Our Week Away

This year, we went to the beach with my parents and we tried somewhere new.  We went to Avon, NC and it was wonderful!  It was secluded, but still had lots of nearby entertainment.  And most importantly, the beach was beautiful and God blessed us with wonderful weather for the entire week.  We took my nieces with us so that the boys could have a week with their best buds at the beach and everyone had a great time.  My sister and brother in law joined us for the last two days and we got to celebrate my Mom and Daniel's (a few days early) birthdays while everyone was together.

All the beach bums: Daniel, Laura, Jacob, Emma, & Sarah

There was a sand bar there most of the week - the kids loved it because they felt like we were letting them go out far, but by the time they made it to the sand bar, the water was only up to their ankles!

Even Daniel got to enjoy the sand bar!

We headed to the Hatteras Lighthouse one day since we were only staying about 10 miles away.

We made it! Some of the kids and I at the top of the lighthouse.  I was shocked that we all made it, to be honest.  You cannot lift or carry anyone inside the lighthouse, which meant all 5 kids (and us 4 adults!) had to climb each and every one of the 248 steps to the top.  Phew!

Mom and Sarah even made it all the way up.  I think Mom may have almost completely conquered her fear of heights since last time we climbed the lighthouse in 2005, she would only climb to the top, but wouldn't come out of the stairwell.

After the lighthouse, we rode the ferry over to Ocracoke Island and had lunch.  The kids loved riding the ferry!

Apparently, Daniel was VERY excited about being on the ferry!

Dylan & David rented a kayak on our last day there.  The kids had a blast riding it, but I think the grown-ups enjoyed it the most.  ;)

David pulls the kids out across to the sand bar.

Daniel got a turn, too!  He stayed in the "shallow end", but he still had a blast.

Jacob and Dylan after their ride.

This picture cracks me up every time I see it.  It looks like Jacob is the navigator, while David does all the rowing and Princess Laura is just along for the ride. 

Daniel goes for a walk with one of his best buds, Pop-Pop.

This picture pretty much sums up our week.  Just best buds all hanging together.  I love getting the chance to get away for a while and it makes it even better to have my parents, my sister and brother-in-law, and all my nieces with us.  I already can't wait for next year!