Fun & Games

On vacation it's all fun and games. This was the year of dressing up. The costume box in the kitchen led to many laughs all around.

Meet our chefs, cranking out yet another tasty breakfast...

The skipper...

Shark!

Trixie the princess...

Art class...

A little two on two pool volleyball...

Baseball on the beach after dinner...

Game night! This year's favorite was Mexican Train dominoes...

Some friends staying at the beach with us had a kayak, so the kids had some new adventures. Carter was the first one up...

Everyone else was eager to get a chance. Getting the kayak in and out of the waves was tough, so we would swim the kids out and switch them in the ocean. Brooke decided pretty quickly, kayaking was not for her. In a classic moment that none of us will ever forget, Erik picked up her whining, crying self and threw her overboard (don't worry she floats!) Haven't you always wanted to do that?! It was awesome. Zach and Julia both loved it and went on several trips...

A favorite family tradition- ice cream sundaes with our cousins!

Another favorite family tradition is nighttime beach volleyball. Beth had to sit this year out as she awaits MCL knee surgery...

Our games get pretty lively. Carter was thrilled to be able to play this year. He has been practicing in the backyard for weeks...

Can you guess who's team won?

The kids look forward to a trip to the Sweet Spot every year. Each person gets a bag to fill with their own saltwater taffy. Mmmmm, like kids in a candy store, literally.

Gotta stop for some ice cream, too!

On our last night, the kids put on the headlamps and went for a nightwalk on the beach. They looked like little fireworks...

Lovin Life at the Beach and Pool

We were blessed with a glorious week of sunshine, made evn more perfect by all the family and friends. There were 8 houses full of people who had come down to the wedding and were spending the week. We had our own little village...

The kids were all fearless in the ocean.

No amount of rough waves could keep them away...

After so much activity leading up to the big day, there was finally tome for a nap...

Big Mike was a kid-magnet as always. Julia and Kyler had fun squirting him in the pool...

Playing motorboat...

There were many fun and yummy happy hours poolside. Billy and Erik became the masters of the kitchen, pulling off some amazing "Chopped"-quality inventions...

 Beach livin' at its finest!

 

Digging for sand crabs...

Julia's puppy she drew...

Several days the surf was pretty rough, but the kids were gung ho. With their puddle jumpers on, they were off and swimming...

Relaxing with their toes in the air...

The new family!

Cousin fun...

The Beach Party Continues...

My sister and Erik's wedding kicked of the first night of our beach vacation. We woke up the next day and started prepping brunch for Erik's out of town family. We are so blessed to have guys in our family who love to cook and grocery shop. The ladies were very spoiled all week!

After a delicious brunch, the kids wanted to go see the ocean. They promised nobody was going to get in the water. They were just going to look.

Can you see the temptation?! I love this shot, trying so hard not to get in...

Scratch that! We're on vacation!!!!

Everybody in, the water's great!

I think they may have been lecturing the boys...

Wow, that looks fun...

Okay, we're in!

In our clothes!

Bring on the boogie boards...

We wondered if the little ones were going to want to get in this year. I guess they answered that question for us. No fear here...

After a great first day lounging on the beach we hosted a happy hour for some dear friends. We were all stationed together at Camp Lejeune in the early 90s during the first Gulf War. All of the dads were deployed during that year and the moms and kids did life together back in our neighborhood on the base. SO many memories! We have seen each other in smaller groups over the years, but this is the first time in 20 years we have all been together and it was a glorious night...

We ate, we talked, we reminisced,

laughed, cried, encouraged, and remembered.

Such a perfect night! This group all mean so much to me and have played a huge role in making me the person I am today. 

Our youngest addition was baby Karley at two months old. When we all moved away from Camp Lejeune, Madison was the baby of our bunch and here she is a college graduate holding the new baby of the bunch!

We love you guys!! Thank you so much for coming all the way to NC and we hope to get everyone together again (in less than 20yrs!).