The most wonderful time of the year isn’t December—it’s the offseason in Port Aransas, when the crowds are gone, the coast slows down, and everything feels right again.

This Thanksgiving, we took our longest getaway yet to Port Aransas—our home away from home. From beach days to cozy nights at the beach house, we traded tradition for waves and made memories that will last a lifetime. The coast truly is the best place to recharge, and this trip was one for the books.

For the first time since the kids were born, it was just the two of us. No kids, no crumbs, no chaos—just us, on the road to Port Aransas. It felt strange—borderline unsettling, if I’m being honest—not having them in the backseat. Usually, no matter where we go, they’re always with us. But this trip was different. It was about hitting pause on the chaos, letting go of the guilt, and reconnecting.

My last post, This Is The End…, nearly became the unintended finale of this blog. Life threw more work my way than I’d seen in a long time, so it took a few months to get back to this follow-up. Here’s the content from Port Aransas that I’d planned to share back in February—better late than never. These images, captured during a chilly, rain-soaked November trip, bring back memories of moody skies, family time, and cozy escapes from the weather. Despite the rain, any Gulf Coast getaway is a win in my book