My Aunt Ann recently celebrated her seventh birthday. Festivities took place in her hometown of Galveston, Texas. It was wonderful seeing all the cousins play, laugh and sleep.

Living in North Texas, Galveston is our closest beach…our home town beach! We stayed in a beachfront home in Galveston’s Beachtown. The Beachtown houses are like sand castles come to life! I knew I would love it because it’s the same group that built Rosemary Beach and Seaside. With its catch phrase, “A Simple Life by the Sea” Beachtown delivered just that.

“For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), It’s always our self we find in the sea.” ~E.E. Cummings

Cupcakes and kites make everyone smile…burying my brother in the sand was pretty funny too!

The celebration continued off the beach and on to The Orginal Mexican Cafe. My family has a birthday poem that has been a tradition ever since my Aunt Ann and my Dad were children. There were several highlights of the night and one of them was when the WHOLE family recited the poem. The cousins were looking at each other with wide eyes thinking, “Wow, you know it too?”  It was a magical moment and made us all think of the top of our family tree, (my grandparents) were it all began.

Many happy returns of the day of thy birth,

May sunshine and gladness be given. 

And may thy dear Father prepare the on Earth, 

For a beautiful birthday in heaven. 

 

Thanks to my cousin-in-law’s, Windy and Rachel who planned the most spectacular weekend in Galveston!

Happy Birthday Aunt Ann!

 

P.S. Galveston, Our Hometown Beach