Vacation!

A week ago today my family arrived from Winston-Salem to spend the week at the Kure Beach (which is about 20ish miles from our house) with us! My dad rented an amazing house, and I previously blogged a little about our week. Dane was lucky enough to have vacation time to use and took off Tuesday and Wednesday (and also had off Monday due to labor day!) here's a little peek into our fab vacation!

Saturday:

Kelsie (my older sister) and Todd (my brother in law) came over to our house around 1:30pm while we finished packing. Meanwhile, my Dad and Grandma Peggy were still traveling after taking the long way (riding the ferry and then through Ft. Fisher to Kure.) We arrived at our BEAUTIFUL home we would be staying in the rest of the week and simply relaxed. We watched Slade play while catching up on everything going on in our lives.

baby slade's newest feat, pulling up!

Sunday:

(l to r) Aunt Paigey, Baby Slade, Aunt Kelsie, and Aunt Hayes

I usually attend church with Dane, but since we were about 20-30 minutes from our church which is in Wrightsville Beach - we opted to enjoy the beautiful weather and time with our family. It was great! Sunny and beautiful, and of course there were a million vacationers (I guess we were some of them!) on vacation for Labor Day. Dane's older sister Paige and her fiance, Jeff were also in town for the weekend dabbling in some wedding planning. They met us, along with his Dad and younger siblings at our house and spent the second half of the day with us. Although Slade napped for most of their time there it's always great to see them. I definitely get along with his family well, and consider them my own. Although they were all salty and sandy I got all of Slade's aunt's together for a picture with him, which isn't something that happens often (or ever!)

Night time boat rides with the hubs

Later that night we headed out to a party boat with Dane, Kels, and Todd. I think it either went down the river or inter coastal waterway. Grandma, Angie (my dads friend) and my Dad looked after Slade. We had way too much fun! Kelsie and I even did the Cuban Slide (?) and I heard a song I used to love when I was little (The Electric Slide) I couldn't remember the steps but I sure did my own version! It was one of my favorite days/nights we had.

Monday:

Early that morning while Slade had his first nap of the day, Dane and I drove up to Ft. Fisher which is just a hop away from Kure. It's really beautiful there, we explored a little bit and found a really awesome...rabbit hole? I don't know how to explain it other than it's a huge hill looking thing thats made out of little trees, and there was a hole on the outside (see below) and when we looked inside this is what we saw (below). Dane checked the waves and when we got back, Kelsie's friends Joel and his fiance Anna were at the house. Todd and Joel made up a new version of "12 Days of Christmas" and Kelsie, Anna, and I talked about random stuff while sun bathing. We all (even Dad!) jumped into the ocean to cool off and had to fight the current while talking and joking the whole time. With the hurricane off the coast the waves were getting bigger everyday we were there. Which of course made Dane really happy. That night we ate at The Lazy Pirate, it was yummy but they didn't have high up highchairs to reach their tables so we had to sit outside...it was hot and I was being eaten alive by mosquitoes and I wasn't a very happy camper...

inside the "rabbit hole"

Outside of the "rabbit hole"

Joel  & Todd

 

Tuesday:

double rainbow

Wednesday was a pretty lazy day. Dad, Kelsie, and Todd all went to South Port which is a 15 min ferry ride. I've never been there but after a full day on the beach we three were exhausted and took a long nap! On their way back, they saw a double rainbow from the ferry, and I caught a glimpse of it out on our porch. My grandmothers cousin came for dinner with his wife and we had a good old time!

Wednesday:

Wednesday morning I drank a cup of coffee on the beach while playing photographer to my surfer husband. I got some great shots, and so did my dad who was next to me surf fishing. Sadly, they were on his camera so I'm not too sure when I'll be able to post them. We finally got time to go to the Aquarium and I must say I was pretty excited!! I had been for the first time the previous summer with Dane and it was way more exciting with Slade on the outside! Dad had never been so that made it that much better. We had a great time and Slade even touched a horseshoe crab! Sadly it was Dane's last day off but we ended it nicely and grilled out chicken Kabobs which were delicious!

Thursday:

wokeup it was 7AM and he was shaving. He didn't make it surfing (I later realized I had set my alarm to 6:15PM oops...) We left entirely too late and instead of dropping him off at our house to get into his car and go to work, I ended up having to drive him there. Then I was left with two dilemmas: He had no lunch, and I was going to have to drive from Kure Beach to his work (about an hour long drive...again.) NOT FUN. When I finally made it home I realized I had left my house keys at the beach house. Another roadblock. I was planning on having my friend, and neighbor Morgan follow me to his work in my car and then she was going to join us at the beach house with her daughter, Alaina. I had no keys to get inside to get his keys...but then, the back door was unlocked!! SO not safe for our new TV, but I was thankful at that moment. All went as planned and we spent the day with the babies playing in the sun and sand. My friend Megan also dropped by to say hello. Dane drove back after work and said he felt sick, although he surfed again for a good hour or so before we headed to Jack Mackerels for dinner. I got a Salmon Bacon Sandwich on 7 berry bread...SO YUMMY! My camera was dead at this point in time, so no pictures on my camera from this day...but here's one of Slade from Monday:

beach bum

Friday:

Thursday night we stayed at home, and so Friday afternoon after Slade's nap I drove to the beach house and spent a few hours on the beach before putting him down for another nap around 3. Dane wasn't feeling too good and wanted to have K&W for dinner and just go home and sleep so I left and met him in our driveway and we went to dinner. We picked up a movie [Paranormal Activity 2] It was stupid, and made me mad because the evil spirit wanted (and got) the baby in the movie. Me no likey. Don't watch it, the first one is better.

yucky peaches! haha his face is too funny.

Saturday:

We woke up this morning, and cleaned our house. Two kitties can really dirty up the place if left alone for more than a day. Then my dad and grandma came over and chatted awhile before we all met for a farewell lunch at Castle Hayne Cafe which is about 3 minutes from my house. Oddly enough, it was my first time there. Technically we live in Wilmington but we are minutes away from Castle Hayne (kind of a hick town with nothing in it) but it's pretty there and the food at this particular restaurant was yummy. I could tell my family didn't want to say goodbye, and neither did I. It's always sad but you just have to tell yourself it won't be long until you see each other again.

So that's what I did.

Papa Thor and Baby Slade

kisses from Aunt Kelsie

Looking ahead:
My birthday is in 15 days! (I'll be 21)
We're headed to Charlotte on the 23rd, Dane's going to see a Panthers game & I'm gonna hang with Paige!
Then my bestie is getting married and hopefully spending her honeymoon here in Wilmington.
I'll be celebrating my birthday the first weekend in October...
and guess what?
I think we found the idea for our Halloween costumes today.
Take a wild guess (the hint's in the picture) :)