Wow, summer is flying by. I feel like it hasn't even started yet but it is really almost over. So with that being said I am finally posting about our wonderful vacation that we took in May down in Corolla N.C.
We left our house on May 5th for the 4 hour drive.
About two hours into the drive we entered into a tunnel. My siblings always love going in tunnels.
As we entered Bradley, Carter and Hannah tried to see how long they could hold their breath it was pretty funny.
Shortly after that we met up with the Bass' (the family that we went on vacation with) and had some lunch at Chick-fil-a.
The ride felt very short this time and before we knew it we were crossing the bridge to enter into the island.
We got an oceanfront house this year, it was amazing and also something most of my family had never experienced.
That day was pretty foggy but the ocean was still beautiful.
After getting to walk on the beach for a little bit I came in to help with unpacking. There was a lot of stuff to sort and unpack but thankfully we had a lot of helpers, and entertainers for the babies.
Day 2,
This picture was taken by Mrs. Bass. I only got up once to see the sunrise it was beautiful.
Later that day we all got in the pool. We were all very thankful that it was heated because most of the week there was a chill in the air.
Elijah wasn't so sure about the pool but at least he didn't cry about it, he actually fell asleep. :)
Then that evening before diner we went out on the beach to fly some kites, and let me tell you it was perfect weather for that, but before we did we took a walk up the beach.
Carter was brave enough to feel the water. It was freezing especially because of all the wind.
We walked all the way up to the fence that you see in the background of the picture above (which is the place where you can drive out onto the beach).
Once we got back dad got some kites up in the air.
Hannah mostly played with Ethan and collected shells.
Bradley and dad were the ones flying the kites most of the evening. Brad did really good at getting it up in the air.
So cute
Hannah standing on the top of our beach access. Something we learned from the neighbors who lived beside us was that where Hannah is standing in the picture above used to be decking, but over the course of fifteen years the dunes had moved over and covered it!
Dad got his kite up really high. See the black dot in the picture above.
After about an hour or two out on the beach we took the kites down and went inside.
While we were cleaning up from diner that night we noticed that a little baby had escaped. In the picture above you can see the look he gave mom when we found him climbing down the stairs. :)
Elijah looks like he's ready for bed.
Notice Bradley on the couch? He is looking over his drawing and deciding what to draw next (it seems like he is always doing that these days).
Before bed Hannah and Ethan read a book. It was cute seeing what Hannah thought the book said. :)
Day 3,
On Monday it was a lot warmer than all the other days so we decided to give the beach a try.
Once we got everything over the dunes Hayden started digging a huge hole for a sand castle. Bradley and Carter helped a little to but Hayden did most of the digging.
While we were on the beach some of us managed to find crabs the picture in the above is the smallest crab that we found...
...and here is the biggest one that we found.
Dad got some kites out to fly, and again it was perfect weather for it (very windy).
Also even though the water was freezing Hayden and Mr. Bass decided to give canoeing a try.
Mr. Bass explaining the plan of action to Hayden. (this was Hayden's first time canoeing).
But he got up! Now it just a matter of staying up. :)
Well, he didn't stay up for very long and after a few more tries they both decided that the ocean was freezing and they came back to shore.
Bradley and Carter also got in the ocean and even did some boogie boarding.
In the evening sometime we all went back to the house and swam in the pool.
Day 4,
Tuesday was another great beach day it was nice and warm outside and not as windy.
Bradley and Hayden starting to work on the castle again.
Hannah had lots of fun playing in the sand but she didn't want to go into the ocean.
Elijah had a lot of fun on the beach, the only problem was that he wasn't very afraid of the ocean and he could run pretty fast so you had to watch him.
There he is making a run for it.
Day 5,
On Wednesday we all piled in our big van and went to the aquarium. It was about an hour drive from where we were staying.
The first exhibit we saw was a big tank with sting-rays in it, and you could touch them (of course there stingers were cut off).
Hannah wasn't so sure about them.
The next exhibit was a huge tank with fish and sharks in it.
Elijah looks a little unsure about all of this.
They actually fed the sharks while we were there and it was pretty cool. All of the fish went crazy but the sharks just calmly swam around the tank like they normally did, occasionally picking up some food (I guess they weren't very concerned about were there next meal was going to come from because they had fish swimming all around them!).
The shark in the picture above was the biggest in the tank.
Outside there was some more exhibits, one of them had otters in it and you could even look inside their den.
There was also some alligators.
He doesn't look to happy (look at all the teeth).
Once we all got back inside all of us did a simulation on curing a sea turtle from certain diseases. I only have one picture though because I did it too.
We also saw this really strange looking crab.
It was called a Spider crab and it kind of does look like a spider.
And that ends day five's activities.
Day 6,
On Thursday we went back out onto the beach again.
Elijah is so cute in his swimming gear.
The boys were having fun expanding their castle.
That day even I got in the ocean. I was freezing but I just couldn't leave the beach without getting in at least once.
And after a while it felt a little warmer.
Then that evening we all got in the pool again.
Hannah was pretty worn out after a hard day of playing and almost a week without a nap.
After diner we got all dressed up and went to the beach for some family pictures. The one above I'm sure you've already seen before but I just love it.
Here's another one of my favorites (except Elijah is looking down)...
...and then here is a group picture.
Also I just had to add this one in. The sunrise was so beautiful on the ocean.
On Friday we swam in the pool some and packed up the van. Then Saturday morning we drove home. The week seemed so short as it always does but it was still so much fun!
To God be the Glory,
Heather
