Oh how this family needed to get away! We were invited by our friends Brenda and Kelly Hodge this year to venture down to their summer getaway, Crystal Beach, Texas. Kelly grew up in Crystal Beach, and ever since Brenda and Kelly have been married, they go there each summer to visit family and relax on vacation.
We were excited about the thought of a small road trip, and a beach house! Who wouldn't be? I knew that the Hodges were bunking up in a beach house with their family, so I decided I'd ask my dear friend Gwen and her family if they'd like to share a beach house with us. She got excited too, and from then on we were beach bound buddies!
On July 25th (two days after my 30th birthday), we loaded up Gwen's spacious van and headed down to Crystal Beach, Texas where we hoped to bask in the sun for four whole days. Here are some pictures of us on our road trip there... Crystal Beach or Bust!
Of course you know we were going to stop at a Harley Davidson store along the way...gotta get a t-shirt. We stopped in The Woodlands, TX near Houston. Here is Kylie and Gwen's daughter Tatumn playing on these cute Harley motorcycles. Each one was only $100.00, so we let them stay there. 
We made it to the ferry with zero minutes to spare to pick our beach house key from the leasing office. They closed at 5:00, and we were in line at the ferry landing at 4:45. The leasing office called to find out if we were still coming... they were nice and waited for us to get there. Oh, and see the Sea Gulls? Yup... they followed the ferry for the whole 20 minute ride to the Bolivar Pensula where Crystal Beach was waiting for us. If you have bread with you, you can throw it up in the air and they'll catch it.
I do not remember exactly at what point on the twisted roads we took this pic, but here ya go!
Our first day on the beach was somewhat of a bummer. The winds really picked up, and then the pelting rain drops started falling down, so we headed to our friends beach cabin to wait for the sky to clear.
Steven and Kelly trailored their Harley's down with us, so they took full advantage of the yucky weather to ride a little bit. I think here they were just riding up to the store for some groceries.
I do not remember exactly at what point on the twisted roads we took this pic, but here ya go!Our first day on the beach was somewhat of a bummer. The winds really picked up, and then the pelting rain drops started falling down, so we headed to our friends beach cabin to wait for the sky to clear.Steven and Kelly trailored their Harley's down with us, so they took full advantage of the yucky weather to ride a little bit. I think here they were just riding up to the store for some groceries.
...and even had a little interest in the ladies that were fishing on the bay.
And after we played at the cabin for a while, the sun broke through the clouds and in the cars we went back to the beach for some good times. Kylie and Tatumn were so excited.
Kylie's first time to buy ice cream from the ice cream man (at the beach).
On the second night, after a full day at the beach in the hot sun, we went to Brenda and Kelly's cabin for a crab boil. Boy, did they make some good food!!!
The next day at the beach... another long day gone... tired and ready to go relax and get cleaned up. Look at us, we looked so dirty from that Gulf Coast ocean water.
Settling the girls in to their dinner. Steven and I were going to take our sun burned selves out for a ride on the Harley's with Brenda and Kelly. We were excited to ride along the coast.
Then the next night, Gwen didn't know it but she was going to get proposed to on the beach by Bobby. How exciting. We had all arranged to meet at the beach, minus the children, at midnight just to "hang out". After we got there, Bobby took Gwen by the hand and off they went for their magical moment.
After they got back, we were all so excited about the engagement we just jumped in the salty air for joy!!! Yeah!
And after a week of fun in the sun, we headed back to Dallas. It's funny that after your vacation, your still so worn out.
