing, that'd be great. Just kidding, we'd go nuts. I love being busy. But also, dang.

So, Cali part 2! So I think where we left off it was rainy and such. Well, after a rainy day of beach town hopping, we decided to visit a beach near us! This is Del Mar Beach, I think. Literally walking distance from the beach near our condo.

These boys!!! Trouble I tell you.

I MEAN WHAT? California beaches are STUPID scenic. And this mess is just like right off the 101. It's insane.

Blue sky! Peeking out! It actually got decently sunny and we all shed our layers and soaked in some vitamin D. And see that second little ridge area way down there? Those are the insane stairs we take to get to the beach by our condo.

SUNSHINE! There was this super neat little cave room thing that I guess the tide had carved out. You could walk in it! I only went in for a second because I was certain there were giant sand crabs waiting to get me. Or you know, a hobo. People had scratched their names and stuff all over the place. And of course, Brendon did too.

Eventually the rain threatened to return, so we skidaddled. But it was a very relaxing little visit to the beach. There were A BAZILLION dogs there playing. There were these two boxers that would barrel into the ocean for a frisbee over and over and over. I think they'd do it until they died if the dude kept throwing it. And there was an adorable little shepard mix puppy that was seriously the most well behaved puppy (or dog?) I've ever seen. We all wanted to steal him. And a bunch of other doggies! Just playing and loving life on the beach. Could you ask for more?

I mean. Really. Look at that. It's just not fair, California! I guess that's why you're so expensive.

More to come! Sooner rather than later hopefully. The San Diego Zoo, in the rain! And... DISNEYLAND!

California 2015 - part 1

CALIFORNIA YOU GUYS! Oh my gosh. It's a weird weird place, but I love it. I have this picturesque idea in my head of what it would be like to live there, and I'm sure it's far from the actuality (how do you afford it??), but every time we go I just sigh and think... gosh, what if? Obviously, never gonna happen. But, it's a pretty picture.

Anyway, so we went to California! We left early Saturday morning to meet my daddio and step-momma who were flying in from San Antonio. We flew in from Dallas, because duh Temple has no major airport, and Dallas is just a little farther than Austin and waaaaay cheaper to fly out of. But let me tell you, I love the Austin airport. I do not love the Dallas airport. Even if it's called cheaper and called "Love Field". Once upon a time when we lived up there for undergrad I adored that little airport, but you guys, it's not little any more! It looks completely different and it's a mess. Security was too much of a lengthy party for my taste and getting our luggage when we came back took for-ev-errrr. Also, just any airport after the Austin airport seems lame. It's just the best and there's no changing my mind.

Back to the trip! Parentals were met up with and off we went! We flew in to San Diego, but we were staying in a little beach town about half an hour northward called Solana Beach. The coast of Southern California is just an endless string of beach towns. It's amazing. My step-grandma lives in Cali and had a week of a timeshare that she graciously offered to us Brooks/Hogans to use. It was so so so great. When we first got there it was a little warm, and my dad asked, "Where's the AC?" And my step-gma said, "Outside." And he was like, whaaat? But really, no AC. You just open them windows! I panicked at first (I am a fullblooded Texan and lover of AC), but it was okay! Especially because the day after we got there a big ol' cool front/storm system blew in. So the nights were filled with cool sea air and I was a happy camper. Plus my allergies all but disappeared, it was a miracle.

Lets talk for a minute about the beaches in SoCal, because they are something else. Endless for one thing, but also the water is crystal clear (where we were anyway), stupid-pretty cliffs everywhere, and the waves are just a whole different breed from what we get in Texas. The beaches are real scenic to say the least.

Those stairs. PHEW, they were killer. We stayed just a short walk from the beach, but part of the walk was those crazy stairs! Heck of a workout.

Clearly, the day we got there the weather was great. Sunny and warm and perfect for the beach. But that night, in blew the rain! And the cool weather! We woke up and it was like a whole different season. I wasn't mad though, I adore cool weather (helloooo it's October!) and Cali needs that rain so bad! And we still did everything we wanted to. Just, soggier.

The next day, in the intermittent rain, we explored beach towns! We drove up the 101 and stopped and checked out beaches every now and then. I think this first town is Carlsbad. It was cute!

My dad and his infamous move of sneaking up behind you and grabbing your leg. Bad news is Brendon started picking it up too.

I think maybe this is Oceanside? We accidentally parked right next to the Top Gun house:

It's definitely seen better days and there are some truly terrible murals on the side of it.

By the end of all our exploring, we were pretty dang soggy. But the good news is that even if it rained, it never lasted long. The sun would make an appearance every now and then.

On our way back we stopped at a little food and wine festival in Del Mar, which was just next to Solana Beach. All these towns just run together. Del Mar is real fancy though. The tickets to said festival were pretty outrageous, so we just walked around and checked everything out, sans tasting. And then we headed back to the condo? hotel? timeshare? and chilled for a bit/dried off before we tackled... MORE BEACH!

But that's it for today. I'm breaking it all up into not so logical parts, so your eyes don't explode from beach overload. :)