Places to Go (Vacation) - Our 4th Annual Memorial Day Outer Banks' Beach Trip (Nags Head, NC)

For the last four years we've taken the kids out of school for a few days and rented a house in the Outer Banks with friends.

If you ask me, there's no better introduction to summer than spending the end of May at the beach (especially since school doesn't get out until the end of June). Houses rent for cheaper in May, thus allowing us to lounge ocean front at a relatively low cost.

But the best part is the village. Parenting is so much easier when there are 16 adults who all help in different ways. Plus, how wonderful is it to make one meal and then sit back and let your friends cook the rest for you?

And for kids? Who doesn't love night after night of sleepovers with several of your besties?








DAY 2 - the forecast showed hour after hour of rain. But, luck was on our side. Though the area surrounding Nags Head was covered with storms, somehow we managed to stay precipitation-free all day.













This may be my favorite photo ever. Just saying.





Shrimp boil and karaoke on the deck. Total win!!



And every beach trip needs a dance party!




DAY 3 - the rain arrived.







Luckily, we had karaoke, stuffed animals, and Musicly.



DAY 4 - Fog. Lots of fog.



This is when the hole digging became serious business.








Best quote of the weekend, "well, I guess the world needs ditch diggers too."




The end (for now). We've already reserved for next year and I CAN'T WAIT!!

Places to Go (Vacation) - Our (No Longer) Crazy Crowded Beach House, Days 5-6 (Jennette's Pier & Roanoke Island Festival Park)

I finally finished editing the last of our vacation photos . . .

All but one of the other families left the beach on Tuesday, but we can never say no to a vacation, so we chose to stay in the house for a few more days. On Wednesday, we went for ice cream and invited some friends over, who were also in the Outer Banks for vacation that week.






By Wednesday night, we were the last family left in the house. As the kids explored all the empty bedrooms, T asked, "is this what it feels like to live in a mansion?" (well, yes, I suppose it is). Where P said, "I feel so alone I want to cry." (Um, let's not forget that your whole family is here, okay P?). I tried to get the cable to work (with a house full of kids and devices, nobody had bothered to turn on the TV).










On our last day in Nags Head, we drove to Roanoke Island Festival Park ("RIFP") for an Outer Banks living history lesson. I was a little nervous about this adventure, as RIFP has a special place in my memory. In August 2010, we rented a house in the Outer Banks with my parents. My dad, who had been diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer years before, was experiencing what can only be called a miraculous recovery due to his participation in a trial drug study.

After a wonderful week with my parents at the beach, including a daytrip to RIFP (you can see the photos here, don't the kids look so little?), the drug's effectiveness began to decline. My father passed away in early 2011. Given his love of learning and history, it is quite fitting that we spent our last quality time together with my kids at a museum devoted to learning about the past.

Anyways, I was nervous about returning, for both sentimental and practical reasons (would the kids even like enjoy this adventure? Or were they too old for such things?). Luckily, everyone had a fantastic time - sailing the ship, bartering in the Native American Longhouse, exploring the settlement site, and becoming pirates in the museum.





On our last night the girls and I walked to Jennette's Pier, while T and Dan went fishing.



When your kids fall asleep like this, you know it's been a good day. The perfect end to a wonderful week.