Nags Head 2012

 We headed down to Virginia Beach a week ago ( to spend the night and break up the drive before going down to Nags Head).  We decided to take our time getting there (in the hopes of keeping Emily from getting cranky) so we stopped at Chik Fila A for dinner.

 I researched beach houses for a couple of months before deciding on the one we got.  Requirements:  at least 5 bedrooms, beach road front, pool, hot tub, and very close to a beach access.  The house we booked was perfect, and the access was only 75 feet away!  And had a fabulous ramp for rolling up the beach cart (and for the many people in our house with knee issues).

 First day at beach.  It ranged from 85-92 degrees, so the baby pool ended up being a life saver the first two days when it was very rough out in the ocean.

 Someone stole my Outer Banks hoodie...

 You gotta go to Putt-Putt at least one during the week, right?  We hit Professor Hackers when it was still early (and relatively low heat).

 Garrett, Timmy, Joe, and Peggy headed to Roanoke Island one afternoon while I watched Emily.  They visited the lost colony and Garrett got war paint on his arm by the ranger.  Then they went to the North Carolina Aquarium.

 Unfortunately, we didn't get to go swimming in the ocean every day.  But the "good weather" days made up for it!

 And the pool at the house was always open!

 Emily had no fear about sand fleas at all.  She dug them up for Garrett and Timmy to use as bait while surf fishing.

 Can you say "naked baby"?!  Emily got her clothes wet while we were at the beach one evening, and she cannot stand to have wet clothes.  So she insisted on stripping down right there!  There was hardly anyone on the beach, so no one cared.  We let her run around for a little bit, then forced a diaper on her for the walk home.

Our final night:  go karts!  We paid a small fortune for the pleasure of watching the kids run cars around the track for five minutes.  Timmy couldn't join because he's too tall and I'm too pregnant.  So we just made for some embarrassing spectators.

Our body guard on the drive home.  Garrett had to find someway to entertain her, and his glasses did the trick....for about 10 minutes.  Luckily, she slept for over 2 of the 5 hours.  Now we just need a vacation to recover from our vacation!