Another great time at the beach

Our week and a half of time spent with family was so wonderful and much needed. Logan and Lucas got lots of individual attention. Logan had a great time by himself with the in-laws going out to eat, visiting people, playing the Wii with his aunt and going to an animal safari. Lucas went to play with his cousins, shopping with Memaw and I and lots of time with Grandpa. I was able to have dinner with my Grandma and had lots of fun shopping for the beach with my Mom.

Logan rode with his aunt Michelle back to my parents' house and then Logan and I drove in stop and go traffic most of the way and including through the tunnel to the airport. I am glad I left really early because we arrived just as E was going to baggage claim. The three of us drove in heavy traffic to the Outer Banks together. Logan had a nap and we enjoyed some time talking alone together.

When we arrived at the cottage and quickly unloaded our car and unpacked. We were invited to a party and we headed over to start our vacation. There were 3 two year olds and 3 four year olds; all of the kids seemed to have fun together. After we got back to our cottage and put the kids to bed, E and I decided to beat the crowds and go grocery shopping from 10:30-12:30. I had planned the meals for the week and had a grocery list to match with the sale ad and coupons that coincided. We saved about $90. We spent around $220 for 8 people for a week. I think that is pretty good.

Our menu for the week was

Saturday night- heavy hor'dourves at the party, wine and a pony keg of beer

Sunday night- Scallops (mom brought frozen from home), shrimp, tuna steaks, rice and steamed broccoli

Monday night- Mexican night, Carnitas, chicken tacos, homemade pico de gallo, guacamole, chips and queso with black beans

Tuesday night- leftovers

Wednesday night- spaghetti with turkey breast meat sauce and salad

Thursday night-Steamed snow crab legs, more shrimp, NY strip steaks, corn on the cob, salad

Friday night- whatever you could find around the house

There was lots of alcohol to go around. We had a cosmo bucket, margarita bucket, 15 bottles of wine, mixers, liqueur and glasses to match. There was no shortage of the adult beverage. We had fresh baked brownies, cookie bar brownies, ice cream, s'mores and jello for desserts most nights. We are all seafood lovers and thoroughly enjoyed eating lots of it. Now I am realizing how I gained 4 lbs while on vacation!

We only went out to eat one time while on vacation and it was to High Cotton North Carolina BBQ to test out the food that my brother and his fiance are going to get catered for their upcoming wedding reception. It was delicious and will be perfect for their casual beach wedding.

The weather was varied at the beach. The first few days was really hot with a chilly, murky ocean. There was a couple of days that were perfect with warmer and clear ocean waters and then the last couple of days was rainy every afternoon/evening with lots of mosquitoes. Logan loved to go out into the water with his daddy and jump (or be lifted) over waves. Lucas preferred to play in the sand, as in roll around until covered from head to toe. We saw lots of sea life. I would find sand fleas and mollusks in the sand and we would watch them dig back under the sand. We saw lots of dolphins close to the shore. I found a hermit crab in a beautiful shell and we watched a sting ray flapping around in the waves. I always wanted to be a marine biologist so this was right up my alley.

E and I took the boys out to the beach one night after it got dark. We sprayed everyone down with Family Care Off, put glowing bracelets on everyone and gave them flashlights. We were looking for ghost crabs on the beach. Lucas loved it and Logan was freaked out by the crabs running everywhere. I was trying to catch them in a sand bucket but was unsuccessful. We were being eaten by mosquitoes so we headed home. Poor Lucas got bitten on the face in a few places.

Several years ago at the beach we were introduced to a game called Corn hole. I bought my Dad a set this year and we used it several times at the beach. We set it up under the cottage when it was raining and made the most out of the weather. E took the boys to play miniature golf and E and I went to an art festival in downtown Manteo. In the evenings we would all sit around together and play Guitar Hero or American Idol on the Wii. We had a great time rockin' out together in the duets.

We had a great week. Unfortunately, I left our little camera in my Mom's beach bag. Thanks to Mom for taking most of the pictures this week and that she shares with me through shutterfly!