Easter Weekend at the Beach

This year for our Easter weekend break we rented a beach house in South Padre Island, TX.  It was so fun to spend a few days relaxing and hanging out.  One of our first outings was to visit this turtle rescue center.  They rescue injured turtles and rehabilitate or keep them depending on their need. Some are missing limbs or have their shells cracked.  Some will stay in their center forever but they try to release as many as possible. 

 

 

In front of a lot of the businesses in South Padre, there are these big sand sculptures.  This one is in front of the turtle rescue center. 

 

Checking out the turtles so Kira could see into the tanks. 

 Fun with friends. 

 They had one tank that had this huge turtle.  All the kids got to take a turn to show him the lettuce and then throw it over into the tank. 

 Another day we went to this beautiful light house and climbed to the top.  Well, almost all of us.  Mackenzie was pretty scared and wouldn't make it the last little bit. 

Some of the gang:  The Carruths and Spencers. 

Waiting for our turn at the light house we took advantage of some silly time.

The 2 and 3 year olds.  Theses guys are all good friends.  Mia, Kira and William. 

At the top.  Mackenzie missing. 



 Alyssa the pirate. 

 Mackenzie too!

 

 After driving around for a while on Saturday we finally found a green lawn space in front of the convention center where we could do a quick Easter Egg Hunt for the kids. 

 It actually turned out perfect because there were all these little pathways with shrubs and bushes that we could hid the eggs in. 

 

We can't forget our fun afternoons at the beach. 

 Tori wanted me to keep track of the time so when she was 13 she would be out riding a wave.  So this was taken a few minutes before 3:11 p.m. 

"Happy Birthday Tori"

 Hanging with dad! She was a little nervous of the waves.

 Then she decided it was fun to run back and forth. 

 

 Fun with friends. 

 South Padre 2014.  Almost immediately after Ben made this, some waves came and washed it away. 

 The Spencers.

Tori resting in the sand. 

 Boogie boarding was the favorite way to play in the water.

 

 

 One day the kids wanted to just explore the water a bit so the older kids went and ran in the waves. 

Alyssa with friends L to R: Savannah, Madisen, Alyssa. 

Smelly armpits.  I love Tori's face!

We had to celebrate Tori turning 13 so we had cupcakes after dinner.  Here she is blowing out the candles. 

We had such a great time and can't wait to do another vacation with some friends!