We made it!

Sunday, June 10th

We stopped at a roadside produce stand where we bought some munchies and sand toys (because we forgot to pack the million and one sand toys we have at home).

Who doesn't lick the crumbs from the bottom of the bag??

The sand toys may have been a mistake to let Jacob play with in the car.  The next two hours of our drive I was poked in the head over and over and over....

The ocean breeze and sand dunes are perfect for kite flying.

The traffic heading into the Outer Banks wasn't nearly as bad as the locals warned us about.  We arrived early and had some time to kill.  And we couldn't think of a better way to kick off our week at the ocean than to eat some fresh seafood.  Not only was the food amazing but look at the view from our table!

I wish the following picture would have turned out better.  The restaurants landscaping was done with glass - little pieces of clear, browns, and greens.  It was so beautiful.

After lunch, with time still to spare, we walked the docks surrounding the restaurant catching our first sightings of sting rays and other ocean fish.  So cool.

Jeanette's Pier was originally built in 1939.  Hurricanes and tropical storms lead to many repairs and being rebuilt over the years.  However, in 2003, when Hurricane Isabel almost completely knocked out Jeanette's Pier, the North Carolina Aquarium Society, local officials and legislators, devised a new plan - "build an all concrete, 1000 foot long, educational pier."  And 70 years later to the day from its original construction, they began building the new Jeanette's Pier.

Although I'm sure he would have gone to anyone who would have carried him, I'm so glad cousin Austin was there to step in and carry one pooped out Jacob.

Finally it was time.  We got the call that the house was move in ready.  We packed up the car and had barely made it out of the parking lot and Jacob was going.....going.....

GONE!

After a short drive, a quick trip to the grocery store, and a stop at the realty place we were there.

Right on time.

The Adventure continues

Saturday, June 9th - 8am

After catching roughly 4 hours of sleep, the children were awake and ready to get the day started almost before the sun.  We stalled as long as we could so we could check the weather, find things to do, see where there was to eat and more but they were ready to go.

Our first stop was the Great Bridge Locks Park.  Its a wonderful wooded area with a few trails and a playground and also sits beside a canal where we got to watch some magnificent boats and yachts launch into the bay.  Its also the site of the Battle of Great Bridge during Revolutionary War.  We were there just in time to see the monument being dedicated and get some snowcones and kettle corn.

I'm not sure who was more ready for lunch - the kids or us.  Because, you see, upon our research that morning, we discovered there was a Five Guys Burgers and Fries joint in the area. 

Bacon cheese burger with "all the fixins", cheese dogs, Cajun french fries, strawberry Fanta followed by grape fanta  followed by raspberry fanta and all our children ate was....

...the free peanuts.

A pleasant discovery of our trip - gas is cheaper down here.  We were excited to fill up at $3.37 only to find another gas station down the road had gas for $3.19!!

After eating lunch (at about 3pm) and a nap (4:30pm), we headed off to a local park called Fun Forest - a 3 acre Imagination Kingdom Playground.  Even I was sad when it was time to leave.

Look at the size of this sandbox!!

The park closes at dusk and as we were leaving Bree starts excitedly screaming

"Look what Papa did to the sky!!!  He did that for us!!"

Goodness how I love that child.

Somewhere in the ballpark of 9pm we thought it was a good idea to get some dinner in our bellies and Spaghetti Eddie's was calling our name.

And boy did it hit the spot.  Pizza cooked in a 900 degree brick oven.  Lasagna stuffed with the right amount of cheeses and - get this - sliced meatballs.

I think I know where our pit stop on the way home will be.

Upon returning to the hotel we discovered Becki, Mike, Austin and the rest of our convoy finally caught up to us.  One more sleep and 3 more hours on the road until we reach our destination.

OBX here we come!

Outer Banks 2012

The Adventure Begins

Friday, June 8th - 3pm

Everybody loaded. 

 Bree not a fan of the AC, Jacob not certain of whats going on, Jim at the wheel and me, the trusty navigator are all set to get the vacation started.

We made it as far as the turnpike...

... and Jacob was already passed out.  Me thinks this will be a good trip.

Then again maybe not.  Two hours in and the big sister has a meltdown over a book.

After 11 hours of driving we made it to our destination of Chesapeake Virginia at 2:30am.  We checked into our hotel room and set up camp until the rest of our party arrived the following evening.  And what a wonderful hotel it was. 

It came equipped with a microwave and complimentary popcorn.

Full size fridge, sink and dishwasher (dishes and dishwasher soap included).

AND mini stovetop with pots and pans. 

In case you're wondering what Jim is doing in the above picture, our room was F-R-E-E-Z-I-N-G when we walked in.  55 degrees to be exact.  We cranked the thermostat up to 75 degrees and turned the burners on high to get some heat going in there.

Bree, who was not a lover of the AC in the car, did NOT like the temperature of the hotel room.  At. All.

And finally, at around 4:30am, our children who were as giddy as can be to:

1. be on vacation

2. be in a hotel room

3. be "sleeping" in the same bed

needed to be separated so Mom and Dad could get some much needed sleep.

We promised them more adventures and fun in the morning if they would just go to sleep. 

eventually they did.

And all to soon they woke up.

And the adventures did continue...

Knee High 2

Bree with her Dora binoculars on.

I love when the field behind us has corn. 

Day by day, week by week, I watch it grow.  I watch the fireflies crawl up the leaves and light the summer nights.  Then slowly, little by little, the corn starts to dry out and turn brown.  And day by day, week by week, the excitement inside me grows along with the corn as the best season of all inches closer.

Fall, I anxiously await you.

http://betterwhensimple.blogspot.com/2010/06/knee-high-by-fourth-ofjune.html

First of many

Two weeks ago, yes I know I'm even further behind in blogging then that, we found an awesome surprise crawling on my marigolds.

Mother Nature may say that summer begins with the solstice, but where I live summer begins with the first firefly caught.

Fireflies

I like to chase the fireflies,
Chase them to and fro'
I like to watch them dart about,
Their little lamps aglow.

In the evening's twilight dim
I follow them about,
I often think I have one caught,
And then his light goes out.

I cannot tell just where he is
Until he winks, you see,
Then far away I see his light,
He's played a joke on me