OBX: Wrap-up

While I would say the biggest excursion we did during our quick OBX trip this summer was our day at the aquarium, we did a few other things as well!

First, we went all the way up to Duck to go to the Sanderling Inn pool, as my aunt has a membership there due to owning property in the area. Waterproof camera for the win!

We went to lunch afterwards at a cafe in Duck and got some delicious desserts after lunch!

Second, I took the kids one afternoon to a trampoline center in Manteo to burn off some energy. Pretty fun place, and it worked to get rid of that energy!

Henry wasn't ever able to knock Natalie off of this joust, so it wasn't his favorite thing, but this video is pretty cute (this was before he got upset).

We tried this first climbing area multiple times - we called it the ninja warrior course because it was really hard! Natalie made it up onto the first of those thin, red climbing pieces and didn't get any farther. Henry was unfortunately too short to reach from one part to another for much of it, but I give the kids a lot of credit for not giving up and keeping trying (while we all laughed a lot at their failed attempts).

Third, on our last morning there (before heading home later that day), we finally hit the beach! The kids and I got up very early for sunrise donuts on the beach, some seashell hunting, sand digging, and ocean swimming. Advantage to going to the beach at that time of day, in far south Nags Head - the beach was empty!

While I wish we could have spent more time at the OBX this year, I think that we got a lot out of our 3 days there!

OBX: Aquarium

We spent a big chunk of our first day at the OBX in August at the NC Aquarium. We'd been there quite a few times with my parents, but with Linda living in Manteo, the drive was only about 10 minutes! Can't beat that. Plus, since I had been there in a few years, it was fun to see some of the changes they'd made.

We really enjoyed this when you walk in - sharks and other sea creatures swimming around us on a monitor up near the ceiling.

Of course I took tons of photos of the animals in the aquarium; here's a collage I put together of some of my favorite ones.

And, another favorite shot of a jellyfish. There was a whole room with these guys in cylindrical tanks, lit up. I didn't have my actual camera with me, just my phone, and I think it came out pretty well even for that!

There is a touch tank with rays and small sharks; we happened to show up at right as they were starting a session to tell us about the rays.

And we finally made our way around to the giant shark tank. This is definitely one of the coolest things that this aquarium has. The window in is as large as the room is tall, and there are some giant sharks to watch swimming around!

It's always great when divers enter the tank too; getting to watch their interactions with the sharks.

Linda, Henry, and Natalie in front of the shark tank!

The sharks can even swim some overhead; I love this shot!

Outside of the aquarium is a big dinosaur exhibit! They move and make noise. Pretty cool! I've got pics and videos of each, but the T-rex was definitely the biggest hit.

Another big hit was the souvenir Henry picked out. I have to say, I love this shirt. Yay for puns!

OBX: Walking around Manteo

In August the kids and I went to the Outer Banks for a few days, staying with my Aunt Linda in her condo in Manteo. I was so glad we got to do this, for many reasons, including the fact that it was our only beach trip of 2018. Unfortunately Evan couldn't join us due to work, so the kids and I packed up for the long weekend and headed down.

The first morning after we arrived (we got down late on a Wednesday night), I went for a walk through Manteo, along the water. I'm so glad I had my phone with me, as it was so pretty that morning!

And the following evening, we all went for a walk together in the same area. The setting sun made for some beautiful photos as well.

This is the same dock/building as in the second photo above!

It's always nice when the kids pose for me!

Beach 2017: UVA photo shoot

On our next-to-last night at the beach, we gathered up all 20 of us and headed out to the beach for a group photo shoot. We did this two years ago (and although I posted the group photo on FB, apparently I never posted it on the blog - oops!), and wanted to recreate it again this year. We had all packed UVA shirts for ourselves and the kiddos;I brought my blue & orange ground cover, my tripod and camera, and then it was photo time!


We decided to capture the kids first, as they were at their most cooperative then. Here's the best one I got of all of them together.

And of course the kids needed to be silly after I made them pose so nicely for me!

And then all of us! I only took two photos with the tripod, and they both turned out so well (although this one was my favorite) - we didn't have to take a ton! What a photogenic bunch we are :)

I then took family photos of each family. We have such photogenic friends! But I'm only going to post my family's here. Henry of course had to go to the bathroom right before it was our turn, so while Evan took him back to the house, Kathy grabbed a few pictures of Natalie and I. I love this one!

And my favorites of all 4 of us.

Then it was time for more photos on the beach!

My dancer can't go anywhere without practicing her leaping.

This inspired my friend Jason to do some leaping on the beach...and we then convinced all of the dads to do it together. I haven't laughed this hard in a LONG time. They were all such good sports! Unfortunately Evan can't be seen in this first one (he's leaping in the back) but wow, I love this photo so much.

Take 2! Not nearly as great as the first, but you can see Evan in this one.

To be fair, it was more like take 10 - the guys really did jump a bunch for our merriment. What great hubbies we have!

While we were entertained by the guys, the kids wandered some down the beach. We needed to corral them back, and so they started running at us. Definitely a good photo opp!

Beach 2017: Family photos

In my penultimate beach 2017 post, I thought I'd pull together my favorite photos of the 4 of us from the beach. These don't really need much description - just my favorites! Let's start with photos taken with my waterproof camera - these first 4 were selfies. I've gotten pretty good at taking them with the waterproof camera!

 Beta was great about taking photos of everyone on the beach. She didn't go in the water too much, so she got photos of all of us while we were in the water. Here are some fun ones hat I didn't know she took!

A posed shot of us on the 4th of July.

 A family photo in the ocean.

 And one of Henry flying!

 Finally, Kathy used my camera to take this family picture in the pool (after I took them of all the other families). Yay beach vacation!