We are starting our summer out right with a quick weekend trip up to the beach. We are venturing up to Surfside beach to spend the weekend with my extended family on my mom’s side. I grew up spending summers in Surfside with my aunts, uncles, and cousins. It happened to work out that most everyone was going to be here this same week. We hadn’t planned on coming, but at the last minute couldn’t resist seeing everyone. (Even if it meant we will be sharing the same room with both girls for the first time and booting my aunt and uncle out of their bedroom for a night - the aunt and uncle that happen to own all the condos we are staying in). Kami and I are teasing Mom saying that we know she is better because she was laying on a major guilt trip to get us here, but the truth is we couldn’t stand not being here. I am catching up with cousins I haven’t seen in years, meeting their children, and loving family togetherness. It is crazy to think that we used to all cram into one condo and now we are spread out amongst four. Life is full circle. I grew up coming here every summer and now my girls are getting to do the same. We will be returning in a few short weeks to stay a whole week with Mom, Dad, Kami, Richard, Adam, and Austin.
Here are some shots from the weekend:
We had the perfect little tide pool to play and explore in.
Lily gave James a high quality mud treatment.
She had to go to great lengths to find the right sand. 
People pay good money for this.
Sarah Ellen wouldn’t let Papa rest. She loved riding on the scooter. She even got to ride with Papa down to the other condos and visit – obviously the second child.
Here is a picture of a true inspiration. This is my cousin’s husband Paul enjoying the waves. What you may not be able to tell in this picture is that Paul is missing both legs and one arm. A few years back Paul developed a serious infection and was ultimately given a 1% chance to live. He beat all odds and survived, however he lost both lower limbs and his right arm. Despite his hardships, Paul has never quit. He enjoyed the sand and the surf, deep sea fishing, and even braved playing poker with my dad. A perfect stranger on the beach approached Paul and told him that he had truly inspired him that day. 
Snack time
What is a trip to the beach without watermelon?
You can’t go to the beach without a trip to the flea market.
Lily was exhausted from hard core beach playing and had to be carried most the way. We didn’t mind the sweet snuggles.
Lily putting on her new “Hello Kitty frosting” 
We hit the jackpot on shells and were finding perfect conch shells of all sizes.
Sarah Ellen and her namesakes: Hester Ellen (great grandmother); Gloria Ellen (great aunt); Barrie Ellen (cousin); and Kami Ellen (aunt). 
Even though Lily is named after the Elizabeth’s, she couldn’t resist a good photo op. We didn’t do an Elizabeth picture because not all of us were here. 
Papa taking everyone’s money. 
Thanks everyone for a fantastic weekend. We had 25 out of 30 of us there from Maryland, Arkansas, and Minnesota. Not bad odds, but we missed you Nicholas, Kermit, Molly, Mike and Paige. We better start planning for 2011.
