Duck, Duck, ...

No, not Goose. The beach of course. Well and duck hunting. We all really wish James could have gone with us but were also very glad that we did not cancel our trip to the beach when he had to work. At the last minute, my Mom flew up and we drove to Duck, NC for a week in the Outer Banks. We had a terrific time-although we really wish James could have gone with us. It was fun just getting away and doing fun stuff. It was also neat to go back to a place that James and I had been several times before but very different this time. We'd been once with Janelle & Rob and their sweet little 6 week old boy, once with James' Mom, once for New Year's Eve just the two of us, and once with our own sweet 6 month old boy and my mom had been twice (once a math conference and once with Dad). All very different from our group of Mom, me, 5,4,2 year old boys and 10 month old baby girl. And we were blessed in so many ways- like getting upgraded to a 3 bedroom (plus a 4th bedroom if you count KG's room- the laundry room!), being there for the annual free day at the aquarium, having terrific weather for January, and having our own swimming pool, pingpong table, and movie theater! A really good week.

here's us by the water at Currituck Lighthouse- I have a couple great pics from that same spot almost 9 years ago with me, James, and a little bitty boy and Janelle, Rob, and that same boy.
the boys had a blast playing in the sand. the beautiful beach all to ourselves!
we went swimming almost every night. every one loved it. K & C learned to play sharks and minnows, KG & T had a blast splashing around
our new hunters after a visit to the Wildife Center- they went to "Catch of the Day" and got a class on fish. The park ranger was terrific. I wish I had a video of him and the boys swimming around using their tail fins.

sweet baby boy who says he's not a baby anymore- he's started sleeping in a big boy bed now after spending the week climbing into bed with me.
Cape Hatterhas lighthouse in it's new (since 1999) year old spot. The boys became Junior Park Rangers at Hatterhas and at the Wright Brothers Kitty Hawk Memorial. They love their badges.
outside the aquarium- beautiful spot for a picnic if we hadn't been stuffed with yummy quesadillas- the boys can eat!!
climbing up Jockey's Ridge- the largest sand dune in the eastern US. it's very steep! James and I took hang gliding lessons there a lifetime ago :) K & C & I climbed all the way to the top!
Nana & napping baby girl.