Outer Banks, NC

This is so true.  Chip and I grew up going to the beach.  I want my kids to grow up going to the beach.  Whether you like to surf, stare, walk, or wade, there is something about it that we LOVE.

This was the first plane ride in which Ruby and Owen got their own seats....its been a while. It was hoot.  If it weren't for the crazy prices, we'd ride planes more.

Ruby is so sweet to baby.  She got to watch a movie on the plane and she wanted baby to get one of her ear buds so she could hear too.

After arriving in the Outer Banks and our house, we went straight for the beach.  It was evening, and there were a bunch of people gathered around a roped off area.  Long story short, we got to see baby sea turtles hatch and make their way to the ocean.  It was incredible and probably a once in a lifetime opportunity if you don't work in that field.  It was moving to see their tiny bodies work their way to the ocean.  My maternal instincts kicked in or something.  I felt how small they were in that huge ocean, I was worried for them, and excited too.  I wondered what they would see and do in their first hours out there, and really, really, really hoped they would make it.

Madeleine's handywork :)

I think this one was at least five or six layers deep.  Definitely the one that wouldn't get taken by the tide.

The water was amazingly clear for most of the week.  We kept saying that we got a Caribbean vacation without paying for it.  The waves were pretty mellow for the first few days too, but it was a perfect opportunity for Ruby and Owen to get acquainted and fall in love with the ocean.  We could put them in a life jacket and didn't even have to hold them.  They learned to ride waves up and down, and were fine with schools of fish swimming around.  We rented stand up paddle boards so you could see EVERYTHING.  I was amazed at what was swimming around with us.  We saw quite a few sting rays throw themselves into the air not far from the paddle boards (and one swam under Chip's board), and I was closer than I have ever been to dolphins in the wild.  Cool stuff.  

Oh and here are a few videos.  They really tell the story better than pictures in some ways.  Enjoy!

1) https://vimeo.com/106777113- "what do we think about waves" interview

2) https://vimeo.com/106777114- this one is kinda long, but captures some great stuff including some great rides at the end so, thought i'd include. :)

3) https://vimeo.com/106777115- boogie board ride with owen

4) https://vimeo.com/106777117- boogie ride with ruby

Owen requested Oma's leftover lasagna and green beans for lunch.  He finished most of this plate.

Tiny Beautiful Things is fantastic book that I happened to be reading this week on the beach.  When I stumbled upon all these delicate and beautiful shells, it seemed like they were connected somehow.

 

Ruby- carried one of the boogie boards twice to the beach.  It was a good feat for a three year old and took some patience on mom's part, but was worth the look on her face when she was done.  So proud of herself.

Oh yeah, baby. :)

Cutest crack on the beach. 

I love the SUP because as you can see, it barely looks like there is a wave, yet he is totally riding it! It was great both for the smaller waves as well as later in the week when they got legit.

Evan really took after his Uncle Chip.  He put in a lot of hours on the SUP, and picked it up well.  He totally figured out how to catch waves, ride them, and make it look easy...which I can attest, is not the case.

Oma wades in to see what the "kids" are up to.

I got one morning run in.  Ah, best laid plans.  Oh well.  Beautiful abandoned dock of some sort caught that morning.

Oh, the impending wave.  Hold your breath, buddy! I love Madeleine taking the time to smile at the camera in the background as well as Oma helping Ruby get over the wave.

Of course, painted the nails.  Ooo la, la.

An evening SUP session for Chip and I and the kids.  This is Chip and Owen on one board and Ruby and I on the other.  I mostly love the clouds and shore.  I realized on this trip that evening on the beach is my favorite time of day.  Perfect temperature, perfect lighting, most of the people have gone home, and it is quiet.  Ahhhh....

Well, Chip and Even had to SUP in the dark one night.  It looked scary but fun.  The glow stuff was a hit and made it look really cool.  Tough to photograph, but cool.

One day there were a bunch of jellyfish on the shore.  They were harmless, thankfully, because my kids have no fear and were throwing, chopping, and burying them before I even noticed what they were playing with. 

A drippy castle with Madeleine in the background.

We got to sit through a storm on the beach.  It was awesome.  The clouds were dramatic, the rain relatively brief, and no lightning so Evan, Madeleine, and Chip surfed it out.  You can barely make the three of them out in the above picture.  

Nice form, Chip!

He is too much.  Again, this is a SUP that he is surfing.  So not easy.  Love this one of Evan below.

Ruby and Owen played so hard all day that they would climb out of the water at some point, ask for a towel to be laid down, they could lay down on it, and then ask to have another one on top of them.  5 minutes later, they would be out.

Oops- head got off the towel.  Poor guy- I think we managed to get the sand off before he rubbed his eyes.

Oma and Ruby. :)

We mostly enjoyed the home cookin of Oma this week, but one night we all got cleaned up and did go out to dinner.  We took this opportunity to visit the old Mulliken beach house and take a few photos on the beach.  

"The Atlantic Gull"

Mmmmm....The crab, the hush puppies, and the clam strips were all AMAZING!  I want it now.

Love these two goofs. :)

Madeleine and Ruby kickin it in the INCREDIBLY clear water.

Oh wow- hold on!

SUP boards are good for things other than surfing.

The girls :)

And, the end of a tiring week.  Sweet girl.

Tina, John, Evan, and Madeleine left for home.  We were headed out to the airport early the next morning.  So, time for one more visit to the beach.  We will miss you, ocean.

Thanks Voss' and mom for making the trip and all that it took to pull this off!  Good times were had by all. Let's do it again!