Ocean Isle Beach

We're back from our mini vacation to Ocean Isle Beach! A few months ago we were visiting with our friends, the Creggers, and we were talking about how it would be nice to take a long weekend and all go to the beach together. The kiddos could play, we could semi-relax, and spend some good time together since it's hard for us to do now. Laurie found a nice condo and we marked our calendars for our time off. I was looking forward to this as it may be our only beach vacation this year.

We had a fairly easy drive down to the beach. It's only 5 hours away from Asheville. And it's funny because the majority of your trip is through South Carolina until the very end and you loop back up and end back in North Carolina. The town is cute and very beachy. All the houses seem to be close to the beach and you drive right by the ocean as you go in. We had rented a condo with a 5 minute walk to the beach and each morning we packed up our wagon and walked across the way. We spent our mornings drinking coffee and letting the kids play then headed off to the beach. The afternoons we returned and had lunch and then all took big naps. One night we headed out to dinner and the other two we cooked at home (it was quite difficult to get out the door with 4 adults and 3 little ones). On our night out we ate at a good seafood restaurant in Calabash, perused a gift store (where Luke spent his beach money on junky toys) and indulged in some ice cream.

Last night we took a walk on the beach at dusk and let the kids run and play. We let them stay up late and eat lots of sugar. Isn't that what vacation is all about? And while vacationing with kids is infinitely harder than vacationing as lone adults, I realized that this is what everything is for, spending time with them. It also became painfully aware of how fleeting this time is. How they grow so fast and change with every season (Luke LOVED the ocean this trip while in the past he wouldn't go near it). Sigh. I'm a little sad that it's over even though we're glad to be home. Such good memories were made.

*The pics are really out of order... but still good!

<3

How I spent most of the trip. Holding the baby.

The day we arrived. We went across the street for a snack and Luke was so pumped about the ocean he wanted to go RIGHT THEN! 

Our camp. 

First time with her feet in the ocean! 

Josie LOVED the baby. She was such a good helper and will be a great big sister!

Blue ice cream is the best!

Everyone pile on Dillon day!