Earl, Schmearl. When we make plans to come to the beach, all the hurricanes should just plan on turning themselves back out into the Atlantic. We took a big family vacation that was only a few short hours away! Well, for us anyway. Sorry, everyone else. But hey, we were all together and our house had seven bathrooms. Isn't that what's really important?
We stayed here.
And this is the back: home of the cold pool; all the potential splinters; the hammock; pool surfing; the albino crab; a hiding place for a mom trying to read more than four pages of her book; and four happy, laughing little boys.
We, uh, relaxed. Everyone had some hammock time.
And some beach time.
Luke and Jack loved playing "Cornball."
Uncle Matt (or Uncle "Meerkat") taught John how to catch the waves!
Ben and Jackson finally fell in love with each other...
...and had a blast navigating the stairs between the
main level and the "fourth floor" (aka Daddy's office), Lewis and Clark style.
John loved reading to his little cousins, and I loved them all snuggled close together. This lasted for a good three and a half minutes.
There was fishing! Did you know that real fishing does not resemble the iPhone game called Flick Fishing? No, it doesn't. Real fishing requires patience. We don't have that. But we now own two fishing rods, took a nice picture, and saw a snake. So there's that.
There was a Beach Birthday!
Hey. Heyheyhey. For Pete's sake, please do not report me to Cake Wrecks! I have claimed no talent in cake preparation/decoration/presentation.
New Canes jersey!
Getting ready to open Grandmother Jane's and Grandaddy Bob's present, which was:
his first set of real golf clubs!
YESSSSSS! Thanks, Minnie!
Luke and John (in his new Steelers shirt, which has since been worn 87 times)
Luke, John, Jackson, and the new skates
What's the big deal? Should we know about this? Do we need one of those? Mom?
Little Icing Lovers (a genetic trait inherited from Mom/Aunt Laurie)
We learned to play peek-a-boo! Or I suppose he might have been exasperated by all the pictures.
Just the girls: Me with my sister (in-law, but I just like to call her my sister), Laurie, and our beautiful moms, Marcia and Jane.
Sunset Grille in Duck
Hugging Minnie after supper
Photobomb!
Landy was attacked by our four favorite little boys (and loved every second)!
We were terrified by snarling, ferocious bears!
We played Follow the Leader
We found a cute little monkey in a tree. Why, yes, he did make this face for every picture.
Some of us climbed to the top of the Currituck Lighthouse. Some of us didn't. Some of us found this to be a less than relaxing activity.
These two were fine with it.
This one just wanted to hang around (and look extra cute)!
Looking at miles of beautiful peace and quiet from Buck Island in Corolla, NC
We loved the ocean! The sand! The water! In my ears! In my eyes! On my teeth! In my shorts!
Really loved it! Stuffed some extra sand in my pocket for later when I felt hungry!
We practiced for the NFL combine...
...and worked on our punting form.
We were thisclose to being color coordinated!
And we had a wonderful, beautiful, relaxing week. All of us!
Alright. Listen up, boys. We have to go home now. Let's go, okay?
NO! I want to stay forever!
I bet we will get to stay if I use my most very cutest pouty face.
Oh, dear. But I haven't packed yet.
By the way, Mom, please remove these Thomas pajamas from my person as well as from my vast hand-me-down wardrobe. Since I know you have stockpiles of trains and Thomas books just waiting for me to glance in their general direction, I'm planning to not have one speck of interest in any of this Island of Whatever nonsense. Thanks.
Whatchu talkin' 'bout?
Sigh. Well, okay. See you next year, Outer Banks!
A few things we loved in OBX:
