Beach Bums

It finally came! Our beach vacation with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins, and family galore! The Horn ladies (that's my mom and her two sisters) gathered up a solid representation of their kids and their kids' families and we headed to Carolina Beach, NC. We spent a week soaking up the sun, jumping waves, and just enjoying the company of family. In short, we had a blast.

Here are the two girls, mentally preparing for the week. Abby didn't know it, but she was going to get to hang out with some of her favorites, the Browns, who kept her safe from the storms, the crazy heatwave, and fireworks.

A little morning snoozer after a tough stroller run with mom.

Abs: Guys, I know you have to pack, but did we really give the OK for this? 

 Carolina beach is only about an hour's drive from my parents' home in Wallace, so we made their house our stopping and starting points. Allie's Uncle Jonathan and her cousins Alice and Tim made it in for the first weekend of the trip and our girl was thrilled to see them again. I have a feeling that Grandmom and Grandpa were a tiny bit pleased to have their whole brood of grandkids in one place as well...

Exhibit A.

 Allie felt she had much to teach her younger (by 4 months) cousin, Alice...

Like how to give a proper, enthusiastic hug...whether the other person is ready or not.

Don't worry, little Alice...you'll learn.

Cousin Tim helped show the girls a few tricks of his own as well, like how to get the best performance out of 'antique' toys.

 We packed up from Wallace and headed to the beach.

Baby, it's so humid out, I can't do a THING with my hair.

Allie: 'BEACH BREAKFAST!!!' Alice: 'Oh my...'

One happy Grandmom! (PS, find the goofball...yep, you got it.)

Golf tans only make the beach more fun!

Now, if this isn't a beach body, I don't know what is.

Grandpa, tell me again how tall that wave was that we jumped?

 As mentioned, the best part of this trip was spending time with family. We finally got to meet Allie's second cousin, Cora and if we'd been 2-3 weeks (ish) later, we would have gotten to meet Cora's new baby brother. Ah well, guess we'll have to put another beach trip in the books! Allie got to meet tons of new (to her) family and we're excited for the arrival of another new Nichol, Pete and Alison's son, who should arrive, appropriately so, around Labor Day.

Cora making sure her parents, Geoff and Gena, are safe from the waves.

Beaching it, Eicholtz Family Style.

Allie, hanging out with second cousins, Nathan and Sarah.  The girls clearly couldn't be bothered to look at the camera.

Swimsuit sisters and co.

 Back at the beach house, Allie continued to impart her hugging wisdom on Alice.

Whether....

she wanted it...

or not!

Another happy Grandmom shot!

Wintrode Beach Bums.

 Our whole gaggle invaded a seafood restaurant. It was to their advantage to seat us quickly since we took over the entire lobby, aquariums and all.

Allie, Tim and Cora... mesmerized.

 We had family dinners together most nights, which was right up Allie's alley with tons of people and guaranteed games and giggles.

Sarah and Allie, off to the horsie races!

Ryan, Janna and Aunt Paula, our Colorado contingent. Look closely, there's a future  doctor  in the middle! 

More fun with the cousin crew! True, Sarah, Nathan, Allie and Ben gathered around the iPad, but there was definitely still a respectable amount of old school tag and hide-&-go-seek games to go around. 

The Sister-Grandmoms and their girls.

Now that's one cute couch! (Only missing one second cousin, Jackson, who sent his love from Philly.) Allie's beside herself with joy...clearly.

And of course there's the beach staple...

ice cream.

Hey - you guys going to finish those cones?

Cousin Julie helping to corral the kiddos. Allie loved hanging out with  her!

We took the ferry to Southport, NC for their 4th of July festivities while some of the men hit the links. 

Here you have it, we've just tripled the population of Southport.

Janna says 'Cheese!' (and turkey).

Southport Sisters. (Aunt Paula, Mom, Aunt Patsy, all a.k.a 'Grandmom.')

Back to the waves with Daddy! 

Ahhh, I love this place.

Bounce party!!!

Dessert is served! Nathan and Ben provide the 'cutie' to go with these pies.

And these kids refuse to go anywhere that they can't... DANCE DANCE DANCE!!! 

YEEEESSSSS!!!!

Even the sisters got into the groove (YouTube videos to follow;o). 

 We stole away from the beaches and dance parties long enough to check out the Aquarium at Fort Fisher. Allie loved the fish and their friends.

What? Is there something behind me?

Hmmm, what could I have done to make this trip last longer? Ah well.  Had a blast! Now home to my Abby.