Outer Banks 2015, Part 1

Last week, we headed out on a photography trip combined with family vacation to the Virginia Beach and Outer Banks.

This was Bethany's first trip to Virginia Beach and we were treated to an absolutely spectacular sunrise that easily lasted close to 30 minutes.

Here is the photographer working hard to capture this awesome sunrise

We basically camped to be there for sunrise so here are the early birds for sunrise.

Bethany was not exactly sure what she thought about sand at first. She kept trying to lift her legs up off the sand.

These two just love the beach, no matter what! Bethany decided she liked the beach more as the day went on. She is wearing my swimsuit from when I was a year old in this picture.

These girls love to build sandcastles too.

Most all of us caught a little rest time on the beach since it was an early morning for sunrise.

We had a fun morning on the beach enjoying the water and playing in the sand.

We headed to get some lunch nearby and then walked back onto the beach.

I had never been to Virginia Beach during the summer and we had no idea how crowded it could be!

We knew we were headed to the NC Outer Banks for some photography as well and we decided pretty quickly that we would head onto towards Nags Head.

We arrived in time to get supper at our favorite seafood restaurant there. Bethany got to try her first bites of shrimp and she is a fan!

                                   
Brent got up for sunrise almost every day and then after he got back, we would get some time on the beach during the day. This girls discovered how much fun she could have with a beach chair.

The big girls enjoyed going out into the waves with their dad.

Brent was even lifting Rachel over the tops of the waves!

We went to the Pirate Festival in Kitty Hawk. The big girls got to decorate a kite and learned how a soft roping would have been made to protect the edges of the sails on the ship.

We had one rainy day mid week and enjoy ourselves with a trip to the NC Aquarium at Roanoke Island. Because we usually go when we visit Topsail,we had gotten a yearly pass so this trip to the Aquarium was free. The girls found a frog friend in the Aquarium and Brent ran into this sea creature in the gift shop.

We also got our annual "It looks like the shark is about to eat my head" picture and the "Sisters on a Shark" photo too...

After a full day of clouds and rain, the skies cleared long enough for us to make it to the Currituck Lighthouse for sunset.

We had a great couple of days around Nags Head and Corolla and more fun ahead (lots more pictures too) as we headed down the Outer Banks to Hatteras and Ocracoke. Part 2 of the trip coming up...

Cave Mountain Lake

Last week, we went to Cave Mountain Lake for the first time with our friends, the Chittums. They had been telling us how fun the lake was for kids and so we made plans to meet there on Brent's day off.

 

 
 It was great area for the kids. Even when they walked out a few feet the water was only up to their waists. Here is Rachel practicing her swimming underwater.

 Bethany had fun playing at the water's edge.

 They also liked the sandy beach and took turns covering each other in sand.

 More fun playing in the lake!

 Bethany had fun trying out her new float from Nana for her birthday. It was really nice because the float were worked even in really shallow water so she could actually sit right beside me in the water's edge and pedal the float around with her feet.

 Carter took a turn in it too. The big kids liked it also. I laughed a lot watching Bekah and Tucker. Bekah would get in the float and Tucker would push her around in the float for awhile and then they would switch and she would push Tucker around in the float. They did this for quite awhile!

 

 The big kids had a lot of fun looking for creatures in the lake too. They found several tadpoles and the dads found a newt and a crawfish too.

 

 Here are their tadpoles. They were starting to get their back legs but still had their tail too. Meet "Ella" the Tadpole that Rachel is holding.

We had a fun afternoon at the lake. Thanks, Chittum family, for telling us about the lake and planning a trip with us. It is definitely a fun place for the kids and hopefully,we will get to go back again sometime!

                                             

Welcome Little Nephew!

                                      Tuesday, our family had a very special milestone. We welcomed our first nephew and cousin to our family. Meet Inman James McGuirt! He is the son of Brent's brother, Jared and his wife Brooke. He was born on July 28, 2015 at 1:07 am and weighed 7 pounds and 7 ounces and was 19.5 inches long.
We traveled down to North Carolina for the day yesterday to meet him and see his Mom and Dad. 

Look at that sweet little head full of hair!

 We are thrilled to finally be Uncle Brent and Aunt Dana!

 These cousins have been so excited for their cousin Inman's arrival. Rachel and Bekah both brought him pictures to welcome him for his "Birth Day." You can see Rachel waving to him when he woke up. Bekah was full grin getting to meet him and Bethany started clapping she was so excited!

 

 Look at this precious little guy!

 Uncle Brent and Uncle Jason along with others helped change a diaper while we were visiting.

 Here are the three James's: James Lee, Inman's Papa; Brenten James, Inman's Uncle and Inman James.
 
 Here is Little Man with his Dad and Uncle Brent and Uncle Jason. Goodness, when I see all 3 guys in on picture I realize how much Brent and his brothers really, really, really look alike!

 The girls had fun seeing Nana and Papa while we visited too. We also got to check on Aunt Brittany and the new niece and cousin who will be arriving in November!

 Here is the sweet family of 3! Jared, Brooke and Inman, we love you all!
                        

 Inman James, we are so glad you are finally here and for the time we had to meet you yesterday! We are looking forward to seeing you grow up and all the great plans God has for you and your life! Your cousins can't wait until you are old enough to play with them and we are excited about all the fun and adventures you all will have as you grow up together! Uncle Brent, Aunt Dana, Rachel, Bekah and Bethany all love you very much!