Emerald Isle v.2

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We enjoyed another incredible week at Emerald Isle after plunging from our summer of hard swim team work capped off by another Championship. Michael found this house two years ago that works incredibly well for us, so if it ain't broke... Just one block from the beach, it's perfect - easy beach access, but we enjoy gorgeous sunsets over dinner, fishing and crabbing on the sound, a great evening hang out spot with games and our Dancing Queen...always brings a tear to my eye when we have to return to reality, but I am grateful for the time with my people.

Hard to sum up a week of adventures in just a few pictures, so I didn't even try, which the kids will appreciate someday. This is a journal, after all, so the pictures will do most the talking.

Our Dancing Queen

Nice welcome back to our Salty Dog!

Andrew didn't fish quite as much because he was engrossed in everything Olympic (no surprise), but Matthew was happy to take his pole by Dad.

First blue....

Lots of crabs this trip---the first steam is always an adventure!

...then delicious red.

First sunset of the week...

First night on the beach was delightfully perfect for kite flying....and swimming in one's clothes.

The week-long baseball tourney was boys against girls. When one girl is content to draw sand pictures by first base, the pitcher/short-stop/outfield/2nd and 3rd baseman/catcher gets a work out! But she sure is cute at bat!

Short stop? Line backer? Your call.

Chasing Shadows

Made it to the Sand Bar!

Mermaid Song?

"Surfing", for hours.

Number 1 in my heart boys, no doubt.

As learned 2 years ago, go-karting with a 3-year-old is

about the most fun one can have.

The water park was a HUGE hit! Matthew loved the mat slides. Andrew and Margaret couldn't get enough of the "big" slides, which are indeed HUGE! Their favorite was the straight drop down...the one in which Mommy lost her stomach every single time because you actually come off of the tube and free fall.

And who did we run into??? Pill, aka Brian Wilson! These two played lax together at VT and both ended up in Denver. He and his Williamsburg bride, Marya, still live in Denver with their two littles, but were in EI this week and at the waterpark the same 2 hours all week that we were! Sadly, it was our last night there before we put two and two together, but it was fun to catch up between slides.