Shopping

You didn't have to go far to find some OBX goodies. A 5 minute drive brought you to Timbuck II where they boast 60 stores or something crazy. It's right near the "Brew Thru" (I think that's how it's spelled) which is a drive through beer/convenience store. Brilliant!!

Neil and I took the kids to lunch and did a little shopping. I wouldn't be me if I didn't spend SOME money on vacation...

Flora and Fauna of OBX

Saw some very cool stuff in OBX. From various sizes of jumping fish in the water, to blueberry jellyfish (is that we decided they're called?), to ghost crabs, to MANY turtles and finally - dolphins! We saw some very brave kayakers in the water one day and there seemed to be something breaching in the water near them. My 70's inner child immediately thought "SHARK!" but it was really a whole pod of dolphins. This was the best shot I got of them, which is rather pitiful.

Ok, really, ah-D.

My favorite shot of Emma!! Marc "chillaxing". Matt digging a hole (see future pos about holes on the beach). Devin and Jack searching for treasure. And Marc doing his best surfer dud imitation.

NO MORE DAY 4!!

Oh, but there are more...our beach set up with the chairs everyone loved.

Dev and Jack reflecting.

Matt and Emma flying a kite.

Love this one of Jack and Bec.

Justin with surfer dude hair.

More Day 4 goodies

Ooooo the reflection shots. LOVE the water reflections!!!

Biiiiiiiig picture day

Ok, I took soooo many pictures on our 4th day into vacation I'll need to split them up. A lot of my favorites from the week came from this day. I'm fairly certain Deb or Bec took all the good kid close ups, though I'd love to take credit.

Beachy Keen

Here is Neil before and after vacation (or is it before and after 35??) and one of the chatty girls. Didn't they look like they were conspiring??

One I loved of Devin and Emma, who as the older kids got along sooo well. And loved when they got to watch tv after the other kids went to bed!

Last one is Jujie the cutie patootie in the swimshirt of Jess's that I seriously debated stealing I liked it so much. Ooops, did I say that out loud?

Matchy Happy

Historically on the OBX trip there would be matching bathing suits pre-bought for the kids. Well, being the good Gap girl that I am, I'm ALL about the matchy-ness. Bec and I, left to our own devices at Target, bought matching dresses for the girls too. Hee hee, couldn't resist. Somehow, although the boys all had matching suits, we never seemed to coordinate their wearing them on the same day. Oh well...

The last picture of Devin alone cracks me up. He insisted on using this zinc-based sunscreen stick on his face every day (though I wonder if he ever burns, like Neil). Well, it was impossible to wash off. We had to ban the stick use on family picture night so I wouldn't have pix of albino Devin.

Day Two at the Beach

Apparently my day 2 pix were all about Justin. I have a bunch where he was just being cute, playing, totally oblivious to me.

I love the Hanna family water photo with Julia being the party crasher in the middle. Don't you love how she managed to get the best spot between the two grown ups??

More First Day Faves

A few more...check out the screened in porch where the kids ate all their meals. Though this may be the only meal where Justin actually ate out there, preferring the company of the adults (who can blame him??) Made clean up so much better. (Though Bec and Matt ended up with some mac & cheese on their deck...)

I love the one of Jack because this look was similar to how he'd look when he popped out of a wave. Jack would look near-drowning through these waves and then pop up like nothing happened with this casual look on his face. Made me laugh.

First Day - OBX

One of my favorite times to be at the beach was after dinner. On our first day we ate early and headed down to the water. Ahhhh, the light. A photographer's dream. Gave everyone that glow. Here were some of my faves from that first evening trip.