OBX 2012

We are back from vacation. ALREADY.

One week down, several sunburns, and two immensely tired parents later we are unpacked and back at home chasing Levi as usual.

This year's beach trip was a bit different as you can imagine. Toting an 11 month old around is high maintenance. But our family is amazing as they helped us feed, change, and put him to sleep every day. It was really nice to have their help, and even though I know they would say "that's dumb" and that they weren't actually helping, they were and it was a very nice break to say the least.


It is truly a shame that such vacations must go by so quickly. I have a new theory in life lately and that is the more vacations taken the better. I'm not quite sure why we, as a society, don't take more, but I think I would like to start living that theory out.

Tomorrow, Carrie, Anna and I face a somber moment as we will be visiting our grandmother who is in the hospital recovering from unexpected cancer surgery.

There is something about this type of setting: a return from a long beach trip -- exhausted, mellowed,  unpacking my things underneath rain clouds, and learning my grandmother is in a lot of pain. It's a strange dynamic. Eerie, and sad.

I have no doubt she will be ok. She's in good spirits, and the doctors are saying they're pretty sure they got it all. Test results to follow soon.

......


We actually only went to the beach twice. Actually, that's not true. Carrie (and sometimes Anna) and I went several times as we ran on the beach a few of the days we were there. I consider that beach time. Though it was not very sunny.

Beach BEACH time was limited - like actually laying out and getting sun (or getting scorched, whatever you want to call it) -- it completely rained for most of the days we were there. Not all day every day, but most days.


So, we did other things too: like bowling, shopping, put put, and lighthouse sightseeing. I didn't do the put put and lighthouse on the last day. Instead, I went shopping and bought some souvenirs. You can not go on vacation and not get a t-shirt or three.

Plus, I've always wanted OBX paraphenalia.

In fact, every year, Isaac lets me go to the Tommy Hilfiger store at Tanger Outlets. It's an outdoor shopping mall with stores like Eddie Bauer, Polo Ralph Lauren, Bass, Izod, Gap, Nine West and others. Not your typical Marshall's-like stuff.

I don't normally shop at Tommy Hilfiger. I mean, on normal shopping days that's not a place I'd just say "I need some clothes - I'm going to go there."

But when I'm at the Outer Banks, I love it. It makes me feel....oh, I dunno, special. So perhaps I will start.

He lets me pick out a few things I want. You know, he's pretty good about that...letting me buy things when I want or need them.

Needless to say, I bought a pair of flip flops, a fall sweater, and a new purse. All on sale of course.

PS - I say "every year" like we have been to the OBX multiple times. This is only our second offiicial year for actual vacation. But I think we'll be making it a regular thing in the future. The six of us (sisters and husbands and their kids) usually go away together once a year somewhere usually, unless like last year, one of us is pregnant.

Trust me, I was not about to drive in a car five hours in my last trimester. Isaac would have shot me with his rifle for having to stop to pee every five minutes.

This makes me feel like a cheerleader again...

I feel so preppy buying Tommy stuff, which is so not me usually. But preppy cool, or preppy hip. And also, empowered. I will be 30 early next year, and I can buy Tommy clothes if I want to dangit!!

Isaac also bought me this cute and comfy GAP sweatshirt zipup hoodie. I LOVE IT!

 We bought Levi his first pair of shoes and "real" socks at the Gap. He was loving it and I think he felt like a big shot. Which is funny, because when we put them on him and he started walking around the mall sidewalk, the song that goes, "Who do you think you are, Mr. Big Stuff?" came on the loud overhead speakers. Such irony! Unfortunately, I did not get a picture. :( But I snapped one at home of him in the shoes.

.....

There is something about waking up in a big house with all the people you love, and seeing them in the hallway as you pass through to get your morning coffee. Or spending late nights in their bedroom talking.

Our room was right below the main living area and kitchen. We could hear everything -- primarily young ones running back and forth and jumping up and down. But it was the best room in the house.

It was so beachy. Many times walking into it I said in my head, "Now this is a beach room ."

The crescent alcove at our headboard was quaint and the lamp at my bedside was touch sensitive. I kept it lit on the lowest setting each night to dim the room, especially for when I put Levi to bed. And it sat upon the cutest lighthouse nightstand made of wood.

Isaac brought the rocking chair up from the basement for bedtime routine and we kept the fans blowing all day. I didn't want to leave.

Levi adjusted fairly in his pack n' play, waking up only on the first night.

Rather messy, I know! This is when we were packing to go home.

The strangest thing happened on our first night there when we were in Food Lion getting groceries. We saw our neighbors.

Our actual next door neighbors that live to the right of us.

It wouldn't have been weird if it was a local grocery store we saw them in, obviously. But it wasn't. We were in Corolla, five hours away from our homes, in the same Food Lion at the exact same time. Since we recently moved into this house, it's just even weirder.

God is funny.

.....

I don't have much left to say except that we had a great week. Here are the pictures to prove it...

Even though Isaac's head is cut off, this is one of my favorites.

Does anybody know why the stores use paper bags down there? I like it.