OBX 2012

I've decided that the key to having a pleasant vacation is...don't bring an infant!!!  Last year, then 6 week old Jackson was, shall I say...challenging.  But what a difference a year makes!  This year, thirteen month old Jackson was pretty fun and that's including the fact that when he arrived at the Outer Banks he greeted it by projectile vomiting all over everything...especially Mommy!

Apparently, Jack caught some kind of virus.  Thank GOD that he waited until we arrived to begin vomiting, as an episode like that in the car would have been awful!  He spiked a temperature and really wasn't himself, so after a couple days of this, we decided to visit the Emergency Room at the Outer Banks Hospital.  This was about as pleasant as a hospital trip could be.

There was not a soul in the waiting room when we arrived and the triage nurse was calling us back before we even completed the paperwork.  I feel like we saw every nurse and doctor in the place.  Jack got a strep test and a chest x-ray, had ear infection ruled out and we were advised to just let it run its course.  We were relieved that it was just a bug and nothing more serious.

The weather was pretty cool in the beginning of the week so by the time Jack was back to being himself it had warmed up and it was time for fun in the SUN!!!  This year, Julia became more daring in the water.  There was MUCH less whining from her this year as a result.

We got Jules her very own Boogie Board (after she had so much fun "surfing" on Luke's board) but the coolest thing that she and I did was spending about 45 minutes in the ocean swimming in the waves.  When she was trying to walk in, she got pummeled by a wave and when she came back up to the surface, I thought for sure that she was done.  But thankfully I was able to calm her down and carry her in.  From there, the only challenge was getting her out!

We took a trip to the historic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and decided to climb to the top with Luke, Ben and Julia.  Jules and Ben (aka Batman) just barely made the cut.  You needed to be a certain height to climb for safety reasons.  We were worried that the kids would have a problem with the 248 step climb to the top, especially since carrying anyone is not allowed.

Perhaps we also should have been deterred when we got there and an ambulance was there to deal with an "episode" that someone had along their journey to the top.  But we decided to go for it and I can't tell you how impressed I was with the three kids!  Luke led us all the way up and Ben and Julia listened so well!  We stopped at each landing to take a picture of the kids (and get a rest).  It had one of the coolest views I have ever seen!  This stop was particularly neat for me as this lighthouse was relocated in 1999.  They moved it further on shore to essentially keep it from being claimed by the sea.  One of the companies involved in that relocation if actually from Mardela in Wicomico County, MD.  This was the same company that relocated the Pemberton Cottage that Courtney and I used to live in.

One of the best parts of this vacation each year is the friends and family that we share our little cottage (see above picture for an example of homes in the area) with.  Everyone is so different, but we get along great.  Everyone does their own thing, but when we are together it's great and all the kids are getting to the point where they will just go off and play together.  It was a great week!

However, I would have to say that the highlight of the week was a flashback of sorts for me.  When Liz turned 21 (some 12 years ago), she decided to go out with the big boys for her indoctrination.  After just a few hours of "socializing" with my friends, she was in rare form and capped the night off by...well let's just say she didn't hold her liquor too well that night.

Since then, the Liz I know has been responsible.  I've never seen a repeat episode...until this year's vacation.  Her alcohol induced alter ego was out in full force after a couple rounds of the wholesome family card game "asshole".  The alcohol didn't stay with her long though!

I can't wait for next year!!!

-Andy