Beach Party Crashers!

Last week Steven had to work in Houston and we wanted to tag along.  We weren't sure where the kids and I were going to stay even the day before, but his sister offered for us to come join a bunch of their family at the beach house they had rented for the week in Surfside since there was extra space after some weekend guests had left.  The kids and I had a blast with the cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents and it was just what we needed to help get us through this hot and hard summer!  Only wish that Steven (and the other family members) could have joined us.  Thanks for welcoming us and letting us crash the beach party, B family!  (These are my good camera photos, iPhone photo collages here)

One of my favorites of the weekend...

My lens kept fogging up from here on, so lots of the photos are fuzzy.

Not from the beach, but a few photos from the pool with my parents later in the week...

And a few favorite iPhone photos...

These are all of Steven's dad's "flags" that he has for all his kids and grandkids.  He puts them up whenever we are together.  We just gave him the new one on the left for our "Katie bug."

Grampatti's Birthday

And my other favorite photo of the weekend!  Adorable!

~~~

And I can't end this post tonight without acknowledging the deep loss of dear Aunt Katie this morning.  Here she is smiling at the walk for pancreatic cancer a few months ago.  We hope she has flown swiftly to Heaven and will be praying for all of us!

Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her.  

May she rest in peace.  Amen.