We left last night at 7:30pm to begin the nine hour drive to the Outer Banks. We usually leave around 10, but the kids wouldn't get out of the car after we had it packed. They insisted we had to leave then. Thanks to my friend, Michelle, we used a luggage bag on our roof for many of our beach things.
The kids slept most of the way, but were wide awake around 5:30 am and ready to be at the ocean. Justin and I had barely slept at all - we did pull over for a 1-2 hour nap - so we were ready to sleep for a little while longer. However, the ruckus in the car would not allow it. So, we found a Burger King for breakfast and planned to head to the Wright Brothers Museum. However, we got there at 7:30 and it didn't open until 9. I wasn't about to drive around and do nothing for ninety minutes, so we headed to the beach. It was already 74 degrees and beautiful.
The older three have obviously been to the beach enough times to know what to do and how to have fun. Last year was Lucas second time at the beach, but first where he could walk. So, this year is his first REAL experience at the beach. That boy is fearless!! He would lay in the water and let the waves push him and roll him around! He chased the birds convinced that he could "just hold one please". He was a hoot! He even made friends with a little boy named Maddox. Too bad this is Maddox's last weekend here and he leaves tomorrow.
The older three boys chased ghost crabs up the beach, dug for shark teeth, and played in the waves with Justin. The red flag was up so they couldn't swim out to the sand bar like they usually enjoy doing. However, we stayed at the beach until 11:30 and they never once complained about having to stay close to shore and just play in the waves as they broke on the shore.
Then we decided to head to get some lunch, check in with our rental company, and while we waited for the house to be ready we went crabbing. Another family was there and they were actually crabbing for dinner (we were crabbing for fun and throwing them back), so we gave them all the ones that were big enough to keep (they have to be five inches across now - last year we kept any and all sizes). While crabbing, an otter kept swimming by, as did a not so friendly water moccasin. We were much more alert after seeing the snake and always kept tracking where he was.
We headed back to the beach as we waited the final hour or so until the house was ready. This time, the older three played soccer with Justin on the beach. Lucas was getting more tired, so he stuck by me and just ran around a little bit, as well as sitting on the stairs up the dunes to rest at times.
The house is great. The kids have already swam in the pool and tested the hot tub (it wasn't so hot, so it's heating as I write this). It's brauts and corn on the cob for dinner. My kids and I will eat hotdogs with our corn...well, cuz that's how we are! ; )
The weather last week was awful and it rained everyday. We were lucky we decided to go a week later this year because the forecast for this week is awesome. High 70s and 80s everyday but Wednesday, which has slight rain. That's okay...crabbing was better last year when we did it in the rain!
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