Padre 2012

As always the entire Cox family went to South Padre Island the week of July 4th. I heard it was somewhere in the neighborhood of the 32nd year at padre? I've been going for 28, I can't vouch for those early years :) I was however REALLY excited about this year. Our kids are at such a fun age and I just had high hopes it was going to be a great year. And it was....

 We started off Saturday morning with a donut shop stop. Nothing like a heap load of sugar to get a trip off on the right track :)

 And onto the plane we go....who's excited?!?!!

 EVERYBODY'S excited of course!!!

 Although this lil angel did catch a couple much needed zzzz's on the flight

In Harlingen and as is tradition, lunch was at Dairy Queen! 

Unfortunately the rest of the afternoon/ evening on saturday was pretty rainy & yucky. We did the "chores" for the trip, getting the rental cars, checking in, unpacking, going to the store, etc. we had dinner at Dirty Al's that first night and Ben & left early to get the kids in bed at a somewhat decent time after the big travel day. 

Side note: This is the 1st year that my family of 4 has been separated from my larger family in the condo situation. Mamaw very graciously got us our own 2 bedroom condo this year (On the same floor and next door to the other condos) and that was sooooo awesome!!! It was like magic how well the kids got to sleep and nap and for the most part stay on their schedules. Made the trip that much more awesome for Ben & I and we are very appreciative that Mamaw allowed us to do that this year. 

Bright & early Sunday morning & we are ready for the beach!!!!

 The first taste of the water...

 Hallie's a fan!

 A BIG fan!!! Our little fearless girl would run right into the waves thinking she was the biggest girl and we would have to rescue her from getting knocked down by waves. Each time though she would fight us from picking her up cause she thought she was big enough. So cute! And so opposite of how aiden was at this age....this was the age when aiden hated the water, hated the sand, was scared of it all and we spent very little time at the beach. Hallie was NONE of that. 

 Aiden loved playing in the sand for the 1st couple days while he got used to the idea of the water & the waves. 

 Man oh man I wish I could convince this kid that sunglasses really would help those sensitive baby blues. 

 Precious Hallie LOVES the water

 And the sand...

 And I LOVE her!!!! 

yayyyy Mid-day we got some company from aunt Kim, Uncle David & then mamaw. 

Kim & Hallie on the beach

 Aiden & David in the "big waves"!!!! 

Mamaw & Hallie

You can probably tell from mamaw's apparel that mamaw stayed on the sand this day! 

 We had a really fun 1st day playing in the waves & in the sand. It was overcast so we didn't get a whole lotta sun (or at least we didnt think) but we had fun and the kids got nice & worn out to take some good naps back in the condo. 

 Naptime, you can start to see aiden did get a lil pink in the cheeks. Yes we did put sunscreen on everyone regardless of the overcast. 

 Dinner sunday night at Blackbeards. 

 Hallie was being her usual happy & sweet self. 

 Sweet & BIG boy! 

 Uncle Jarod & Hallie 

 I know, I know I take this pic a lot. I can't help myself I thinks she's so stinkin cute! 

Hallie & Uncle Dale 

 Hallie with Kim & David

 Hallie & David

She's a good lil picture taker she is! 

 Jarod & Beth 

 Me & Tiff 

After Dinner, ok so aiden got quite a BIT of sun the 1st day! We weren't exactly sure how this happened with the spf 50 we had put on him but we agreed to double our efforts to make sure we re-applied often so it didn't happen again :( Aiden never complained but it just made me sad to look at. 

 Day 2 at the Beach. Marching into the ocean!!! 

 Oh and since hallie wasn't the least bit burned, I also started enforcing that aiden keep his hat on when on the sand like hallie did. Thought maybe this was the problem. 

 Lots of playing at the beach. Building a volcano. 

You have to realize that with early risers, we made it to the beach much earlier than the rest of the family and often times were even headed up for naps by the time family members came down so a lot of our beach time with the kids would be just us 4. 

 This day aiden got much more comfortable with the water!!! 

 Headed into the big waves!!!

 Monday afternoon/ night...dressed & ready for dinner. 

 Here we go again....

 Uncle Jarod & Hallie  

 Me & Ben  

Me, Ben & Hallie. Aiden had chosen to sit at the other end of the table this night. 

Daddy with his kiddos. Where oh where will you hold Baby Charley??? 

 Attempt at family pic out by the bay before dinner came.

ANDDDDDDD....It's Gigi & Poppy!!!! 

This is the 1st pic of them at padre for this year and this was their 1st appearance at dinner with the rest of us. I guess this is as good a place as any to tell the story of my dad for those who don't know....My dad is currently undergoing hepatitis C treatment. He has had Hep C for years upon years after a blood transfusion when he was younger so nothing new there but there is a new treatment that can supposedly treat it. There has never been a cure for Hep C. Dad started treatment a couple weeks before padre and we knew he would be on the treatment while we were there.  This treatment has some pretty bad side effects but if it works and we are praying hard that it will, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. 

Having said all that, dad had some fairly rough days while in Padre & pretty much missed out completely on the first few days of vacation :( But he got to doing better and joined us in the fun as soon as he could. Everyone was very happy to have him with us this night.  

 Playing patty cake with hallie. Love us some poppy time!!!

By the way my dad is still undergoing treatment for this disease and  while he's doing well, my family would greatly appreciate the prayers of anyone who might be reading this for a FULL HEALING of the hepatitic C and the regeneration of his liver. Dad's a stud when it comes to handling this treatment and he amazes me with his strength but even so we want the treatment to be completed quickly with minimal side effects and for complete healing. Not too much to ask right?? Not for God so pray with us please! 

Alrighty...Tuesday at the Beach! 

 Daddy & Hallie 

 Happy Hallie 

 Aiden playing in the water with his shovel

 Hallie taking a lil beach bum rest. 

 Look who's at the beach!!! It's Poppy!

 And is that a movie star?!?!

 Wait...nope it's the ever beautiful GIGI! 2 cute girls! 

And me & Beth, We're the "pregnant girls"

Daddy helping aiden build something in the sand

Some of the beach bums tenting it!

 And the mystery of why aiden's face was always getting burnt regardless of sunscreen appliation= This right here. He rubbed his eyes constantly after being in the water & always wanted to dry them off, a.k.a. wipe all his sunscreen off!!! Boooo

Aunt Beth with Hallie 

Tuesday night= Dinner at Pirates Landing!!! 

 arrrghhhh!!! Mamaw is the prettiest pirate I ever saw for sure! 

Aiden liked taking his picture with the pirate stuff

 Attempt at larger family picture. Ehhhh it was a B-. Several people forgot to remove their sunglasses for said picture, the wind was whipping us around too much, Jarod's not looking and before ya know it...

Somebody takes a fishing hook to the hand and picture time is officially OVER! Oh well. It is what it is. 

Mamaw with all the Grandkids. 

After dinner the David Cox family went out for some ice cream...

Which was only slightly a HUGE mess but fun none the less.

 Poppy with his grandkids. Look at that color coordinating. You would think we planned to do a picture or something :)

This brings us to mid-week and concludes part 1 of our Padre 2012 vacation!!! If you've come this far, man you love me & my family and I sure do appreciate that. Part 2 will hopefully be up soon!