OBX Day One

The girls were posing and so, so deliriously happy to be out of the van. 

We left Michigan around 7 am on Friday. We drove and drove and drove. We were just doing old school map quest directions when a crazy typhoon hit us and we had to turn around a few times. We turned on the phone, and were automatically routed the shortest distance to Richmond. That way took us through the mountains of West Virginia and Virginia. We were passing historic Civil War battlefields and twisting and turning through the mountains. At this point, Juliet was done. She kept whining, "MY BACK HURTS!", which is her go-to complaint when in the car (I hear it everyday on the way to pick up and drop off Leah). All of the sudden, she puked ALL OVER. It was so gross and I felt so bad for her. I took off her clothes and cuddled her on the side of the road as Chris did what he could to clean up. It was gross. Leah was freaked out. Then, we had to ride in the puke-mobile to our hotel in Richmond (another 2 hours!). It was gross, but we made it. We showered and ate the takeout that Auntie Nicole picked up for us. After that, the trip could only get better. And, it did! We woke up the next morning and had a nice breakfast. We went shopping at my favorite outlet mall. And, we made it to Corolla by 4 (check in time). We unpacked, and hit the beach immediately. 

 This trip Juliet was seriously afraid of the ocean. She wanted nothing to do with it. She really would't go any closer than 20 feet. We met Trevor on the beach, and offered him money to watch the girls while we took a quick walk. Leah was so happy to play with Trevor. And, after over a day in a car together, I needed a minute. All the older kids were really good about baby-sitting over the week. The girls loved spending time with them, the kids loved getting money, and everyone got a little closer.

 These pictures perfectly illustrate their positions while at the beach. Juliet playing in the sand, Leah playing (and posing, and dancing, and jumping) in the surf.

After that we checked out the hot tub. This was the only time Juliet went in. Leah went in occasionally over the week. There was an upper level hot tub where the teenagers/young adults hung out, too.