We recently snuck away to Galveston for a long weekend with my parents, brother, sister-in-law & nephew, and I’m so glad we didn’t cancel the trip because of the forecast! There was a chance that Hurricane Barry would cause the whole weekend to be rainy, but we ended up only having a few little moments of rain & overall the weather was great!

It’s always tough as a photographer on trips like this because I’m sooooo tempted to have my camera out all the time. I love getting the photos of these moments – especially knowing that my girls & my nephew will be able to look back on them later – but I also don’t want to be missing the moments because I’m trying to save them.

So this time, I compromised. My camera made one trip down to the beach. Other than that, it was quick cell phone snaps & back to being in the moment. It means less images of professional quality (& a shorter blog recap! lol), but it makes for a more refreshed me after just making a point to enjoy the trip without seeing it through my camera lens!

This one is getting WAY too grown up for me!!

And these two? They’re peas in a pod. Wild little peas in a very energetic pod!

I have such fond memories of spending time on the beach in California as a kid & playing with my cousins, and it is so special to watch my girls get to spend cousin time on the beach now too! (It may not be California-style water, but they don’t notice at all!!) I have to admit (not that anyone will be all that surprised…) that my sappy self teared up watching the three of them splashing & laughing & digging in the sand together. I can only hope they grow up to have the kind of bond I feel with my cousins!

The girls were thrilled to get to take their cousin to the Galveston Children’s Museum after they fell in love with it during our last trip to Galveston earlier this summer. (Pops was pretty happy to get back to his favorite parts of the museum too.. lol!) We took the girls to the Rainforest Cafe for the first time, and they were in awe the whole time! And wouldn’t you know it? We got seated right by the elephants AND a hummingbird – two of our favorites!

 

So grateful for family time, for the weather holding, and for the memories made. Also glad Max was able to make it to join us after having to miss the past few years’ beach trips because of his doctoral program!

 

Have you taken any fun trips this summer?