Onslow Beach 2010

Again this year we traveled to Jacksonville, NC for a trip to Onslow Beach.  Since Daddy leaves on Thursday for Brazil, we had special family time. For the beginning of October, the weather was amazing--low eighties. On the day we arrived, we quickly ate lunch and headed out to the beach. We spent the afternoon searching for sharks' teeth and playing family soccer, two on two. After pizza and frosty's, we went back out on the beach with flashlights to find crabs. It was awesome until Madeline and Mommy got too cold and had to head in for hot chocolate.

The next morning for breakfast the kids had dinosaur egg oatmeal. I only buy it on special occasions and we play a silly game with it. I tell them that they had better not eat a dinosaur egg or else the mommy dinosaur is going to get them, or a dinosaur is going to grow out their noses and bum bums, or if they eat them, there will be no more dinosaurs on the earth. I pretend that I'm shocked that they ate them and that they are in trouble. M&R love this and giggle their way through breakfast. It's so cute!

Saturday we spent the entire day out on the beach, enjoying God's awesome creation and each other.  After dinner at Wendy's we went out to Onslow's Pavilion and watched Karate Kid outside on a big, blow-up screen.  They even had free popcorn and hot chocolate.  Bar the mosquitoes, it was AWESOME.  My sweet boy sat on my lap the entire time and cuddled with me.

Sunday, we again spent the entire day at the beach.  Before dinner, we biked to the playground and checked out one of the fishing piers.  And after a delightful Subway dinner (our dining choices were VERY limited on the base), Matt took Ry took a boxing tournament.  Madeline and I stayed in the minivan and took turns reading her Natalie books to each other.  It was totally worth it, as Ryan and Daddy loved seeing live boxing.

Our little cottage had a loft where the kids slept.  They thought it was so much fun, and loved hanging over the ledge!

Madeline's tooth fell out at the beach, but she wanted to wait until we got home for the Tooth Fairy to come.  The Tooth Fairy was very accommodating and even left Madeline a note.

Ryan, playing in a natural pool of water.  I can't believe my baby is about to turn 5!

Catch that water!

Why does the water always seem colder to Mommy???

I savor this special time with my babies.  I love that Ry is still small enough that he grabs my hand and leads me around to show me things he has found.  He loves to converse.

So beautiful!

Daddy wanted to capture our feet--from left, Ry, Mommy, Madeline.

Our princess with her daddy.

Mommy and Maddie.

Our family sandcastle.

Buddies

 

Stomping on the castle.

The girl loves to do splits, and the sand makes it so much more fun.

Our musical boy.

Visiting a base is so fun.  The signs and the sights are truly unique, and give you a much greater appreciation for the young men and women serving our country.