Last month, our family made the cautious (and anxious) decision to visit Galveston beach. Sebastian and Gigi are quite fond of playing in the water. We spend a lot of time outside splashing in inflatable pools and rainbow sprinklers, but nothing compares to the smell and sound of the ocean, the feel of the sand, and the endless crash of waves. The kids asked countless times to go to the beach, which is strange because Sebastian visited only once before and Gigi had never been. So how do you grant their wish…during a pandemic…and keep everyone and yourself safe?

A bit of internet research found a great deal for a secluded rental aptly named Beachfront Bliss. It’s a lovely four-bedroom bungalow that comes with all the comforts of home and plenty of beach gear. We invited Grandpa Juan, Grandma Lorena, Uncle Juan and Uncle Nico to spend the day and evening with us. We traveled carefully, kept our distance from other beachgoers, wore masks and brought enough food to satisfy the pickiest of picky-eating habits. We wanted to make sure that we kept ourselves and others safe; it was, indeed, the highest priority of the trip. 2020 will be remembered for…a lot. Likely this trip is our one and only venture out from quarantine. We’ll remember staying home, working from home, social distancing, trying to entertain the kids day after day, the stress and concern associated with COVID-19. But we’ll also remember Sebastian swimming in the ocean until dusk, Gigi making sand castles, Grandpa Juan and the uncles BBQing, Nicholas chasing a runaway kite across the beach and into a backyard, Grandma Lorena surfing on the bodyboard, and Jessica capturing it all with her brilliant photography.