South Padre

Maddie, Daddy and I headed down to South Padre Island for a week vacation with PopPop and Suze. We were very excited to get out of the rain in Saint Louis! Maddie did a great job on the flight down - she is really becoming a pro at this!

PopPop picked us up at the airport for a quick drive to the beach house ... but a little traffic doubled our car trip. It was actually a good thing because it meant that Maddie got a little nap in ...


and so did post-call daddy.We finally made it, though ... and it was worth the wait! Ahhhh ... vacation ...
We all put on our swimming suits and got right in the pool. Maddie LOVED it! She got herself a water gun and went to town shooting everyone!





Later that afternoon, we went down to the waves with Andrew and Summer. Maddie loved the sun ... but got a wave in the face and was not exactly pleased with the ocean after that.



We all got cleaned up for dinner. Maddie wore a dress that belonged to her mommy many many years ago.
Maddie was so excited that her Aunt Summer and Uncle Andrew were there. She just went back and forth between them.
After dinner we took a few family photos.

The next morning, the beach sun woke us and we enjoyed a slow morning. Maddie sat in her chair ...
read a little with PopPop ...
and found a present under PopPop and Suze's sheets ... a Rapunzel doll! She was so excited!
They had a little trouble opening it though ...
Finally, Maddie and Rapunzel and the pink baby relaxed in Maddie's tiger chair.
Before going out for the day, Maddie had to get her toes done.
She put on her Ariel suit and pink cowgirl hat and was ready to swim!
Water guns again ...

A little Daddy time ...

and then a bunch of beach bum behavior.









Later that day, Maddie's salon and spa opened up. Suze got her hair done by Miss Maddie and all her hair barrettes.
Mrs. A came over later for dinner. She and Maddie pealed and ate a few shrimp together.

I could basically say ... repeat ... right here. Wake up. Put on swim suit. Get in pool. Play.

Maddie loved the big float ... she called it a boat.


She could sit in it with all her toys.
Aunt Summer was drinking virgin pina coladas all weekend. Maddie developed quite the taste for them ... so she enjoyed one or two each day. Here she is with Keri enjoying a pool side beverage.
Daddy and Maddie played a little backyard golf.

(look at that form!)


The next day, Daddy was a little pink from the sun so we thought we would take a day off. We took Maddie to the Dolphin Research and Sea Life Center where they have touch tanks with sea life in them. Maddie had a great time!
Here she is at the touch tanks picking up hermit crabs, star fish, and sea snails.








We wandered around a little after the Sea Life Center and found some new friends. Maddie was not sure about Mommy's new friend. It took a lot of convincing that he was not real.

So I sat in his lap and pet his beard ...

put my finger in his mouth ...and eventually she came over and touched his leg.
Still not sure ...
Maybe I like him now ...
Happy as can be with her pirate friend.
"Daddy ... you sit in pirate's lap now." Really funny!
We then found a pirate without a face (that was how Maddie described him). Daddy showed her why he does not have a face ...

We tried to get her up there, but nope ...

so pirate mommy got up there
And we finally got a pirate Maddie!


We found another pirate for mommy ... Maddie was not sure she liked this guy.
We came home that afternoon and didn't skip a beat. Right back into the water we went! Maddie put on her floaty suit to practice swimming.

Later that night, we got ready for dinner. Maddie and Suze did each other's hair. Too silly!

The next morning, PopPop bought Maddie a new floaty suit (the other one was from last year and she was a little heavy for it). We put it on and did a little swimming. She was actually pretty good at it!

After a long swim, time to relax with a CapriSun and Suze.Pina Coladas poolside again.
Then we grabbed the old bread and headed down to the beach to feed the birds. Please note the cute little cheeks hanging out. I just LOVE it!
More cheeks ... they are just too cute ... I can't help but photograph them!










(my camera started to fog up as the sun warmed it up)





A bird came and took the bread out of her hand ... she thought that was hilarious.
We got cleaned up again and I took a few photos of Miss Maddie in her pretty dress.









Later that night I insisted on a family photo on the beach. Everyone was nice and clean and I made them get on the sand. While we waited for Daddy, I gave my little one a million kisses.
Family photo. What a beautiful background!
PopPop and Suze got a great shot with Maddie, too.
A few last shots of Maddie on the beach ...



It was a WONDERFUL vacation. We had a wonderful time and were all so relaxed after a week of sand, sun, and surf.