Vacation Re-cap 4 of 4: What's a vacation re-cap without a post devoted entirely to food?

One of the best things about a week at the beach is the extra time...

...to eat
...to make fun foods you wouldn't normally make
...that you then eat
...and buy foods that you wouldn't normally buy
...to eat.

One night we made our own personalized pizzas which is basically like a craft and a meal all in one.

And the much anticipated crab leg night...

...where we upped our poundage to 13.

Because this little one is now partaking...

SO sad when it's over...

Almost as sad as the last day of vacation when we drown our sorrows by finishing off the ice cream in the freezer at 8:30am...

I love my family so much and this week at the beach is always such a special time. Can't wait to do it all again in about 50 weeks!

Until then, I have some running and Zumba to do to counteract the crab ice cream pizza pounds. :-)

Vacation Re-Cap 3 of 4: Da Pool

It's not a full vacation day at the beach without a trip to the pool as well. The kids loved practicing all their new skills they had learned during their spring swim lessons...and wearing goggles.

Vacation Recap 2 of 4: Beach time!

These kids were amazing this year at the beach. They would spend HOURS outside and not complain once. I was just in disbelief but loved every second we were out there with our toes in the sand.

Not to mention, our "load" has definitely decreased since the days of small children.


And of course, bribing them with Sunset Slush icees every day helped our cause, too.


Jake found a new hobby with Uncle Eric...super cute buddies!




Loved the time we had everyone outside at once. Always someone to talk to!

(But really, in all honesty, Jake and Brooklyn only had eyes for two people...)

And I shared this on Facebook too but here is my beach PSA for parents: Don't just scan the waters for sharks. Keep an eye out for unsupervised children flying kites in the middle of a crowded beach not paying attention. Luckily, I was watching Jake when this kid suddenly clotheslined him. I was able to grab the string away from his neck but not before it left a cut.

But aside from this minor altercation...we had a FABULOUS time on the beach at Ocean Isle.

With no sharks. :-)

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Today would have been my grandmother's birthday. I miss this women more than words can express.

Though her body has been physically gone from this earth since December, her mind had been slipping away from us for some time before then.

I don't weep for her loss in that I truly rejoice knowing she is with our God and with my grandfather, her Fast Eddie, in heaven now.

But I do weep for the memories...

...the sweet, sweet memories.

...the 30+ years of memories of a women whose lap I never left, whose laugh was contagious, whose arms were never empty (yet never, ever full), and who loved me and my family more than anything.

So, happy birthday, Grandma. Squeeze Grandpa and Larry for me and let them treat you like the queen you always were.

Today is your day.

Vacation Recap 1 of 4

Last week, we spent a glorious week at Ocean Isle Beach. This week's trip was spent with my family (mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law, and another whole house full of the best friends that are really like family).

The kids do so well traveling, and I was THRILLED that they chose to listen to some good music (aka Brendan James) on the way there instead of our normal Cars or Planes or Nemo.

We arrived with no trouble or traffic in time for our annual lunch at Sharkey's. Yum!

This year's house (2 Channel) was beautiful. We love Island Park and always find great rentals there.

A little fishing with Nanny would have made Pops proud...

Because we don't see Caroline and Eric for all our birthdays, we celebrate at the beach. The kids LOVE this tradition and, as always, they got some great gifts from their aunt and uncle, including a "make your own claymation video" set and a Frozen Trouble Game.


Uncle Eric tried to encourage Brooklyn to get some summer reading done. No luck though. :-)

Always lots of arts and crafts!


And we always have a great time socializing in the evenings. On Friday, we celebrated Chad's birthday with our whole group. Yummy cake and lots of laughs.

More vacation recap coming soon....too many pictures for one post!