McGrath Reunion 2014

This week, 2/3 of the McGrath kids and my mom and dad were able to meet up for a mini reunion in Surfside, TX.  Surfside is about an hour south of Galveston.  There is absolutely nothing to do in Surfside except go to the beach, but we chose it because we were able to find a house there large enough to accommodate the group.  I actually didn't even mind there being nothing to do, as I envisioned spending every second on the beach, being lazy, and just letting the kids hang out.

When we pulled up on Monday, we were met with a wall of seaweed.  You literally could not walk from the sand to the water, and it covered the entire coast line.  It was insane.  However, we didn't let it bother us.  We got right to work making our path.  First we tried digging a path, but then we realized there were GAZILLIONS of mosquitoes breeding underneath all of the seaweed.  And it smelled AWFUL.  So then we just started dumping tons and tons of sand and made a path to the ocean.  That worked alright and the kids (and all the neighbors) were grateful for the path. 

By Wednesday, the seaweed started clearing up.  There was still a bunch on the sand, but it was drying up and it there wasn't much washing up anymore.  The beach was now ideal for the kids again.  They could go a ways out in the water and it was still only at their waists.  They had fun boogie boarding in the small waves, searching for shells, and just being with their cousins.

Some of the highlights of the trip included glow-in-the-dark zombie tag on the beach (even though we all probably now have Malaria), playing Fishbowl, If/Then, and Telestrations. 

It was a great trip, just wish all of my family could have been there.  I also wish I had gotten more pictures (especially of the adults)

Well, at least we tried to get all three in a picture.

 

 

Aunt Ali is a hit with the girls.

4th of July 2014

We had another fabulous 4th!  Of course, I was sad we would missing the small town Oak Point parade this year, but Rockwall's did not disappoint!  It was just perfect.  Lucy LOVED it.  She was clapping and waving and yelling, "Hiiiiiiiiii!" to the parade participants.  It was cute. 

Later, we went to mom and dad's for dinner and swimming.  Colin and Alison are in town and the girls have been hanging on them like monkeys.  They sure do love their aunts and uncles.  Later in the night we went to the Rowlett fireworks show, where Sheena Easton was performing.  Uhhh, random.  Haha!  But the girls had a great time with their glow sticks and then watching the fireworks.  They were so tired when we got home that Lucy pretty much jumped in her crib.  All in all, it was a great 4th!

Shelby is SEVEN!

Last Saturday Shelby turned 7!  She had been asking for a horse themed party (not sure where that idea came from) for a while, but we told her since we had just moved a few days prior we wouldn't really have a party this year.  Instead, we surprised Shelby with some new boots and Jeremy and my dad took her horse back riding.  She loved it!!  She keeps asking when she will get to go back.

They came back home and we had hamburgers, cake, and ice cream with my mom and dad.  Notice all the boxes in the background!

She loves her big girl Vera Bradley purse and carries it EVERYWHERE.

Happy Birthday to my not-so-little baby!  I can't believe that next year she will be getting baptized!