EMERALD ISLE VACATION!!!!

Our Family Vacation...

Was it finally here???? Is it really over???? We were able to spend our family vacation in Emerald Isle, NC again this year with our best friends from NC... Janet, David, Samantha, Brad, Wilkie, Matt... and all their kiddos! We miss all of you guys so much... it really isn't the same not having you guys around on a day to day basis. We are truly blessed to have each of you in our lives. We love vacationing with you all! Emerald Isle... one of my favorite places... we used to go when Jessica was a baby with my sister when she had a place there... now, we have been going with friends since Jaycie turned one! We love it! For the first part of the week, we had 9 kiddos... but on Thursday, Wilkie and Matt were able to join us... making 12 kiddos - 8 yrs old and under (3 boys, 9 girls)! It was FUN, CRAZY, LOUD, EXHAUSTING... MORE FUN... and we had a GREAT time (and now I am ready to catch up on some sleep)!

We got there late Sunday afternoon and had our annual "first walk" to the beach. The kids were so happy to see their friends. We were able to go out on the beach every day except one... which the men spent golfing, the ladies got pedicures, and then we all headed to Beaufort for dinner and a walk on the boardwalk. On the beach, Jacob spent most of his time playing in the sand with his trucks... Jamie LOVED to "Boogie Board"... we basically pulled her through the shallow water. Jaycie & Jessica spent all their time boogie boarding... Jessica, Madison, and Morgan could have done this 24/7. There were a couple of days where the current and winds were too strong... and we ended up heading to the tidal pools at the end of the island. They were deep enough the girls could jump off of sandbags. Jamie & Jacob loved the tidal pools, too... the shallow ones gave them a little more freedom! The dads also took the kids out on a boat ride in the Inter Coastal Waterway... everyone went to the water slide (except me and the twins... I'm not ready to take them, yet!)... & some of the kiddos went to play Putt-Putt. The weather was nice... we were run off the beach one afternoon by the threat of a thunderstorm. The girls also all did a play for us... this year, their theme was "High School Musical"... it was cute and they had a good time practicing and performing. Janet and David cooked their annual clam bake... delicious! We had a nice time and cannot wait to go back next year!!!!! Thanks for such an awesome vacation!

Our first night...

Front: Jaycie, Jamie, Jackson, & Jacob

Back: Caroline, Hannah, Madison, Morgan, & Jessica

Fun on the beach...

Three peas in a pod... Madison, Morgan, & Jessica

Every year, we do a "couch" picture with all of the kids... well... as you can see, the couch is now full and overflowing to the floor! I don't believe there will be any more planned additions... they are just all going to continue to grow... so we will see how it turns out in the future!

Floor: Jamie, Jacob F., & Jacob G.

Couch: Morgan, Madison, Jackson, Jessica, Mackenzie, Miley, Caroline, Hannah, & Jaycie