OBX 2014

No thanks to Hurricane Arthur, our trip to the Outer Banks this year was short and sweet.  According to my next door neighbor (who used to forecast hurricanes for the Navy- so she knows.) this is the earliest recorded hurricane to make landfall ever- and the now 2nd earliest hurricane was in 1912!  So Arthur the hurricane had no business showing up, but he did.  And he cut our week short.  Alas, the 4 full-days we had at the beach were about perfect.

We drove down Saturday afternoon, with a brief pit-stop at our favorite farmer's market, Morris Farm. 

Brady always seems to great on our way to vacation, and so far he has a much rougher time coming home...

I can't help it.

Anderson was so excited to get to the beach, and asked to go to the ocean all throughout our quick to-go dinner at the beach house.  So, we got ourselves down to the sand before dark (and got some of my very favorite photos of the trip.)

The wind really accentuated their awesome capes. ;-)

The next day, we hit the beach with Ryan's parents and the Hammitt/ Gray/ Manis clan.  The highlight of the whole trip, for me, was seeing Anderson and Will play together.  They were great buddies and always so excited to see each other!  Brady would join in, some, but he also spent a lot of quality time in laps (especially Nannie and Papa's laps) on the beach.

Bromance highlight reel...

Leaving dinner

Snacking with Starr and Colleen

Being goofballs after dinner.

Brady had a few sleepy/ wilty moments on the beach, but overall he was very happy.  Anderson LOVED it and got pretty brave with the water.  I found this year more relaxing than the last two.  And other than the aforementioned hurricane, weather was perfect (even Thursday, when we squeezed one more morning out before hitting the road).

Boys in the shade (Papa, Brady, Daniel, Jerry, and Will)

Anderson's "wave dance", as he worked up some courage.

Chillin in the shade.

Colleen and Brady

Jerry had the big boys digging for treasure (coins), which they loved!!

Brave Will and Starr

Daniel and Sarah

The boys and their Papa

Nannie and her boys.

We left Thursday afternoon; sad to see our week come to an end!  We did make the most of an unexpected weekend in Virginia, though.  More to come on that next. :)