Still Standing

 Today was windy with very rough surf, so we didn't take the boys into the "deep end" (to Mattie's disappointment -- James had fun bouncing around in the shallows).  But, Uncle Chris and Mike did help the kids build a gigantic sand castle (which included a deep hole for a while, until the beach patrol came by and said they needed to fill it in some so that it didn't collapse on anyone.

This evening and tonight, the uncles and kids went out to watch the waves wash the castle away -- but it was still standing by 10:30 or 11 PM!  (By that time, all the kids had gone to bed.)

Sea Horse

Grandpa let James ride on his back in the waves today, to James's great delight.  Later, I asked James if he had fun playing horsie with Grandpa, and he said, "No, Seahorse.  This is the sea, and he's a horse.  Seahorse!"

Island Outings

Today we ventured out and saw Fort Macon and the NC Aquarium.  They were both really nice, although James in particular was losing steam by the time we made it to the Aquarium.  

Back at home, we had a nice afternoon on the beach.  James played in the waves and sand with Grandpa, and Mattie enjoyed swimming "in the deep end" with Daddy again.  (Mattie is a bit concerned about sharks, but he hasn't let that stop him.)

After dinner, the cousins had a great time running around the house together.

Life of Leisure

 Today's adventures included:

Shell-hunting (Mattie and Jamesie aren't too discriminating in their collections)

A new sand castle, built higher on the beach

A "ladies' lunch" at the Crab Shack (nice views and good scallops), followed by ice cream :)

Mike's etouffee and Paul & Walt's chicken for dinner (and hot dogs -- Mattie said, "these taste like the ones at the airport!" He'd had hot dogs at the Minneapolis airport a year ago that he loved, and it turns out those were Nathan's hot dogs and so were these.  Quite a memory that kid has!)

Mini-golf (not cheap!) for most of the group.  Mattie's summary was "They had water there. And a waterfall.  And I won!"

Jamesie stayed home with Grandma (and me) and had a great time playing zombies on the iPad with Grandma. (Grandma, after they lost and "the zombies ate your brains", said, "I don't think I have any brains left!"  James replied, "You have nine."  OK then!)

From the Mouths of Babes

 James said tonight, "I love everyone.  And I love myself.  And everyone loves me.  And everyone loves theirselves.  And we're all the same!"

Time and Tides

After a delicious breakfast of Grandpa Walt's omelets, today's activity was building a giant sandcastle -- and attempting to defend it from the encroaching waves.  As I told Matthew, the ocean always wins!


Fortunately, the boys had almost as much fun watching the castle get washed away as they did building it.  (Well, the cousins, Mike, and Aunt Jess did most of the building.)

Mike and Chris took Georgia out on the waves in a big float -- which was an adventure for her since she is not a swimmer. All returned safely!

Aunt Jess cooked us a delicious stir-fry meal.  We had all worked up an appetite.  :)