OBX day by day

Saturday

We arrived around 2pm after Ade decided not to nap in the car as we had planned she would. But, fine. She was still a good girl for the ride. We met the Neals here to get the keys and were amazed by the quaintness of the cottage. Perfect. We settled in, and then went down for a Hello to the beach. We we

nt to a beach store, grocery shopping, and came back for a fresh shrimp dinner. Ade played peacefully and happily. It was a blissfully relaxing

evening. Ade went to sleep in a big girl bed and slept soundly all night until 7am!!!

Sunday

We went to the beach and played played played. We discovered that Ade has about an hour and a half tolerance

for the beach in one sitting, and ended up regretting all of the stuff we hauled down. Lesson learned. We ate lunch, and someone refused to nap again. We went to the beach again, hung out, and went to the Black Pelican for dinner. Ade was a serious

pickle, and we di

d not really get to enjoy the meal. We saw a lobster aquarium though, which made for many stories as the week went on.

Monday

More beaching, including an early morning walk for seashell collecting. After a huge n

ap battle (Mommy eventually prevailed), we went to Kitty Hawk kite shop where Adelaide was uninterested in the kites. Instead she fell in love with a baby lemur stuffed animal. Though we tried to swap

out for the smaller version, she insisted on the larger one. I am glad we caved because it has been her best friend on this trip. She took her new friend with her to dinner at Captain George's buffet. We love that place in Myrtle Beach, and though it

is a smaller version here, it still *delicious.* She

was very good at dinner, and made a friend in the waitress.

Tuesday

This was a really wonderful day, and one I will definitely remember as my fondest memory of this trip. We drove out to Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and went out to the pristine beach. We were the only people there and Adelaide was joyous, running everywhere shouting "Hello beach!" and chasing birds. We collected some great huge shells and just had a blast. Then we went to see Bodie lighthouse, and enjoyed a little outlet shopping on the way back home. We went to eat dinner at Kill Devil Diner.

Wednesday

After a yummy pancake breakfast at Stack Em High, we spent Wednesday morning at the aquarium in Manteo. Ryan fell in love with the little island town. Ade enjoyed seeing the sharks the most. We stopped at Capt'n Franks for lunch, which is a cute little dog joint. Ryan fell in love. After another hard-won nap, we went for pizza, and Ade has a meltdown. We ended up talking a walk on the beach while we waited for the pizza, and ate it at home.

Thursday

Day of chill. We went to the beach bright and early, and then just relaxed in the house. We went to a few shops and ate at Capt'n Franks again. Ade wanted ice cream, but the shop appeared to be closed. Just as we were saying "How sad!" the worker appeared and let us in. Yummy! Ade took a great nap, and I cooked tortilla soup for dinner. This was overall a very relaxing enjoyable day with no plans.

Friday

We saw some doggies on the beach that Ade basically attacked with hugs and kisses this morning. She misses her -izzles (CheyChizzle and KotaDizzle). Bill and Amy also came over to play in the morning, and that was a real treat. It was so nice to see them, and Ade warmed up to them immediately. She asked Amy to carry her back from the beach, and then snuggled up on her to watch TV. She hugged Bill and gave him a kiss. BJ, the owner of the cottage, stopped by to say goodbye. Ade is napping right now, while a beach storm passes over. We've had great weather, but a hurricane is brewing offshore and sending some showers our way today.

Other non-agenda bits to remember:

• Ade insisting on watching the lemur noise on YouTube on my phone over and over again.
• Ade doing a strange little dance with her hand on her hip going "Oh yea! Oh yea!" that has us concerned about her possible future as a dancer (not the respectful kind).
• After a "it's loading, it's loading" video wouldn't start on my phone, Ade held up her little hand in an adorable gesture and said, "How about a new one?"
• The nap when Ade stuck her hand in her poopie diaper.
• The sandcastles, the roads and moats, the increasing ocean bravery as the week went on, the fun on the swings and hammocks, the outdoor shower, and those lovely relaxed mornings.
• Naptimes: Mommy reading a book in the ocean breeze, and daddy playing on the computer.
• Nighttimes: Mommy working, or watching Big Brother, Daddy on his computer or watching sports, or both of us in bed reading.

I vowed not to ruin the last day with thoughts of packing and the work that lay ahead this week, but it is really hard not to. The end of a vacation is always bittersweet. Returning home will seem relaxing in one way, and stressful in another. In any case, I think we have found a new love here in the OBX and I'd bet we spend more vacations here in the future.