And more sand

Sand is not Dada's element, so I'm always grateful when he wants to join us at the beach or in the dunes. Above was an early morning excursion and we hopped up onto a lifeguard chair for this photo. I was indeed in my compression sleeve though you can't tell. I'm not in my rash guard because it was early morning sun, but I had it with me in my beach bag, fret not.

This year we made it to Jockey's Ridge. We don't always, but this year we convinced Dada to join us and we huffed our way up and down the dunes that always seem like they'll end just over the horizon... or maybe now... or in another minute... or...

Gladys turned over 30,000 miles on our trip. You go, girl!

I think these photos were the night we got to the beach. Thing One and I had to go say hi to the ocean immediately- there's no waiting around for the next morning!

 

Random beach snippet snaps

Can you guess whose sandy feet are whose?

I wonder if the crab is mad that his sun was blocked or if he was glad for a second of shade.

Fairly early morning sun on a glass ocean.

Proof of a busy beach! Check out how many different species used the same space.

The solo Thing Two beach sighting. We beach very differently!

Thing Three, with waves that were just warming up. He did get some fun ones before we left!

And Duck Donuts, because we can't beach without them. Blueberry lemon, lemon coconut, chocolate peanut butter, maple bacon, glazed, sprinkles, and cookies & cream. Of all summers to not be running, haha...

 

Sunrise

Shhhhh, be very quiet. Here we see a Hinrew in the wild, focusing on how best to take photographs of the sunrise. Don't spook him!

 They're out of order and I have a bajillion more but you get the idea. We went to a few sunrises that week and enjoyed the mostly empty beach before the sun got high.

More beach pix

Our beach week featured a lot of calm, glassy ocean days and few clouds. Definitely my preference of ocean. Thing Three was a little grumpy that there weren't huge waves to smash into, but this was a good year for me to be calm and serene and slow. I kept my promises to my radiation doctor and have the ridiculous tan lines to prove it, but enjoyed the beach nevertheless. How could I not?!

I always forget how BRIGHT it is at the beach!

Small child sized footprint beside Thing One's. I like investigating the sand and thinking about how many critters have left their marks.

If anybody needs a road trippin' partner, I highly recommend Thing One. There's lots of singing, laughing, good talks, snacks, and carrying on whilst being an excellent, cautious driver. So proud of this kid!

 

My favorite kind of Rundown

Apologies that I skipped graduation posts and dove headfirst into vacation ones. It's how my brain works- never a straight line or a dull moment.

The Rundown Cafe is one of my favorite places to eat on the beach. Their Rundown Chowder isn't only a must try- it's a "must consume a bowl at every visit." Wish they'd come up north and make vats of it to get me through the winter. Their fish tacos are never less than excellent. Thing Three devours the black beans, Thing Two loves the fries, and Thing One goes to cause trouble. Just kidding.

Yes, that's the ocean in the background. You can also dine inside, but some of us love being in the sun on the upper deck (the rest of us go along grudgingly and hope to find a seat with the sun behind us). 

The Rundown is a stroll across the street from the Kitty Hawk Hilton. You can drool over their menu here but I claim no responsibility for any sudden urge you feel to run away to the beach!

 

Vacation teaser

Here's a teaser for a future vacation post. Above is this year's version of Vacation in a Bowl. This summer we skipped the angel food cake and went straight to Extreme Chocolate Moose Tracks with strawberries. Delish!

Below is one of the sunrises some of us made it to. Why is it easier to get up for a beach sunrise, especially when they involve sand? 

 

Say hello to my little friend

See my little friend in the foreground? He's come to say hello with me.

Sorry for the radio silence. School ended, Thing Two graduated, Dada spent about 10 days in Poland for work, we went to the beach for almost two weeks, Thing One stayed at said beach, and I've had some doctors' visits. It hasn't been lack of things to talk about- it's been an overwhelming amount of photos on my phone that I have to sift through. You can find me under a virtual pile of memories, missing the beach and lamenting the sand we brought back. 

Content will be arriving.

Send snacks.

 

A mug of memories

 

Many, many moons ago (we are talking decades, just to be clear) I received the sweetest of greeting cards from my bestie. I only remember it saying Pinkerton on the back so I have no idea if that’s a division of Hallmark or someone else altogether. Either way, no credit goes to me, but I’ve never forgotten the rhyme:

Just sittin’ here, a-thinking

And wishing it could be

You and me a-sitting here

Instead of only me!

Isn’t it funny how sometimes things can make you sad and thankful at the same time? I’m drinking my first cup of coffee out of a mug from my friend Kimmy. The coffee beans themselves came from Peru, where Uncle Kelly picked them up as a Christmas present to us last year. The coconut creamer, which is now my favorite, I would never have even tried if my Lainie hadn’t had some at the beach and recommended it- it wasn’t even on my radar. So here’s me, enjoying my three-in-one mug of memories as I sit and miss them all, four when I count my bestie and her ages-ago card!

Something for everyone

It has been some month. April is known for throwing curveballs and I'm not just talking about the ridiculous weather. This April, my 90 year old Nana passed away. That means family gathered together, road tripping from all over North Carolina, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and who knows where else. Fortunately, it was a beautiful, warm, and dry weekend so there were fewer traveling hassles than there could have been. Though we've been married for 19 years, there were still family members Dada had never met. Some of these were my cousin Ruthie, her husband, and sons. Our boys all hit it off and were quite the sight:  

After a concise service including music that Nana had preselected which had been written by a relative, there was a little bit of time to spend before the lunch would be served. Cousins being cousins and it being way too long between times spent together, some Shenanigans ensued, which may or may not have involved our kids and my cousin's kids, Cora and Blake. 

I remember thinking that it was the perfect kind of spring day: some clouds in a blue sky, a slight breeze, warm sun on our shoulders. I think Nana would have enjoyed all of it except maybe our "monkeying around" at the cemetery. I know there are other pictures on Dada's phone so I will have to see what I can track down to share. 

It's bittersweet that she is gone. I don't think she ever had any desire to be the world's oldest living person, so to make it to 90 is quite an achievement. I'm so glad that we saw her last summer while we vacationed with her in good health; that those memories of sunshine and her interacting with us and the dogs and her nurses are the ones closest to our hearts instead of the ones where she sat wretchedly on the alarm pad of her bed in the nursing home while taking multiple medications. I'm glad she got time with all of our kids and that they'll remember her. 

I'm glad we have fun family that takes advantage of opportunities to get together and make more memories. I'm sorry that we won't get to see Nana at the beach this summer. It will be odd to not have her coming out of her room with her walker to ask us if we've eaten yet or what we're up to that day. I'm glad that she didn't linger a long time through her pneumonia, being miserable. I'm glad that we got to celebrate her life. I know it will be a process, and the kids have already mentioned missing her, and that's how it should be as she held a special place in our hearts and lives. 

Nana Carrie, 1927-2018, we love you.

Feeling beachy?

 

All good things must come to an end, including camp. I arrived early and played on the beach before pick up. Since rocks and shells seem to be irresistible, I collected my share and snapped some shots. I claim to know nothing about light or anything, but I like how they turned out.

 

I picked up Thing Two, Aunt Sherri joined us for dinner, and we headed to Grandmama and PaPa's house to stay the night. The next day we visited Lainie and Nana, brought home a dresser and a headboard, and drove through incredible ickiness for the last hour of the trip home. But we made it and the water has already receeded since yesterday.

 

And now you're all caught up with June. Whew. Oh, and happy anniversary today to Grandma Barb and Pap, and two days ago to Grandmama and PaPa. We love you all!

Friday at the beach

Someone had worked very hard on this lovely sandcastle we saw on Friday. We parked our stuff right behind it and admired all the minarets and fine details.
 

 

As you can see from Muggin, Friday was NOT a hot, sunny day at the ocean. It was pretty windy and cloudy, and it was approaching high tide. The kids did their best to dig a moat and barrier to protect the castle, but alas, a lot of it had crumbled by the time we left.
 

 

The poor Damonator was so tired and sandblasted that we covered him up, and he fell asleep like this!
 

Now THAT'S the sign of a good vacation!
 

Beach & Gary's birthday

We went to the beach on the morning of July 4th, and here is our attempt to get the family in the picture. One of the better attempts, actually. This is as good as it gets, folks! ;)

That's my cousin Jim, his wife Amber, and their kids who are with us. It was the first time we'd met their kids, and they all had a ball together.

Then it was time for the picnic and uncle Gary's early birthday party. Check out those cakes! We think he was delighted.