Nags Head, NC Beach Trip 2015

We just got home from a beach vacation.  It was super fun.  It was incredibly exhausting.  Good times were had.  I love that prior to going on vacation, I am SO VERY EXCITED to go...

And then when it's time to come home, I can't wait to get there and sleep in my own bed...

This trip was a conglomeration of Davidsons and Acuffs and was only possible thanks to the participation of all!  The first half of the week was mostly Davidsons.

Popsicle and Reese

Reese loves it when people read to her.  If by "read" you mean "skip several pages at a time and basically flip through the book."

Aunt Julie

Gram catching some Reese snuggles.

We played on the beach.  We got sand EV.ERY.WHERE.

We avoided sharks by staying out of the water.  But we stayed ever-vigilant...

The only shark-sighting, thankfully.

The second half of the week was Acuff-filled.

The Colonel

The Memaw

Scott and Betty Anne

John and Nikki

 

We found perfectly good toddlers washed up on the beach.

We took obligatory sunset photos.

We laughed.

We cried.  

We took #pinterestfail photos.

Good, good times...

Lake Gaston (part 4)

Hopefully you're getting a good picture of the weekend we had.  Relaxing, lounging, enjoying great company.

Aden the wonder-dog soakin' up some rays.

More jaw-dropping furniture Papa made.

A rather CHILLY boat ride.

Don't we look warm and cozy??!

Oh Captain, Our Captain (and her 1st mate)

Selfie before we headed home.

ROAD TRIP home!

I can never thank Brooke enough for the invite.  Or Scott enough for being at home with our kids.  Thank you both!!!
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Lake Gaston (part 1)

Lake Gaston (part 2)

Lake Gaston (part 3)

Lake Gaston (part 3)

Brooke made us fantastic food while we were at the lake.

Pan-seared steaks and veggies.

Brownies (almost gone in this picture).

Stir-fry chicken and veggies and couscous. And salad.

Not pictured:  sausage and eggs and cinnamon rolls for breakfast.  Brunswick Stew and grilled cheese sammiches for lunch.  Lots of hot chocolate and hot tea (for me).  Ralph's BBQ in Weldon, NC on our way home.  They had to-die-for chicken and dumplings.  Oh. Em. Gee.

I am now starving just typing up this post.  Awesome.

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Did you miss:

Lake Gaston (part 1)?

Lake Gaston (part 2)?

Lake Gaston (part 4)?

Lake Gaston (part 2)

Oh the games we played...

 Pounce.  A fast-paced card game, also called Nertz. 

Settlers of Catan:  Cities and Knights.

Small World.

Cribbage.  

Carcassonne.

We played a LAWT of games.  Fun was had by all.

Did you also read/view:

Lake Gaston (part 1)

Lake Gaston (part 3)

Lake Gaston (part 4)

Lake Gaston

I had the amazing opportunity to chaperone hang out with two great people this weekend, Jason and Brooke.  Brooke's parents have an incredible lake house on Lake Gaston.  We headed up I-95 on Friday afternoon and arrived ready to get our relax on.  Scott, bless his heart, had a church commitment that required he stay home.  Conveniently (for me), the kids opted to stay with him. ;)  THANK YOU SCOTT FOR THIS TIME AWAY!!!  And thanks to my parents for pinch-hitting for Scott on Sunday. And thanks to Brooke for the invite here.  And thanks to Brooke's parents for providing this retreat from reality locale.  And thanks to Jason for dating Brooke.  Okay, okay, enough with the gratitudes...

The house was just plain awesome.  I want one.

We didn't hang out here.  Tooooooo cold.

We did spend a great deal of time here.  Yummmm.

Also didn't spend much time here.  I value my non-frost-bitten toes.

I slept here.  Incredibly spacious bed, complete with stairs to hike up into it! Brooke's Papa made that bed.

Some of us bathed in the sink...

This is where we ate meals, played a lot of games and put Jason in time out.  (Papa made that fantastic table.  He is a gifted man.)

We watched some movies in this room, quite comfortably.  (Jason still in time out.)

Brooke crocheted some.  Aden (the dawg) cuddled for warmth.  Jason hung out.

We all spent a little time here.  Did I mention how awesome this place is?

We are having a great, great time.  More to come, but I'm busy relaxing....so peace out for now.

updated:

Lake Gaston (part 2)

Lake Gaston (part 3)

Lake Gaston (part 4)

Snowshoe, WV Ski Vacation

This was our first baby-free vacation.  We had a blast.  DEFINITELY would go there again...