Oh the beach! Last year, Brett, Nomin, Dave and I went pseudo-camping in Cape Hatteras the weekend before Memorial Day. We had such beautiful beach weather and it wasn't overly crowded since it wasn't peak time. At that time, Nomin and I were both pregnant and we decided that if we were to do the trip again, it might be better to rent a beach house instead of camping. So just after Will was born, we decided to book a beach house the week before Memorial Day and invite the family down to beach it up with us. We ultimately decided on Corolla Beach in the OBX since there is a large stretch of beach that you can drive on, park your truck, and tailgate. Since Brett and I are self-proclaimed professional tailgaters, it seemed fitting. Brett, Will, Woody and I were joined by Dave, Nomin, Emily and Shawn as well as my mom and dad. Brett's mom, dad, brother, and brother's friend could only join us for the first couple days. Then my friends Amber and Derek came to visit for the rest of the week with their two children: Delia and Charlotte.
Planning went underway early (complete with a crazy Google Doc Spreadsheet for everyone to fill out what they were bringing and what foods people could contribute) - yes I know I am crazy but that's why you all love me. The beach house we booked was great. There were lots of master bedrooms to accommodate the number of adult couples we had staying with us. There was a pool and a hot tub. There was a ping pong table (which was used both for real ping pong and for beer pong) and a big backyard perfect for bocce and cornhole. There were a ton of decks and balconies to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
We made it down to Corolla for our 4pm Saturday check in. We met up with our friends Ray and Susan (Ray is the guy who helped with our bathroom remodels) who have a beach house in Corolla as well. We got to see their place and had a quick drink before heading to our rental to move in for the week. After getting settled in, we all met up with Ray and Susan at a seafood restaurant for dinner and drinks. The food was really yummy - it had been so long since I had fresh from the sea seafood. I think that was the only time we ate out since the rest of the time we either packed food for the beach or made breakfast and dinner at the house.
On Sunday we tried to go to the beach but Mother Nature thought otherwise. It was misty and windy. Nonetheless, everyone packed up the trucks, drove onto the beach, set up shop, got rained on and pelted with the 'stinging sand'. Emily was brave and decided to try and go in the water. I think we were out on the beach for 15 minutes before we decided to pack it in and head back to the house. On the way out - Doug got stuck in the sand and we needed to push him out. Got nervous for a little bit, but they got the truck moving again. Once we got back to the beach house, we hit up the hot tub until the lightning and thunder drove us inside. Bummer - but it turned out that was the only bad day, so not too bad in the grand scheme of things.
The rest of the days were usually spent on the beach and when we left the beach we usually made our way to the hot tub or pool. Derek threw Woody in the pool a couple times to see if we could get him to swim (he can swim - but he DEFINITELY doesn't like it). Beaching was really fun. The kids buried me in the sand one day and turned me into a fat, big boobed mermaid - good times ;-) I buried Will in the sand in his bumpo seat - which gave him easy access to loose sand for him to eat. He seemed to think it was delicious and he was pooping sand for days. It was fun getting him dressed up for the beach and pool - I had a bunch of hats and swim gear for him. I'm certain Will loved the beach because he got to hang out with all of his favorite grandparents. Usually, I would get him to fall asleep and then I would hand him off to whichever grandparent was laying in a beach chair to hold him while they read their books. Very convenient.
There was one day that the guys (my dad, Dave, Brett and Derek) went out on a fishing excursion and left me, Nomin, my mom, and Amber to take care of the kids (Will, Shawn, Emily, Delia and Charlotte) and Woody (he sort of counts as a kid). We were totally outnumbered but we packed up the two trucks and the suburban and all of us drove onto the beach. It was my first time driving in the sand. Nomin was really nervous, but she did great. I then got yelled at for leaving the truck in 4WD after leaving the beach - ooops.
There was lots of good food! We got steamed crabs one night, fried up the fish the boys caught another night, Nomin made Mongolian hamburgers another time. There was bulgogi, burgers, spare ribs and a smorgasbord of yummy foods for breakfasts, lunches and dinners. I easily gained 10 lbs while we were on vacation. But that's what vacation is for right!??!
The nights were usually spent drinking, reading, drinking, talking, drinking, or playing games... oh or drinking. We played some fun rounds of Game of Things (my current favorite board game) and we also played a new game called "Times Up" (which is also known as Celebrities).
Here are some of the many many many pics from that weekend:
Will chillin with Grandma Roper on the pool deck
Piling as many people as possible in the hot tub
Will geared up for the beach - he is so darn cute!
Will chillin in the bumpo on the beach
The Vienna Roper family
Family photo. Thanks Dick for taking this one. This is just before my brother had to walk away and barf in the ocean (he was very hungover from the night before)
Delia and Emily (aka "My Friend")
Woody holdin down the fort
Will sleeping on my Dad in his shark towel. This was before Shawn peed on him and was still willing to hold babies
Dave and Nomes
Family photo for the Woodbridge Newtons
Amber and Charlotte
Two of the wild horses in the sunset
The Vienna Roper family (minus Woody)
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