This year we Robinsons held our family reunion at Surfside. We rented a beach house for a whole week-right on the oceanfront. It was quite a memorable reunion! On Monday we took just about all morning to pack up the cars, put on scripture scouts, drove  South on 288 all the way to Surfside, unpacked, got settled and we jumped in the warm waves! Then grandma and grandpa went to get groceries- well that only took them about 4 hours and we were all worried sick that they were lost, took the wrong freeway, or worse their car broke down. Rick said that Dad has his masters degree, mom is a teacher and they have a digital GPS, if they can't find their way back- they ought to be euthanized! Well, they finally made their way back from Lake Jackson (the closest city with a wal-mart) and we all had fun teasing them!

Then came Tuesday- which happened to be our 8 year anniversary! We went out to dinner at a nice Italian Grill named Carinos. We both got a steak- and it was no kidding, the best STEAK i'd ever eaten! Bryan said it is because we never go out to eat steaks- well while that is true - it still was the BEST STEAK I'VE EVER EATEN!  We got back that night and just talked on the porch- it was fun to be together with our families.Then that night little Maryan caught a bug, threw up all over her bunk bed and then she must have gave the bug to Jackie, then Rick- then they went home on Wednesday for a day to recuperate. While they were gone- we took a little road trip to Galveston Island where we walked around the strand, ate at willy G's on the pier and spent the day with Lisa & Adams Family. That night The Rick Robinsons came back- we had family pictures on the beach- and then we all had a wonderful dinner! My mom made up some questions and we all played the newlywed game. She asked us questions and then had the men go in the other room- then we each got points for answers that matched. It was funny to watch my mom and dad because they scored the lowest and they had us all laughing. It was usually like this "val, c'mon!"Some of the questions were: If you could change one thing about your husband what would it be? What is your wife's favorite movie? What would your wife do with 1,000 dollars? What is your husbands best quality? We all had a great laugh- Rick & Jackie won with the highest score.

Friday - we spent the day making sand castles, kayaking in the ocean, collecting sea shells, looking for crabs, and getting nice glowy tans.  And what were the kids doing when they were taking a break from the sunshine? Why, watching tom & Jerry of course! We all had a great time but I must admit- almost everyone in the house got some version of that little 24 hour flu bug- but our family must have the immunity of a true survivor because all of us are healthy as HORSES (maybe its because our kids have never been on antibiotics- who  knows! ) It was so fun to be on vacation where we really didn't have to do anything but relax, talk, & eat yummy food. We all had an amazing time- Isaac loved Kayaking in the ocean- even by himself! Penn loved to ride with Bryan and would  say- "go kayak wif dad" Bryan even rowed way out into the foamy sea! I worried about him, but he is super strong so he made it back after about 45 minutes! He had a great work out and even ran a couple of miles down to the peir while we were there. One of the interesting things that happened while we were there was the series of bites I got all over my body - I don't know if it was sand fleas, or dog fleas or what but Bryan just relished in teasing me the whole time by singing "my wife has FLEAS!" Seriously, I think I got them (it was more than 50) because I was so unempathetic to Bryan when he was telling me how much misquitos LOVE him! 

 Overall it was a wonderful vacation-The ocean kayaking was the best!  It was wonderful being  together with my brother and sister and their cute families. The last day our parents gave us a Book of Mormon reading challenge which our family has started. I'm grateful for my family and the fun time we all had together.

{Here are a few pictures of our time at Surfside}

Our view from the house

                                           Grandma Janie & Luke 11 months old

      Penn, A.J, Lexi, & Isaac at the Pier in Galveston

                                    

Alexis(9 yrs) & Luke

Penn & Family right before pictures

Isaac & M.J riding the waves in

Next pic- Bryan & Penn in background on Kayak

Dallas 13 years old Penn nearly 2 years

Grandma & Grandpa Robinson with Isaac

Three Little Cousins all 6 weeks apart Janie, Penn, & Tiffany

Bryan hauling the kayak up the rocks, Isaac beside him.  Isaac at Galveston Square

Tiffy, Lisa, Jackie, Cole & Maryan

Bryan & Luke Sitting on the Deck watching the sunset