This summer we have loved going to the beach!
In June we went to Duck, North Carolina with my whole family for our annual Wilson Beach Week.
Then in early August Robert and I went back to Duck and crashed my parents little vacation that they take every summer to our time share- Barrier Island Station. We grew up going to Barrier Island as our family of five (Dad, Mom, Julie, Jonathan and me) but now it's a bit small for our whole crew to fit comfortably, so Jonathan, Julie and I rotate who goes with my parents each summer just based on schedules.
Lastly last weekend I took a girls trip with no hubbies and no kiddos to Kitty Hawk in the Outer Banks. All three trips were different (some more relaxing than others) but each one was wonderful in it's own way. I simply love the beach!
Our June trip to Duck, NC with my whole family!
Robert was a big sand-plopper this year. He wasn't quite sure of what to make of the ocean- it was cold! But he did love playing in the sand. Shout out to Auntie Ashleigh for Robert's San Diego Zoo hat she got him. He actually kept it on and it helped so much with keeping the sun off his face and neck.
One night my Mom ran down to the beach with us to take a few family pictures. So glad we decided to do this because it was fast and she got some great photos! Thanks, Mom!
Robert loved sitting in the baby pool we brought down to the beach with us each day. We filled it up with ocean water, shells and some sand and he would sit and play for pretty good chunks of time splashing around in it. It was a nice way to keep him in the shade and to help with the heat.
Rob and I snuck away for a little ice cream lunch date. Thank you to my sister-in-law, JK for watching Robert while we stuffed our faces. It was delcious!
Robert loves his cousins. They are each so good to him! In this picture he was laughing at Tripp explaining his Pokémon shirt to him. I guess Robert thinks Pokémon is quite entertaining, haha.
With his "twin" Charlie girl!
I love slow, beach mornings! The cousins would follow Robert around and really were great babysitters.
My parents did a scavenger hunt for all the grandkids around the house one afternoon. All the kids had to stay outside on the deck until they were ready for them inside. The kids had a blast running around the house (both inside and outside) finding clues! Funny memory: the kids had such a hard time reading my Dad's handwriting. He writes in all caps and they thought this was hilarious.
Robert loved all the pool rafts. Funny thing was he didn't actually get in the pool too much. We kept trying to get him in the pool with the rafts but he really just wanted to play with them on the grass in the yard instead.
The bumbo seat saved us at meals times with Robert. It was easy and he just sat right on the table with everyone. The cousins thought it was quite funny that he was allowed to have his feet on the table during meal time.
Each summer my mom does a fun (depends on who you ask teehee) guessing competition/game with different artists and pictures. Each of us have to pick our favorite picture and then guess who we think the others picked as their favorite. She gets small prices for the kids and adults to make it fun! Will and I tied for the adult winners! Woohoo! The prices were a white kitchen tray, a bald eagle decoration (that got quite a few laughs) and a Starbucks gift card. Some would say that Will really won out but Robert to this day loves playing with that eagle, so I'd say we were all winners!
Another day, another raft... in the grass!
We enjoyed our breakfast and coffee on the back deck each morning.
The one picture where Robert left his sunglasses on for 0.1 second long enough for us to snap a pic, ha!
Robert's first Oreo. It was love at first taste!
The first day we were there just Rob, Robert and I ventured down to the beach before dinner. It was nice to explore and walk around just us. Robert didn't love the water the first few times but toward the end of the week he ventured out with Rob to the sandbar.
He's not too sure about those waves. We got you bud!
Cousin pic!
It was a wonderful week with family! The cousins spoiled baby Robert. He had a blast! They were all so sweet to him. We ate great food and even figured out a way for Rob, myself and Robert to all share one room and still get some pretty solid sleep. Thank you Amazon for epic black out curtains.
My August trip to Barrier Island with Robert, my parents, Julie and her kids.
Robert woke up most mornings much earlier than his normal 7-7:45am wake up at home. I would begin to hear him around 6:00am and being that we were in a condo and that he was sleeping in a closet with no door, we would enjoy an early morning walk to the beach so not to wake the others. The only other person that was also up that early each morning was my Dad, so he would join us on our morning beach strolls. After adjusting the first day to an early wake up, I actually grew to love our little mornings at the beach. It was quiet, beautiful and it was also really nice to have some time just with my Dad.
Cousin cuddle time! I somehow got them all to "fake" sleep except Tripp, haha.
My parents are so sweet to let us crash their week of peace. Robert loves his Mamie and Papa.
We spent most of our time at the beach but Robert did love playing in the baby pool too. Two highlights were playing with my shoes in the water and playing with the pool chair that we brought into the water. He thought this was the coolest thing!
Time hop from last summer at Barrier Island to this summer at Barrier Island. Robert is getting so big!
2021
2022
Girl's Weekend with Lynette & Sarah in Kitty Hawk. I went to high school with Sarah and have reconnected with her since moving back to Williamsburg. Lynette sang at Rob and my wedding. We grew up going to church together and since moving back home have reconnected as well, which has been so much fun! They worked together at the same elementary school which is how they have become so close- crazy small world sometimes. I am very thankful for their friendships!
