The Beach, Part One

We have been on the road almost since Andy finished on June 30th. We planned a big Beach trip to Topsail and recruited a big crew to join us. Margaret and Bruce came the whole week. The Townsends came Sat-Tues. and Gigi and Grumpa came Wed-Sat. We had a BIG house right on the beach and it was great. We had SO much fun. I have truly posted a million pictures and this is just the first two days!

We caravaned to the beach on Saturday. As soon as we got the the house the big kids headed to the ocean with Dave and Margaret.

You can see Margaret with 3 of them. They were told to just get their feet wet, but that didn't last long! Joiner had to come in with me after a while because her hair was wet! So much for feet.

Bennett and Bear ate a quick snack in the house and then came down to visit the ocean for the first time. B kept looking out to the surf!

My Sandpipers were back running in the breakers!

Bennett literally getting his feet wet.

Bear getting his feet wet.

The trip is so worth it to see them so happy! I feel the same way when I see the beach each year! Here is Carly.

Joiner. I think we can see how she got her hair wet!

Bruce, Andy, B, and Margaret (hidden by Andy)

More water discovery

This was so funny. Carly, Joiner, and Ethan were outside on the upper deck. Ellison and B were inside. Ellison started running from window to window and Bennett was so interested in what she was doing. He was following her as best as he could and just laughing!

We fed everyone and got them into bed as early as possible. The big kids were all in a bunk room. They had a hard time going to sleep the first night, but they did great! Each morning, after the clock would turn to 7:00, they would get in each other's beds and read and talk until we came to get them. The first night there were also some really loud fireworks, so it wasn't all their fault!

The next morning, everyone was literally up with the sun. Here is Margaret with our girls plotting the beach fun. Note, they are still in their PJs!

Bennett nurses then waits about an hour and eats his yogurt before his nap. So Dave and Margaret took the big kids down again. I don't even think it was 8am yet!

Leah and I decided to take the little boys out to play for a little while before their nap. To say that Bennett was excited about the ocean and sand would be an understatement. I don't think a child has ever enjoyed the beach more than he did that week. He couldn't get wet or sandy enough. Here he is off to the ocean. Slowly at first...

Then crawling as fast as he could!

As usual, Carly is right there with him! And Andy, too, in case you can't tell with the hat:)

Everyone is so happy!

More of the crew building sand things

Dave and Bear

Daddy and his boy in the waves. B liked this, but he preferred to crash them himself!

Carly and Ethan. Carly is so much like me; clapping about everything!

Joiner is our serious sand engineer. So much like Pops!

Bennett came over to investigate and discovered this dump truck full of sand and water. It looks like Joiner is holding his hands, but she is really trying to get him out of the truck!

We moved him over to dig with Margaret.

Leah and I brought the little boys in for their nap and then settled into the hot tub! Too bad it was too early to enjoy a drink. The monitors wouldn't reach the distance to the beach so we traded off each morning with baby duty. I don't think Andy ever too advantage of the hot tub, but I know he napped!

The big kids came back in about the time the little ones woke up. We made them go down to the outside shower. There was a hammock set up beside it to "hang out" in until it was your turn.

The photographer that we love was taking beach pictures the week were there. The Townsends had their pictures Sunday night so we ate early and then headed out to the beach after they left for their session.

Carly

Joiner. Love the beach action shots!

Margaret and Joiner working on some plan

Joiner working on more sand items

Carly working on her sand castle

The men hard at work!

Bennett was in the sand again!

I love this series of pictures. Just look at how happy he is!

Does it get any better?

Margaret was watching his mayhem

Mommy and B

Joiner and Margaret working on their plan. Margaret was the leader of many sand projects that week.

This is what I spent most of the week doing...chasing Bennett. I was trying to let him play, but then he would quickly get too far and in too deep and I would have to...

...haul him back!

I made the mistake of running in the morning most mornings. I should have just let this be my cardio! If you talked to my parents you might hear that this water baby part might be my fault, genetically:)

More to come!