WE LOVE THE BEACH!!

We'd been planning for some time to go to the beach.  September seemed the best time.  Houses are cheaper to rent, the beaches are much less crowded, but the weather and water are still warm and very comfortable.

We rented a house in Duck, NC, just north of Kitty Hawk, with a private pool, a hot tub, and only a few hundred yards from the water.  It was fantastic!

We took the kids to the Wright Brothers National Memorial where they got to learn about Orville and Wilbur. It was very interesting to hear about their lives and all that they went through. Everyone enjoyed it. 

This (above and below) are pictures at the actual site of the first flights.  They took off from this rock and the longest flight went some 852 feet in 59 seconds.  The kids raced down the path to see if they could have run faster than Wilbur flew that day almost 110 years ago.

Is that the mythic white whale, Moby Dick?!

Oh, whoops. Nope, just Dad.  Seriously needs to hit the tanning booth.  And the gym.  No one likes a chubby pale guy.

While she wasn't too sure about the surf, she loved the water.  And we even managed to keep her covered in sun block enough that she didn't get a sunburn.  Parenting WIN!

We were also close enough to drive north to visit Corolla and the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. It's old, but they let people climb up the 200+ stairs to the top and even give you a sticker when you finish.  Kind of like a "participant ribbon" for those of you who are so fond of that sort of thing (nudge, nudge, Brooks). 

The view was beautiful! 

It was hot and sticky inside, but we were glad to stop at the open windows every couple flights of stairs.

Obviously, this one was SUPER excited to get back out in the breeze to cool off.  Not much cuter than that little face!!

She did take some good naps in the beach tent, though.  We just had to keep the kids and the baby crabs from disturbing her.

And no trip to the beach is complete without some kite flying.  Papa has them hooked!

More pictures to come soon!