4th of july weekend

*i couldn't figure out how to move this post, but it obviously occurred before the next one:o)*

we spent 4th of july weekend at the beach house with nanny, grandaddy, daniel, beth, mckenzie, jack, and emory. the kids got along great, and we all had fun at the beach! 4th of july evening, all of us (sans nanny, grandaddy, and emory) took the boat to manteo to watch the fireworks from the water (like we did last year). last year we had a nice bright moon and working spotlight to guide us home. this year, we had no moon and a spotlight with batteries that died on our way home as well as very little gas! it was quite the exciting night as we had to find our way in the dark to a lit dock and wait for bill to come get us. not to mention, we all got soaking wet from a wave that crashed in the boat when we were leaving the fireworks!! we might have to rethink this little venture for next year...

emory, kenzie, jack, weston, and ella---it doesn't get any cuter than this!
sweet sisters:o)
i mean, really! when will i be able to take a decent picture of them together?!
i can't believe she just turned one!!
emory loved being pushed around the house in the baby doll stroller!
best buds!
i can't believe how much kenzie is growing up!! she is 10 now and reminds me of a little teenager!
the kids loved jumping off the boat and into the bay after tubing! ella even did it a few times!
all the kiddos tubing...
i took this pic when we headed out to sea for our 4th of july adventure...no one had a clue what the night would bring:o)

family vacation to OBX july 9-18, 2010

we took our family vacation to nags head from july 9-18. these pics are just a few of the highlights...

i think i see a future in bodybuilding! hahahaha!


we took henry down to the bay to practice some water fetching. he did well at first, but then was really distracted by the egrets. weston had to wade out in the nasty water to get the dummy for him before we left!

this was henry's first time at the ocean. he was just like a little kid running from the waves! it was so funny to watch:o)

all the kids...
we spent most days at the beach when the weather allowed us. it was pretty hot and stormy all week. weston got really brave with the water and would go out far on his boogie board. ella would go out far with chad. i would go out...to pee! that water was freezing!!

i love this picture! ella liked jumping over the waves when they came ashore.
we took one sunny, but very windy day to go down to cape hatteras. it was our first time down there as adults, and we had a wonderful time! ella was too short to climb the lighthouse, so we just admired it from the outside and from the inside looking up the stairs. maybe next year she will be tall enough to climb!



the last day we were there, there was a skim boarding competition going on down at the beach where we normally sit. it was cool to watch the super talented skim boarders do their thing! ella used her boogie board as a skim board and tried to imitate them. it was so cute!
watch out, weston!!