OBX

Here is quick video of some of our adventures. I haven't ever used the video program before, so it is a little rough around the edges. :) In summary, it was an incredible week with family in a place I have been visiting somewhat regularly as long as I can remember, The Outer Banks, NC.

The water was a highlight this year. The first few days it was clear and glassy- perfect waves for learning to surf. Then, Tropical Storm Fay started to come nearer and produced some rougher seas (but still sunny weather) for the second part of the week. I am still in shock about how well Evan and Madeleine swim. All those swim lessons have certainly paid off! They were out there in some of the biggest waves I have seen in NC, with strong currents. One day John, Evan, Chip and I body surfed these currents a mile down the beach to the pier and walked back to our towels and chairs. Evan (almost 9 years old) learned to maneuver and stand up on the surf board like he was born on the coast! Madeleine (7 years old), although barely big enough to hold onto the surf board, also insisted on standing on it and riding it like a boogie board at every opportunity possible. Wait till you see the pictures, you won't believe your eyes!


Other highlights included amazing feasts of seafood, playing tennis, and sunrise sessions of surfing and/or walking almost every morning. Of course, the best part was being able to eat, hang out, and catch up with my sister, her family, and my mom in person...no phone call or blog can ever make up for that! Thanks y'all for putting forth the teamwork it took to pull off the week. We love you all so much and can't wait for next time!





“The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea.”

--Isak Dinesen

Leash Your Pet?

This sign is at the start of a trail head that Kessler and I walk on most days of the week. It makes my day to see it every time. At first, it just creates this ridiculous image in my head which often conjures me to laugh out loud. Then, the pure irreverence of the thing kicks in, and I love it even more. The simple joys of a black permenant marker. I feel like Kessler agrees (she is laughing at the sign in this picture), that the idea of leashing a bee, let alone "your" bee, is just about as silly as the idea of leashing her!



























Just a few shots from a hike we did this weekend up Eagle Creek. Katy, you would be proud- We made it down to the "Garden of Eden"...man this place is magical. Oregon is really knocking our socks off.

"That man is richest whose pleasures are cheapest."
- Henry David Thoreau

Sandy Feet and Stained Hands

Chris, Erika, and Finn have been traveling in the Northwest for one of their summer vacations and therefore, we got the benefit of getting to hang out with them on either end of their trip. We will keep it brief on our end since C&E will extrapolate further on their blog about their adventures.


The first weekend allowed us an opportunity to do our first camping trip together on the coast of Oregon. The boys surfed for a few days. Erika, Finn, and I hiked out to a cove one day and along the coast by an old ship wreck another day.












Weekend two took place in Portland. It started with an incredible meal at a recommended Cuban restaurant in town. Saturday morning we drove a few miles out of town to the land of farms where we picked (and ate at least as many as we took home) our own berries (hence the "stained hands"- unfortunately I did not get a great shot of our red and purple fingers, but trust me, even Finn was "red handed" by the end of the event). We returned to Portland for a small (50- 70 thousand people) gathering of Portlanders for the annual "Flugtag" downtown on the river. It involved lots of Redbull, creativity, and hyperness. Check out http://www.redbullflugtagusa.com/ if you want to see the craziness for yourself.

It was awesome to catch up with and see Chris, Erika, and Finn. They were such good sports in our tiny apartment, and made camping with a one-year-old look pleasant. Impressive. Kessler misses Finn already!

" You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf." - John Kabatt-Zin