OBX 2018

  It was just about a year ago when Gammy surprised us all with Christmas in July announcing that we were all heading to the Outer Banks again.  For a recap, click here!

OBX, Here We Come!

 So here we are, a year later and it was time to head south.  We were checking out the map the day before to see where our newest push-pin would be added....

We had kept explaining to the twins how they were going to go to sleep Saturday night in their beds but would wake up Sunday morning in the car....or that was the plan at least!

3:30 AM...wide awake....

3:30 AM....zombie...

He was super excited to start the license plate game!

Allie perked up for breakfast at a really great diner in Virginia....she could have ordered anything her heart desired....and she got FRUIT LOOPS!

Same thing for this one...thumbs up from Cam!

ONWARD!

We all thought this part of the trip was pretty cool - under the water we go!

Hard to see but a huge cargo boat drove over the tunnel right before we drove down below.  Pretty cool!

 We arrived to the Outer Banks around 11:30 AM.  We were all excited to get out of the car.  We spent a few hours with our family, the Mackels, and then headed to our home for the week to get unpacked!

Our house has an elevator?!??!??!

 The ocean was really crazy when we first got there thanks to Tropical Storm Chris.  We opted to hang out by the pool and in the hot tub for the first day!

Who needs a pool?

We ventured down to check it out...VERY WINDY!

Gammy's happy place!

Crazy hair

So much for child safety locks...

And he's in!

Gammy teaching Cam about the ways of the beach.

Decided to check out the ocean from the balcony!

 Kiddos enjoyed relaxing after our day of travel!

 Which led into our first sunset photoshoot!

It was a little bit windy.

 We checked out Jockey's Ridge the next day since the ocean was still pretty crazy.

Here we go!  Full of excitement and energy!

"We just need to get up over that hill" says Cameron.

Here is us, early on, dying trying to catch up with the boys!

"Hello up there!

"Or maybe up over this hill?!??!"

"I think we're catching up!"

"Ok! It's gotta be just over this hill!!  Wait, what exactly am I looking for over these hills!?!"

"I'm losing interest."

"We're losing interest."

"Ummm...is this all there is?  Just more sand??!??!"

"We caught up!"

"Yippee!"

Cameron decided we had to walk a bit farther.  Can you see us way out there?

Working our way back!

Let's fly a kite!

The kite almost took Cam's head off...

And now down to the ocean!

From the youngest Rocchi cousin....

...to the oldest....

...we all enjoyed the beach and ocean!

Racing the waves!

Bring it on, ocean!

It takes a lot of make Cam smile.....

...but this kid LOVED the ocean!

Allie was more into creating sand masterpieces!

And create she did!

DiFrank family

 Loved hearing Cole's belly laughs!  Hanging out with Poppy is the best!

 Back down to the beach for some time at dusk.  This is my absolute favorite time on the beach.  Makes me think of my mom....she LOVED the beach!

Allie - the ULTIMATE shell collector!

Allie returning to the beach with yet another bucket to fill!

 An epic day at the beach calls for an epic bubble bath!!  I may have put a bit too much bubbles into the tub...

 Another beautiful sunset in the Outer Banks...

Back to the beach for some crab hunting that night.  Cameron said, "I didn't think it would be this easy to find them!"  We found A LOT!

Tuesday dawned bright and beautiful!

Gammy brought along a great puzzle for us to work on!

 And we prepared for our family photo shoot and renewal of our vows....check out a future blog for those pics!

Back to the action of our week together....we enjoyed watching silly cat videos together.....

 Lots of hugs and kisses.....

 We checked out the Wright Brothers Memorial....

Can you feel the excitement?

Allie through it was pretty cool!

"Yo, Daddy."

Dreaming big dreams.....

Baby blues....what will your eyes see invented during your lifetime?

"Where will you travel on wings during your lifetime?"

 In the celebration of our 10th year anniversary, we decided to take a sunset cruise on the same boat we took for our rehearsal dinner back in 2008.  It was a great time then and a great time 10 years later!

 Memories.....

Our wedding party.

My dear, sweet mother.

Bah-Bah!

So young!

 And 10 years later.....

 Then....

 And now....

 Then.....

 And now...

Love when Michael gets creative behind the camera!

What a lovely evening..and now worries about Cameron (he didn't fall overboard!)  He was just hanging out with the captain!

 We traveled over to Manteo to see a children's play at the Lost Colony Theatre.  Really well done!

Stopped by Mallard's March (where our wedding reception was).  it has changed hands but is still a beautiful venue!

Little time out for Michael and me thanks to Gammy and Poppy!  We checked out the Outer Banks Brewery.

 Made a quick visit to the Nags Head Elementary School playground -- great place!

 And more beach action!!

Aria LOVED the ocean!

Allie LOVED keeping an eye out for Aria.

 Along with all of Allie's seashells, wood, pine cones, and flowers, Cam also had a treasure to bring home....yup....it's currently sitting on our front porch awaiting its entrance into his bedroom.

 Bit more of the pool...

 And yes, I made everyone get up Friday morning to see the sunrise.  My mom and I always did this and I thought it would be a nice time for us....and it was!

Little rough at this moment....

Not sure we were going to see it because of the clouds!

Seriously hating his mother....

We began to perk up a bit....

Little crab joined us....

AND THEN!!!!!!!!!!

"It looks like Lion King!" says Cameron.

Lovely...and then we all went back to bed for 3 and 1/2 hours!

Real quick snapped this picture before we headed north on Sunday morning.

 Thank you to Gammy and Poppy for pushing us all to do this vacation.  It was a lovely week full of great memories with the Rocchi and DiFrank families.