Vacation in North Carolina

We decided to spend a month in North Carolina with my parents who expanded their house to fit all the children and grandkids! Their house is a short walk from a pool and about 10 minutes from the beach. We went there the end of June and stayed until the end of July. My sister and her two children were there for 2 1/2 weeks with us and everyone in my family was there the last week. We had THE BEST time, but did miss Bill QUITE A BIT! Matthew had the hardest time - but we ALL jumped for joy when he got off the plane in New Bern. it was hard to leave, but we'll be back... At the end of the vacation we took family pictures on the beach. Notice how each grandkid is looking quite unhappy to be posing! I think it's such a funny picture. Here are just a few snapshots from the month.

Carter and Matthew with Chrissy and their baby "Getty". The kids LOVED playing with her and taking care of her. Getty came all the way from Seattle to be with us!

Abby and Rebecca in a closet. They are going to be wonderful playmates.
These two characters (Rebecca and Matthew) are cut from the same cloth. We knew if it was quiet they were destroying/pushing/cutting/exploring something they shouldn't have been. They LOVED having a fellow partner-in-crime. They are goggle buddies here.
Matthew, Carter and Rebecca in the master tub. At one point the boys used the jets to make bubbles up to their chins!
Mama (my grandmother) holding Benjamin.

Matthew is just a darling boy. Four is quite a special age for him!
We made several batches of homemade ice cream. The kids crushed the oreos for us.
The kids asked (this time) if they could be "Mud Soldiers". We told them they had to strip to their undies and would have to be hosed off when it was over. They had SO much fun putting mud on themselves and on each other.

Muddy Matthew showing off his muscles!
Helping a fellow soldier get more mud on himself. Notice Rebecca is right there in the action. She holds her own with the boys, which is great!

Soldier Carter saluting.

The kids on the trampoline in my parent's backyard. My dad is helping Rebecca get on.

Matthew frolicking in the sea grass.

We absolutely love the Pine Shores Aquarium which is on the island with the beaches. We went their twice and saw the 'live dive'. Here is a diver giving the kids a high-5. This tank has a shark in it!
The six oldest grandkids.

Grandma has a garden and the kids really enjoyed helping her tend to it. Here they are looking at a tomato plant. Carter picked several cucumbers - several in the shape of the letter C.

This is really what we did most of the time there. We went to the pool everyday, if not twice a day. The boys had so much fun jumping in and really became strong swimmers. I would let the boys ride their bikes there and I'd drive. It's within walkin distance, but since I'm still the sherpa with all the towels, floats, goggles, snacks, rafts, et al - it's easier to drive. We made friends at the pool - it was hard to come back to the cool pool water here in MA!

Carter touching the fish he caught. He is really into touching things.

Carter doing a GQ pose on the beach.



We did a lot more - kite flying, attended a baseball game, fed the ducks, attempted boogie-boarding in the ocean, ate at the Sanitary Restaurant (quite a bit), survived a teething baby girl (all 4 molars came in during the vacation), took a wonderful ride on Melba and Graydon's boat, helped Pop-Pop buy a truck and sell his old car, shot lots of arrows with the toy bows, celebrated July 4th at a parade in Beaufort and fireworks on the waterfront in Swansboro, went to the library, watched many movies - and much, much more. It was a wonderful vacation. Can't wait to do it again next summer!