Flack/Hout Beach Trip (Part 2)

That evening, we too the kids to a nearby playground to burn off some energy. Even though it had been so hot earlier, it wasn't too bad by the evening.

The only downside to a playground at the beach is that it is SO sandy.  Charlie covered up his face when I tried to take his picture, but this little guy was COVERED in sand!!

The next day had another crazy heat advisory. So we went to one of our favorite vacation spots - The Power of Play in Wilmington. For anyone that goes near the area and has young kids, this place is just awesome! It is a giant indoor playground/children's museum and it's so much fun!

Sliding time!

Harper went off to play house with all the baby dolls

I can't believe Charlie climbed all the way up here all by himself - last year, we had to put him up there and hold his hands as he went down the slide.  He's just growing too fast!!

Everyone loves the grocery store!

Such a cutie pie

Alex had the best time in the restaurant area. He would go into the kitchen and fix something on the stove or in the oven and then bring it out to the table. One time, we had to pull him aside for a little while because he got very upset when someone else messed with the food he had put in the oven.

Lucy and Rosa

Alex went back to enjoy the food he prepared

Lucy loves being a slug on the slide

These slides were so fast - they would send these little kids just flying through the air at the bottom. And of course, they loved it!

You can see how much Rosa loved it! :)

On Wednesday, the heat advisory had passed and it wasn't quite so bad. We headed out to the beach again that morning for some more fun in the sun.

Photographic evidence that Michael actually put his feet in the ocean!

Alex just loves the water :)

Charlie prefers playing in the sand

Lucy had her sunglasses so Alex decided he needed his too.

And so did Charlie!

We had to go out and do some "jumping" in the waves.

Michael had the camera at this point in time . . . he snapped a lovely photo of this guy.

Pappy had gone fishing that day but when he saw this picture, he found himself on the pier! :)

Rosa borrowed Charlie's sunglasses too.

Fun with Gramma!

Next up: Fun at the Carolina pier and the swimming pool!

Flack/Hout Beach Trip (Part 1)

At the end of July, we had our second annual Flack/Hout beach trip. This year, we stayed in a house at Carolina Beach. We had such a great time together! We arrived on Saturday and everyone got settled in. On Sunday morning, we got up and headed to the beach.

Swinging in the yard, waiting on everyone to be ready to go

Charlie was more interested in splashing in puddles

The beach was only a short block from the house. It was a beautiful day. There were lots of fishing boats out, so we saw lots of birds flying around as well.

Lucy was ready to be a beach bum!

Michael snapped this picture of us while we were sitting in the waves. I love these moments with my kids, just sitting and being together. Such sweet, peaceful moments!!

After a fun morning at the beach, we had a good lunch and all the kids had a good nap. Fun at the beach can sure wear you out!! That evening, while we were fixing dinner, Gramma and Pappy took the kids outside for a watergun fight. Pappy tried to snap a picture of Gramma with all her babies. . . they are all in the picture, at least! (They weren't very interested in the camera, as you can tell.)

I think it's safe to say that they had a good time. . .

Lucy liked giving Rosa a drink from her water gun

Harper had a good time watering the plants too

Such a good picture of Pappy!

On Monday, there was a dangerous heat index, so we headed down to the NC Aquarium for another fun filled day, but indoors!

The boys had so much fun jumping on the white lines with Uncle Joe

The first thing we saw once we got inside was this replica of an alligator. The kids were so excited by this and it took a moment to convince them that if we just went a little farther we could see live alligators!

Fish!

Can you see the albino alligator??

All the kids were so excited to climb on the sea turtle statue!

They had a large touch tank inside. Lucy would touch the starfish, but she wasn't going anywhere near the horseshoe crabs. Of course, Alex had no fear!!

Lucy the Crab

The kids had the best time with this cutout out seahorses!!

Of course, their favorite part of the whole museum was the playground outside!!!

Stay tuned for Part 2 of our beach trip!!!