When I moved to Texas, everyone told me that I shouldn't expect much from Galveston's beaches. They are nothing like those in California. But it's a beach and it's less than an hour and a half away. Something is better than nothing, right?
We lived here for 4 months before I finally decided to go and see for myself! The delay was party due to how busy we were, but I think it was also party because I was afraid to be disappointed. But about a month ago, Jeff, Luke and I finally drove down to the coast and I laid eyes on Galveston's beach for the first time...
It was such a beautiful sight! It was a beach! There was an ocean, sand, sea gulls, the cool ocean breeze, and maybe there weren't waves, but at least there was white water! I was so excited! We pulled over as soon as we found a good place to park and ran down to take it all in.
Luke has been to the beach a few times (on California trips and on our cruise), but he has never lived near the beach, and yet somehow, it honestly seems like he might love the beach as much as I do! I love this boy!
Baby footprints in the sand
Luke wanted to run right into the water and just keep running. He's a brave (or crazy) boy because that water was freezing!
After we had been at the beach for a few minutes, Luke was playing with Daddy in the surf, and he face-planted right into the water. He was drenched and with the cold air blowing, he was immediately freezing his little buns off! He ran straight to the car for refuge.
"Get me out of this wind!"
That is one saggy, soggy diaper!
Back at the car, Luke had to be stripped down and cleaned off (he was covered in sand). I just thought he looked so cute sitting there waiting for me to find a clean diaper. I love that little potbelly!
Next, we decided to go to a nearby place called Moody Gardens which has two glass pyramid-shaped buildings - one an aquarium, and the other simulates a rainforest and is full of rainforest animals; a discovery museum with hands on exhibits for kids; 3D, 4D, and ridefilm theaters; a paddlewheel boat; and a private beach with a splash pad.
We planned to come back another day to get an all-inclusive day pass, but on this day, we just wanted to hit the discovery museum. Well, come to find out, the discovery museum is just one huge special exhibit that changes periodically and currently, it was about Dinosaur bones. We got the impression that Luke was a little too young to enjoy it, so we left to go find something else to do.
Luke loves to push strollers, carts - anything on wheels! If he notices Jeff or I holding onto the handle to help him steer, he tries to pry our fingers off of it. Fortunately, he doesn't usually take the time to look up very much.
Somehow Luke recognizes that there are sugary snacks that he wants in vending machines. He gets excited and points every time he sees one, even though we have never bought him something out of one before!
As we were leaving the museum, we noticed a park and had to go check it out! Luke was so excited! Notice the big group of kids sitting in the grass on the right. It was a field trip. They were having lunch. We had just enough time to hit 3 slides with Luke before they all swarmed the playground and we had to get out of their way. My favorite quote of the day: boy as he reached the playground, "This is the BEST DAY EVER!!!" I love how easily excited kids are!
Luke will slide down just about any slide by himself these days. He's a brave boy!
Jeff put Luke into this twisty tube slide sitting up and facing forward, but this how he came out: backwards and upside down. He wasn't too pleased about it.
After the park, we decided to take a ride on the free ferry that goes back and forth from Galveston Island. We just rode it there and then rode it right back. It was a lot of fun!
On the ride there, we were on the upper level of the ferry. Luke loved to lean over the edge and look down at the cars and people below. He wasn't at all concerned about plummeting to his death. Fortunately, Daddy had a strong grip on him, but Mommy still got nervous.
It was windy! My hair went crazy! But that wasn't my biggest concern...
My skirt kept trying to fly right up over my head!
Looking out into the distance, probably trying to spot a dolphin. We saw at least a dozen of them on our ride!
It wasn't easy getting a good picture of the dolphins, but here are a couple of fins.
On the ride back, Jeff, Luke and I moved down to the lower level and stood right at the front of the ferry.
A bunch of birds hitched a ride on the front of the ferry.
Pelicans
Luke claimed this as his seat and sat here several times during our ride.
Luke came up laughing every time he looked out this hole.
After our ferry ride, we went in search of something else to do. We consulted the "How to Have Fun in Houston" list I made when we moved here and decided to go check out the Texas Seaport Museum and 1877 Tall Ship Elissa. It was really interesting to explore the museum and the ship and see how things were for sailors in the late 1800s.
The Elissa
Exploring the museum
Luke decided to sit on this little cannon, and then, suddenly, to his surprise...
It grew!
"Whoa!"
Luke did a search to see if any of his ancestors traveled on the Elissa.
Getting ready to explore the ship
Luke and I spotted a bird (he loves birds). Here he is searching for it after it flew off of the ship. Can you see it?
Luke steered the ship
It wasn't easy.
Luke made himself right at home, getting into cupboards and drawers.
Captain's Cabin
I love the old key holes.
First Mate's Cabin
Second Mate's Cabin
Spare Cabin
These stairs were so steep! It was more like climbing a ladder!
See?
Jeff is always hanging Luke from bars.
Luke can hold on without help for an impressively long time! His record is probably almost 30 seconds.
No rope or "Restricted area" sign can keep Luke out.
Don't worry, this is when I grabbed him.
Luke fell asleep in the car after the Tall Ship Elissa museum. It had already been a long day!
Jeff and I parked the car by the beach and sat and talked for 45 minutes or so while Luke napped.
When Luke woke up, we went to play at the gorgeous beach a little more.
This boy just loves the beach!
So does his Momma!
Luke was not pleased when Daddy refused to let him play in the waves wearing jeans and shoes.
Beautiful.
Luke spotted a dog playing in the water. Naturally, he ran straight for it.
Watching the dog play fetch with it's owner.
We watched the dog for quite a while. Luke couldn't get enough.
We found this face in the sand. For some reason, it reminded me of my Aunt Debi (I think she draws people somewhat like this..maybe). Whatever the reason, it made me happy to think of her. She's the best!
Happy, happy boy.
We decided to go to dinner at the Rainforest Cafe, which was right across the street, since none of us had ever been there and we thought Luke would love it.
It didn't get off to a good start when the frog and the loud waterfalls scared Luke.
"Luke give the frog a hug." "NO!"
He thought the moving snake was pretty cool though.
He liked the aquarium too.
However, when we were seated next to the giant elephant, our visit took a turn for the worst. Every few minutes, there is a "tropical storm" and the lights flash, there is the sound of rain and thunder, and all of the animals move and make noise. The elephant was SO LOUD as it towered over us. Luke was freaked. out.
Looking up at the elephant in shear terror.
Daddy brought Luke in front of the elephant and tried to show him that there wasn't anything to be afraid of. Luke was not convinced. We asked to move tables.
That is pretty terrifying.
Our seat next to the aquarium was much less scary, but Luke still had to keep an eye on that elephant.
Cha Cha the frog cheered Luke up. Luke loved him!
High five!
Luke also loved the aquarium.
But what Luke really loved was his food! We didn't realize how hungry he was! He had eaten lunch, but when he got his food, it was like we had been starving him for days! He opened his mouth wide for mouth-full after mouth-full of turkey and ended up eating almost all of his two turkey sliders in record time! And don't ask me about the face. I have no idea.
The restaurant.
We rode the river rafting ride after dinner. It was a little pricey, but we had fun floating through a rainforest full of all kinds of animals.
Back outside the restaurant, Luke didn't want to sit by the gorilla either.
Jeff sat with him, but I'm not sure Luke was comforted by his "brave" daddy.
All in all, a fabulous day in Galveston! I'm so happy to have a beach only an hour away! I'm sure we will be back many, many times in the future!
1 comments:
Yay for the beach! It's great that Luke is so into geneology at such a young age too. Impressive. I also love the picture of you jumping at the beach Kira. You got some serious air! And I couldn't help but notice that as Jeff and Luke were watching that dog at the beach, Jeff was thinking about what kind of puppy to get for his little boy. What a good dad! :)
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