Emerald Isle, NC

What do you get when you mix 12 kids (9 & under), 8 adults, 1 new puppy, and the beach?? LOTS of FUN... and very little sleep! We spent our family vacation in Emerald Isle, NC this year... one of my favorite places... with three other families who are our best friends from home. We always have so much fun! It was great catching up with everyone and the kids LOVE spending time with their friends who we do not get to see as much as we would like. Usually, we walk down to the beach on the first night and come back with wet, cold children... the first night this year, it looked like rain... so the night turned into a big water fight b/t all the kids & the dads... resulting in everyone getting drenched... I loved hearing everyone giggle... they were so funny. We spent most days on the beach... the dads went fishing one morning to celebrate Father's Day... we celebrated Jessica & James' birthdays (different blog post)... the dads & kids went out on the boat... we went to the water slide... and we ate WELL, including the annual clam bake! All of the kids LOVED the beach again this year! Thanks for such a wonderful week!

The Family!

WATER FIGHT!!First day on the beach with 9/12 kids (Matt & Wilkie could not come until mid-week)... for the first time, we did NOT get a picture of all 12 kids together... sad, but true...

Front: Caroline, Jackson, Jaycie, Sadie (pup), Jacob, Hannah, Jamie

Back: Morgan, Madison, Jessica

The star of the show this week... and the one we all seemed to get the most pictures of (well, it WAS her first trip to the beach!)... Sadie!

On the beach... much time was spent on boogie boards... Jacob mostly stayed just out of the water's reach... then the guys would dig a big hole towards the end of the day... a favorite of all the kids!

Jessica, Madison, & Morgan... 3 peas in a pod!

For the past 3 years, the girls have done a play for us at the end of the week on "clam bake" night... we had to move the play outside this year b/c the crowd is getting too big to fit in one room... it was CUTE!

Morgan, Hannah, Madison, Caroline, Jessica, McKenzie, & Jaycie

The audience: Jacob F., Miley, & Jackson (the twins were sleeping)
The guys goofing off... like normal!
Brad, James, Matt, & David