OBX The Sound

While at the Outer Banks, Mike and Hendrick had the opportunity to get away for an unique adventure: kayaking on the sound.  They, along with Grandpa, Great Aunt Linda, Uncle Dann, and Aunt Julie, rented 2-person kayaks for an early morning, hour-long paddle on the sound. 

What a neat way to experience the sound: on their tour, they investigated duck blinds, spotted turtles, and did some bird watching.  Hendrick was thrilled to have a big-boy outing and to be a part of the fastest kayak team : )

We have several other boys who can't wait for their turn to paddle the sound on future beach vacations!

OBX Day Trip

As much fun as it would be to spend our entire week at the beach . . . at the beach, there are so many other great things to explore on the Outer Banks.

This year, we took a day trip to drive 60 miles south down the Outer Banks - nine kids in tow (our eight plus a cousin : ) 

Our first stop was The Wright Brothers National Memorial near Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.  The kids watched a ranger talk explaining the engineering behind the first flight, utilizing full scale reproductions of the Wright brothers' kite, 1902 glider, and 1903 flying machine.  (During the talk, Burke pulled out his wiggly front tooth!).  Then the kids attended a kite making class and watched in wonder as more than 50 kites took flight at the base of the memorial, utilizing the winds of the 6th windiest city in America.  Next stop was to walk the path of the first flight, check out the reproduction lodgings and hanger, and hike up Big Kill Devil Hill to see the Pylon dedicated to their revolutionary first flight.  While at the park, all the kids were proud to earn their Junior Ranger badges!

Just a little south, we had our second stop of the day: Jockey's Ridge State Park in Nags Head, North Carolina.  Jockey's Ridge is the tallest active sand dune in the Eastern United States, with heights varying from 80 to 100 feet tall and taking up an area of 420 acres.  The summer sand typically reaches temperatures 20-30 higher than the outside temperature, and the barren mass of sand resembles the Sahara Desert - a hike to the top of the dunes is not for the faint of heart.  Mike gave the kids a spectacular motivational speech before their ascent: "It's going to be hard, but it's going to be well worth it.  Everything in life that is worth having you have to work hard to get."  Five kids were motivated to make the grueling climb in the 95 degree temperature. 

They quickly climbed up and back down (no sliding this trip - the sand was too hot!) and dripping with sweat, proudly returned to those of us waiting in the cool of the nature center, with grand and heroic tales to tell.  So proud of our dessert trekkers! 

Next, we continued our trip south, entering the Cape Hatteras National Sea Shore, an escape from the developed northern Outer Banks.  With exception of a few small towns, this part of the Outer Banks barrier islands gorgeous natural beauty has been preserved.  Along the way, we stopped to view the horizontally-striped Bodie Island Lighthouse, built in 1872.

Further down the coast, our last stop of the journey was at the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.  The iconic diagonal-striped, built in 1870 (after replacing the original 1803 lighthouse), is the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States.  The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was moved 2,900 feet inland in 1999, due to significant dune erosion which threatened the structure.  It's wonderful that this famous symbol of North Carolina has been preserved.  All four lighthouses along the Outer Banks are still operational. 

This was a fantastic day trip.  We can't wait to explore more of the Outer Banks during future vacations!

OBX Crabbing

Another beach tradition: crabbing!

This year, although the blue crabs were biting, the crew was unable to capture any in a bucket.  So no close observation, and no crabs skittering across the dock.  Regardless, it's still a fun adventure. 

The dock we traditionally visit on the sound offers beautiful views of the Currituck Lighthouse and plenty of opportunity to spot wildlife.  This year, besides the writer spider, crabs, and gulls (who were after the chicken legs), the crew got to watch a curious swimming animal - most likely a river otter or a nutria. 

They crew went crabbing early in the day to avoid peak temperatures.  It was a hot week at the beach, with temperatures in the 90's - no problem while enjoying cool ocean breezes and refreshing ocean waters . . . but very hot for attempting other outings. 

The kids were tough and super good sports about the heat . . . but you can see it was a little too hot and sunny to pose for a picture : )

(They were so thankful to jump in the waves and cool down after this outing!)

*I stayed at the beach house with my feet up, missing this adventure. 
Thanks to Mike and the rest of the family for making this happen for the kiddos!

OBX Night Life

Armed with flashlights and glow sticks, it's a treat to venture down to the beach in the evening.  It's nearly empty except for a few fishermen and beach walkers . . . the perfect place to test out our new kite (Hiwot's birthday gift), and the perfect time to search for ghost crabs.  And with cool sand and sunsets, it's a gorgeous time to be at the beach. 

Hendrick captured a bucket-full of ghost crabs!

And he (impressively) correctly identified a found skate egg case.  These egg cases, also known as a Mermaid's Purse, surround the eggs of sharks and skates.  In the Outer Banks region, any found egg cases are from a skate - a creature similar in looks to a stingray. 

Later in the week, Tesfaye purchased his own kite.  We had two kites flying high on the beach : )

OBX The Beach

The glorious beach:  soft sand, blue skies, clear water, salty sea breeze. 

Each morning, we climbed the stairs over the dune, secured a place on the sandy beach, and spent several hours ocean-side.  The big kids hardly left the water - riding the boogie boards, body surfing, and diving through waves.  Kolpin enjoyed digging in the sand with occasional jumps in the shallow waves.  Maclaren was happy as a clam, sitting where the surf occasionally rolled over her legs, crawling on the sand, picking up shells, and clapping at the waves. 

Each day, the beach is new.  Some days the sand is perfectly clean, other days the sand is full of shells.  Some days the waves are big, other days the surf is gentle.  Some days we're cooled with an ocean breeze, other days the wind is blowing from the mainland.  Some days the water is bathwater-warm, other days the water is briskly cold.

We spot different critters each day: moon jelly fish, ghost crabs, coquina clams, mole crabs, seagulls, pelicans, porpoises. . . 

It's a new experience everyday. 

We feel so blessed to be able to enjoy a beach vacation with our family.
It is one of my favorite places.
It now a favorite place for my children as well. 

I love that there is something for everyone, every stage, to enjoy at the beach.  Sand for digging, water for splashing, waves for jumping and riding, shells for finding, critters for watching, the ocean for swimming . . .

We had a fantastic vacation!

OBX Mementos

I always enjoy mementos . . . especially when they help bring me back to a special place

- like the beach : )

I also love craft projects.

So, it was important to me to help the kids create their own unique mementos as a souvenir of the beach. 

Two years ago, the kids made "sand boxes."  They decorated clear acrylic boxes with paint markers, filled them with beach sand and shells, then glued the boxes shut (to prevent sand spillage).  These boxes have been treasured by the kids. 

This year, the kids made "treasure boxes."  They carefully collected perfect shells and spent time layering acrylic paint on wooden boxes.  When the paint dried, we glued their shells to the top and finished each box with a protective coat of gloss.  The kids are super pleased with their new treasure boxes, currently filled with assortments of shells, stickers, taffy wrappers, and other beach mementos. 

I wanted my own memento too.
For the adults, we glued shells to wooden disks to create simple OBX Christmas ornaments.

OBX Family

We had an incredible week-long vacation at the Outer Banks with family. 
Growing up, spent time at the Outer Banks each year - my grandparents, Aunt, parents, my brother and sister.  Over the years, our family has grown exponentially, but we've kept up the beach tradition, meeting together every other year.  It has always been one of my very favorite places.

It's wonderful to spend an entire week sharing a house on the beach, spending time together, and creating memories.  I am so thankful to my parents for the gift of a beach vacation.  I love sharing "my beach" with my children.

*This year, we had the privilege of celebrating my parent's 40th wedding anniversary - a fun surprise party! 

One important tradition . . . family pictures on the beach : ) 

The kids were great sports.  It would be incredibly unfair of us to take the kids down to the beach, expecting them to behave during a family picture pageant, without rewarding them with a run in the waves.

The kids dove right in, needing absolutely no convincing : )