Beach week!

I can't believe it's back to school week and I'm writing a post about the fun we had smack dab in the middle of summer!  I'm desperately trying to get caught up from our whirlwind summer in time for the busy fall season ahead.  So without further ado...

Our trip to the Outer Banks!

After a long car ride with a toddler who will wake up the moment the car slows for traffic even if she's had her eyes closed for only 5 minutes then decides that 5 minutes was all the nap she needs... well you get the idea.  It was a long trip.

But we made it to Morris Farms not a minute too soon 

and the girls enjoyed riding in the cart, picking out produce, and eating ice cream!

 Not to mention sitting on the tractors :)

But later that evening, they enjoyed getting their toes wet even more!

The week had a bit of a slow start as Steve was not feeling well AND had to work (including a crazy overnight trip to New Jersey), but we still took in some sweet moments at the beach and around the beach house. 

 Fun to sit in the hammock chairs...

 Even more fun sitting in the little pool!

 Maelee loved looking for sea creatures!

 Had to include this hilarious pic of Maelee and I skipping- her playful yet graceful

prance with the classic head over the shoulder smile, and my clunky skip with my hair all sorts of crazy sticking straight out in back!

Out to eat at the Sugar Creek!  One of our favorite traditions :)

 Beautiful evening to walk along the pier at the sound.

 Back to the beach!

 So glad to be sharing this sweet time with Nana & Pop-Pop!

 Went to the aquarium and there was a fun dinosaur exhibit there!

 How this little lady loves the firece animals!

 And all sea life :)

 And Lilee enjoyed herself, too!

 Cool interactive sea turtle rehabilitation experience led Maelee to decide 

that's what she wants to do when she grows up :)

 Then Maelee and I got to enjoy a fun performance of "How I Became a Pirate!"

One of Maelee's favorite Pirate books.  It was a hoot!

Maelee got more individual attention the next day, too- with daddy back in town, we took advantage of one of the nearby miniature golf parks!

 

 She definitely improved as we went along!

I started out strong while Steve had some duds, but then he ended up having several holes-in-one, leaving Maelee and I trailing far behind...

 

Lilee was grateful for the individual attention from Nana & Pop-Pop :)

Beachtime later in the day!

 Maelee was so happy to have daddy at the beach!

 Lilee loved getting out into the water safe in daddy's arms!

 We enjoyed another fun beach week tradition at Duck one night where both girls loved just walking around and taking in the sights (ie- the fake animals, etc...)

 This could've been a beautiful family-in-front-of-sunset-shot but Lilee just wasn't having it.

Contrary to what the picture suggests, Maelee really hadn't just kicked her and I wasn't actually dropping her... just toddler tantrum drama! Lol.  It was pushing bedtime after all!

 Maelee's impression of a sunset.

It was a beautiful one!

 Someone was much happier after enjoying some ice cream:)

 Maelee was so excited to meet some friends during our final days at the beach-

they entertained each other all day!

 Despite having a painful blister on the inside of her foot earlier in the week which put a bit of a damper on some of her beach time enjoyment, she was all smiles toward the end!

 And Lilee loved both the water and the sand!

 Posing with new friend :)

 Not minding getting sandy that day!

 Steve and I were especially grateful for a sweet date night back at Duck, while the girls enjoyed pizza and a movie with my folks.  We got to take in another sunset and really good food!

 (Lilee being a goofball while we were out, getting a rise out of Nana & Pop-Pop by putting her paci in backwards!)

 While the date was a lot of fun, I was horrified to notice that the sign we picked as a cute photo-op was covered in massive spiders!!! The "dots" that you see to the left of the sign are all big creepy-crawlies...  Poor Steve had to check our room multiple times when we got home!

 The girls loved their "beachy" gifts from my folks and us- especially the mermaid tail from Nana & Pop-Pop! 

Our last day at the beach included all the favorites- finding creatures, playing with friends, and enjoying the sand and the sea...

 

 

 Till next week!

 Even Lilee helped out getting the place neat and clean on the morning we left!

 While Maelee carefully colored a picture for cousin Caleb for his upcoming stay :)

As always, we are SO grateful to be able to spend a week at my Aunt Viv & Uncle Tom's beach house in the Outer Banks and love the sweet memories our girls are making there.  The week had its ups and downs with illness and injuries (not to mention my poor mom's TWO FRACTURED TOES!!! Sidenote- as a result of a surprise dip in the sand while holding Lilee, she was forced to grip so hard to keep her balance that she actually cracked her toes!!!  Talk about a dedicated grandma - she was not gonna drop our Lilee pie even if it hurt her!!!), but all in all was another great trip.  We had beautiful weather, lots of yummy food, and even better company.  Life is better at the beach :)

Slideshow from our trip: