Fergason family beach Christmas!

We just got back from a wonderful few days at Dauphin Island with Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Karl, Aunt LeeAnne and Jon-Paul. None of us had ever been before, and now we're all dying to go back again! The island is very small and quaint, not at all touristy, which we absolutely loved! My parents got a really great deal on a house that had plenty of room for all of us, including an upstairs that our 4 big boys had entirely to themselves. They loved that! A dream we have for our attic in our own house someday. :)

So the 3 three BEAUTIFUL days that we were there, we spent visiting Fort Gaines, hiking through a bird sanctuary, exploring the beach and even swimming in the frigid water (at least the boys did...3 different times for long extended periods of time...but then straight home for an immediate warm bath), collecting shells, delicious meals around our big kitchen table, lots of coloring and games (including apples to apples junior - for the kids, and apples to apples and bananagrams - for the adults once the kids were in bed, as well as a fun white elephant gift exchange. And our stay would not have been complete without the daily trip to the Circle K for cheap fountain drinks, milkshakes, and pretzel combos.

The absolute best part about the trip was just being together. no work. no distractions. having the fam all together. a rare moment these days. Best Christmas present ever.

So thankful my sweet family sacrificed their time to make the long trip from Texas (not to mention LeeAnne and Jon-Paul's whirlwind of a trip from Portland to Texas to Alabama back to Texas and then back to Portland). They win the gold medal!!! :)

Hope this turns into a Christmas tradition. The beach in the winter is glorious!!