Ang & 4 Plus 4: July 2014

We finally made it to the Outer Banks and a great time was had by all. We stayed in a small town called Frisco on the southern end of the Outer Banks and I really liked the less commercial atmosphere. It was even better that we got to share a beach house with Darrin and Katie and their five kids, as well as Creed and Lana and their son Kade. And even EVEN better that Grandma and Grandpa Sweat and Andrew and and Andrea were just 30 minutes away in Salvo--we got to hang out with them too. Friends AND family!

The house:

We all fit great (and somehow Forrest and I got the only room with a king sized bed). The lower level pool table was a big hit--the Hallstrom family got lucky in the sweet sixteen pool tournament--and the little kids got a lot of use out of the hot tub. Here they are relaxing after a long day boogie boarding:

The view was gorgeous too. A few scenic shots:

The walkway to the beach

Our one and only neighbor to the south

The beach by the broken pier. I guess it's been broken for a while now -- I found it kind of charming.

The best part was the ocean right outside our door. Everybody having fun in the water:

We like to call the skim board below the "skim board of death." Poor Creed BROKE HIS ANKLE within 1 hour of arriving at the beach taking that thing for a spin. Unbelievable. But he hobbled around on his crutches in very good spirits throughout the vacation--an inspiration! Needless to say, I didn't try it.

We didn't spend all day in our swimming suits, though. We got out and did a little sightseeing and enjoyed some good food. For example, lighthouses, which are a big deal in the OBX. Lighthouse number one, I climbed to the top, which is quite an accomplishment given my acute fear of heights, amplified whenever children are present.

Elise and Jane, two of the present children.

Up, up, up the spiral staircase

Yiiiiiiiikes!

Lighthouse number two. Very cool to look at. Everyone but Jonas and me hiked to the top of that one. Me because I was scared and Jonas because he was one part supportive of his mother and another part hot and tired.

Jonas and me, chillin like villains.

We met my family for some tasty seafood. Enjoying a little crab:

Or, if you're not the seafood loving type, chicken fingers. Good old chicken fingers:

This is the bathroom of the seafood restaurant. I absolutely had to take a photo:

We also ate at a lovely restaurant, grownups only, with Darrin & Katie and Creed & Lana. Delicioso, and a beautiful view of the Sound:

Our last full day there we rented kayaks and paddle boards and tooled around the Sound side of the island:

Paddle boarding wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. Pretty peaceful actually:

I love this pic:

One of our best little field trips was to the sand dunes at Jockey's Ridge state park. All the rolling sand hills are pretty breathtaking. And the kids (young and old) had a blast running and jumping. No special equipment needed, no entrance fees, no electronic hookups: just run and jump and have a grand old time. I got some great use out of the Nikon's super-fast shutter speed and captured some awesome leaps. And admirable attempts at leaping: