First Beach Day

We have been enjoying summer-like weather for a week now. The public school children have been off for their spring break. We couldn't resist joining in the celebration...Yesterday we took our first trip to the beach for 2010. We adore our mountain vacations, but living so close to the ocean does have it's advantages too. Bob and I met on this very beach, near this spot, twenty-three years ago, in June 1987. We returned here for vacation before and during our pregnancy with Kendal. When she was two months old we came back to this place and took pictures of our little family-the three of us.

My mother and father had honeymooned at Nagshead in March 1967. He and Mom really had no idea what beautiful plans God had for them and their first baby (me). Admittedly, Bob and I didn't have a clue either, at sixteen and nineteen. We have enjoyed a sort of legacy in the Outer Banks over the years. About four years ago my dad fished with some of our children on a pier a little farther south, during one of our three Butler family Nagshead vacation weeks.

Yesterday, at 8am the children and I were on our way to Nagshead and we were back home in time for late afternoon naps for the toddlers. We packed a cooler, and bought sunscreen, bottled water and two pair of water shoes on the way. The weather was spectacular and we had our choice of parking spaces on the Beach Road of the Outer Banks. We didn't bother with bathing suits. We normally don't try to swim in the ocean. (We prefer a swimming pool, no sharks, sand or jellyfish) But we love looking for shells and walking in the sand.
I suppose we do look rather odd fully dressed while others are practically nude. But this works for us: no sunburn, no sandy bottoms, less mess and trouble for Mom, and no worries over modesty. If only I could convince Noah to smile for the camera and leave his hat on the proper direction! : )
Kelsey was very sweet and patient with Noah. He looks like a little man standing beside her. He only wanted to get as close as he could to the tide so he could throw in seashells. It was a constant tug of war. Ultimately, he was soaked from othe waist down. Thankfully, we were prepared with dry pants/skirts for everyone.
They don't like having their picture taken when the sun is so bright in their eyes. But I can't resist photo op's like these.

Kendal helped Anna to find shells. At home she drilled holes and helped Anna make jewelry with them. (Very much like her mother, Kendal is always willing to use tools to get a job done. The more challenging the more interested she is.) Isaac mostly wants to throw shells, but he brought home a collection too.
Thankfully, Anna also has patience with Noah and took her turn guarding him on the beach.
Mary loved running on the beach.
Joy too!

Noah probably didn't care much about what we were doing, except that he was allowed to throw things and that made his day!We didn't really need those new water shoes for Noah. He had trouble keeping them on. So did Mary. Oh well. We did use the bathroom at Walmart so it wasn't a total waste. :) And all the folks in the Customer Service line near the bathroom got their fill of "Are those all yours?", "How many boys and girls do you have?", "When's the baby due?", "You really do have your hands full!" I was tempted to reply that we'd driven an hour just so that we could entertain them by stopping at their local Walmart on our way to the beach. I chose smiling over sarcasm. I do love older folks and all their questions. It would've been disappointing if no one had said anything. I suppose we always look like we are having own party, parade, or field trip. People can't resist asking.