We got the chance to take a family vacation with some good friends of ours, The Landins, and stay in their family beach home on South Padre Island.  Now, I have been to Galveston and to Corpus Christi, so I must say I was alittle worried that this beach may not live up to its name proclaiming an island getaway.  Well, I was so happy to see the long stretches of clean sand, combined with a clear blue sea, and a warm sunny (well most of the time) sky that I may have cried out in joy.  The water was great, and the kids all went crazy.  Having our two boys, coupled with Sadie and Meagan on the beach was so precious.  We build sand castles that Quinten smashed as soon as they were up, spa baths with flowing channels in between, we collected sea shells and played in the surf, went to the sea life resource center, saw a pirate ship, ate sea food and lots of other really yummy food we made ourselves, and just really had a great time!  We are already looking at the calendar to see when we can go back.