OBX Marathon

This past November I ran my 3rd marathon. It was a great experience...challenging, but good. The weekend was filled with family activities and we had great friends come with us for the trip. There's something about running a marathon that is very satisfying. There is so much preparation leading up to the race and you never know how your race will go. Then when I was running, I found myself asking "Why am I doing this?". But crossing that finish line is a huge feeling of accomplishment it makes me forget all the pain and struggle I may have had getting to that point.

Here is Derek waiting to see me on the course, or maybe I had just run past and he was thinking, "Mom, what are you doing?"

We spent a lot of time at the beach. The kids loved our night walk, looking at the stars.




Our good friends, Patti and Johnny Lesley came with us. We enjoyed a morning at the Wright Brothers Memorial.



The kids could have spent all day at the sand dunes.




Some more good friends from Virginia Beach came to see us after the marathon. We were able to take a drive out on the beach with the Lesley's jeep. We drove out to a remote town which is only accessible by driving on the beach. All the "roads" in the town were sand and Chris was able to see some wild ponies.

  

Thank you to our friends for making this a fantastic weekend for all of us!

Nags Head

Johns family top 10 beach tips:

1. If you pass through a downpour on the way to the beach, don't be dismayed, that doesn't mean it is raining on the beach, even if you see gray clouds surrounding you.
2. A trip to the aquarium on the way is not a necessity, unless your are Chris or Derek.
3. The water is not always warm, but burying yourself in the sand is.
4. Boogie boarding is fun for all ages.
5. Pack lots of sunscreen (which we did, not sure why we are so red!)
6. Sand, sand everywhere! Taking cold showers involves lots of complaining and screaming.
7. A personal role of toilet paper is handy.
8. For passengers who like to vomit in the car after a nice day at the beach, please keep it confined to dirtying one item. (We initiated our leather seats)
9. Kite flying is amazingly relaxing.
10. Wireless DVD headphones on a road trip are a luxury for all parties.

Happy Memorial Day!

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Ocracoke Beach

Here they are, pics of the best beach around. I just love this picture of Derek.

Sheer JOY! The kids could have played and played and played. Oh wait, that is what they did! They didn't want to take a break.


This was the sunset just before we got on the ferry back to Hatteras. What a beautiful sight.

Lounging at the Beach

Katie had a Mary Kay conference to go to in Ocean City so Chris decided to take the kids out for a day of fun in the sun. Sadie and Mason and Dad spent the entire day on the beach and loved every minute of it! The kids had sunscreen on but Dad didn't. Whoops, he won't be making that mistake again! His coworkers have taken to calling him 'Lobster' this week.