This post showcases the last few days of our fun trip to the Outer Banks, including our time at the Sugar Creek Restaurant, the Dunes, a fishing trip, lunch with the Miles family, big family portraits, an evening in Duck, and some final moments on the beach and in the pool. It was quite a trip!
We really did love every minute of it and were so impressed at how well all the kiddos (and the adults, haha!) did together. They really enjoyed just being with each other and played with one another so well.
In the middle of the week, all 18 of us went out to one of our favorite restaurants on the sound, Sugar Creek, and the kiddos loved looking at all the fish tanks. We always love walking around afterward and the girls enjoyed looking at some blue crabs and hamming it up for the camera :)
More dancing around at the dunes on the way back!
And more kite flying!
Both girls loved flying their kites!
These cuties drew quite a crowd for these pictures-
so many "awws!" while they were posing!
Then it was time to run!
Beautiful evening and lots of fun.
They couldn't resist.
Nothing like Too-daddy hugs!
Thursday was a big day. It started with Steve and Maelee joining Uncle Tom, Niel and Caleb, and Sam and Mason for a fishing trip. They loved it! Maelee got a turn behind the wheel, touched a puffer fish, and got a kick out of a little blue crab "doing push-ups on the ladder." :)
Lilee enjoyed some digging while big sis was fishing!
Then we all had the special treat of lunch with the Miles family! Our vacation coincided with a trip of theirs so they came over bearing lunch for all. It was delicious! And most of all, we loved their company. Maelee was tickled that both Wil and Maddie could join for some pool play!
This it was time for some classic extended family portraits on the beach!
We missed having my brother there, as well as Mary Catherine's kids and their spouses, but we were pretty impressed at this shot.
So blessed by this family.
One proud Too-Dad & Too-Mom!
These girls are loved by many generations!
We got in some good beach time on Fri with a little bit of on-the-beach pool play, and building the "fanciest" sand castle ever.
Filling the moat.
So proud of the final product!
Checking out the mahi that Caleb caught on his fishing trip Fri morning!
After dinner Fri night, Too-Dad and Too-Mom joined Nana & Pop-Pop and our family to our annual evening in Duck for ice cream, the beautiful sunset, and enjoying the painted horses.
Such reserved little girls... :)
We barely caught the sunset but what we saw was gorgeous!
So glad TD & MC could join this year!
Enjoying Mason's & Lane's awesome Legos Sat morning
Enjoying our final beach moments Saturday afternoon.
Some final time with the boys.
And in the pool.
SO proud of how far Maelee's swimming came along in one week!
Happy girl.
Taking apart the puzzle.
Had to try on Too-Daddy's shoes!
Last evening walk out to the beach.
Fun drink & appetizer date night along the sound.
Bye bye beach!
Link to more pictures on Shutterfly:
https://pix.sfly.com/bZPfC7
(By the way, no need to sign in to view the pictures through Shutterfly. Just give it a moment and the pics will show along the bottom and there is also a faint arrow to the right of the picture in the middle where you can scroll through.)
Lots of sweet memories made that first week of August. So much laughter with the cousins, so many shells collected on the beach, so many jumps into the pool... We always love our time at the Outer Banks but this year was definitely extra special being able to spend it with so much of our dear family and at the perfect place for all of us. Life is better at the beach!
