What birthdays are all about

What a day! 

Not happy about getting older

But who is?

Spending the day with people I love

Priceless

Add in de good food

Perfect

Melang fun by the numbers

What do you get when you add

4 cases of beer

16 hamburgers

20 red wienies

5 lbs of potato chips

1 watermelon

And Orange crush?

A Melang house party

Which means everything is gone!

Blues brothers

Celebrated the better half's birthday at Fishtails last night.

It's alway good when hanging with the family!

May make them wear it for their birthdays.

Fishtails, Fish House and Fish Stories

Life can be surprising.

We caught a fish off the pier

Waiting 5 seconds after casting

We found a cool tiki bar called Fishtails

Then stopped by my favorite Beaufort home

The Fish House

The owner was there and after 5 yrs I finally got inside!

His wife's childhood home, to a fisherman and his family

Now preserved with him enjoying telling us his stories as Sadie the dog begged for rubs!

You never know what can happen at a day at the beach!

Birthdays, Ponies, and Sand Dollars

What's a trip to Shackleford Banks without some ponies.

I watched everyone walk up to them thinking,

"I should switch to video just in case something great happens"

Like some being chased by a pony.

Great day full if hermit crabs, sand dollars, conch shells and ponies!

Argh!!

My beautiful sis and a random pirate

Love that we can hang out

It's been a while

I will not let it be so long the next time.

Clams, rain and Super moon

Awesome day with the kids.

Hung at the beach and didn't get rained on

Had the biggest seafood feast ever.

Just another day in paradise

According to the super moon

Hanging with thest besties, the beast BBQ yet and great company!

Clams, dingy, and wind!

Great day at Cape Lookout!  Freaked slight about rough water, stiff wind and little dingy. 

But the clam digging was worth it.

Mac even got to pilot the boat on the way back=kid in heaven.

My fisherman

This is my fisherman

Every day checking the crab pot

Casting away

One of the few that can catch a stone crab

Break off its claw and steam and eat

Don't worry the crab will grow another one.

Sitting by the dock of the bay

When renting a house for summer vacation
A dock is essential.
How else can children pass the time
While I write
Then crabbing, fishing, and kayaking.
even the dog likes sitting. By the dock of the bay
Basking in the ocean breeze.

Ominous

Atlantic beach today

Anyone else spend the day freaking about kids and rip tides?

Because I did.

This ominous cloud didn't produce anything

Just a few people including us packing it in!

Skimboards, Stingrays, and Sun

Both boys are working on their skimboarding skills.

Shackleford Banks is the perfect place

Lots of long streams 

And a few wild horses to boot

Nothing can stop the fun

Not even a stingray cut.

Go O's!!!

Reliving my childhood with my boys.
An O's game at Camden Yards.
I remember going with my family
And as we screamed CHARGE
I created that memory for my family.
Fireworks top the night
Memories for all!

Skim boarding -

Here's some new ZAP skim boards the boys got for their good school grades.

Why?

What better way to congratulate them with something they chase up and down the beach for hours.

I think it is a win/win situation.

Problem is

They want me to try it too.

I'm too old for this......

Everything's easier with an ocean beach

Here is the iconic picture of the beach
Footsteps that disappear in the sand.
Isn't that like your dreams
Follow those steps until they disappear
Then make it up as you step off the edge.
Because that's always the best stories.
Isn't it?

Let The Games Begin

Sometimes you have to pry me off of Beech Mountain

But 10 hours later, it is worth it.

Some say, I'm sorry it is raining

But I always say,

Everything's easier when there is salt in the air!

And everyone sleeps BETTER!

Watch Out Ducks

This is the Mill Pond in Banner Elk.

Each time we stop he tries to "pet" the ducks.

Each time they run away from him.

But it never holds him back because maybe "this time"

Is when they'll let him pet them.

I need to use this philosophy.

A word to the Wise

People, if your dog, even if it is friendly crosses the highway to say hello to anyone, leash it!

This guy gave me heart palpitations on my run!

Had the mace ready, but he turned out to be friendly.

I'd hate to see him hit!

What Boys Do.....

Always question when there is quiet in the house.

I came out to the back deck to my boys.

Playing Fruit Ninja with REAL knives and REAL watermelon!

Luckily the only thing harmed in these pictures were watermelon rinds.

Funny, their look when I told them it was dangerous.

What?  You can't play fruit ninja with real fruit?

Am I a Mom to boys?  Yes, because I had to take a few pictures before making them stop!!

That's One Way To Dry Off

How does some warm concrete feel after a dip in the pool?

Pretty good.

Wish these old bones could do that too.

Maybe a little WD-40 for them?