Family Vacation

We took our first family vacation over the Labor Day holiday. It was an impromptu decision to get out of town and enjoy a few of Mike's vacation days from work. We decided to head down to Galveston for a couple of nights and introduce Benett to the beach. We weren't sure if the area had completely recovered from Hurricane Ike, but we had read several reviews of hotels that said you wouldn't even know there had been a hurricane just a year prior. As it turns out, what we had read was true. We were happy to see that the area looked pretty much the way it always has. However, we did see two piers off the sea wall that were damaged beyond repair. One was the pier with the Flagship Hotel on it and the other was just a fishing pier. Both were in horrible condition.

On the way to Galveston, we made a quick stop to have lunch and quality time with Mama T. Benett's morning nap lasted most of the trip to Houston, so when we got there to see Grandma he was definitely ready to get out of the car and run around a bit. As soon as we checked into our hotel, we changed our clothes and hit the beach. Benett LOVED walking in the sand and water. Mike and I let Benett go in up to his thighs, but he would have gone all the way into the water if we would have let him.

On the second day, we went to the aquarium and rain forest exhibit at Moody Gardens during the morning and went on an afternoon trip on the ferry. Mike was so excited to see the dolphins in the bay for the first time. Apparently, he was always told as a kid that there were dolphins, and of course he didn't believe it because he had never actually seen them. Well, we saw about 20 or so on our trip across the bay. On our return, there was a tanker in the water and we actually saw the dolphins playing in the wake of the ship...pretty cool!

On our way back to good ol' Austin we again stopped to meet Grandma and Grandpa T for lunch. Benett also met Ms. Biagioli for the first time. Ms. Biaglioli is Mama T's friend and the mother of Mike's childhood friend Kyle. We had a great time getting out of town for a few days, seeing family, and watching our little boy experience new things.

This is Mike's favorite picture. Benett is a brave little guy and knows that if Daddy is with him he can take on anything.

Benett loved the waves and would turn into them as they would get closer.

Picture in front of the lobster tank after dinner at Landry's.

Family picture at the Moody Gardens Aquarium.

Daddy showing Benett the clown fish at the Aquarium.

"Mama, I think I am just going to watch you touch the starfish and sea urchins."

The parrots in the Rain Forest Pyramid were beautiful.

This ferry is AWESOME! I love the wind in my hair!