Annual Trip to the Beach...

Our 4th Annual trip to the beach with friends...and I think this was one of our best trips yet!!  We did all the "usual" things....like the dolphin watch boat. Some pirates attacked and we had to defend the boat!

 

Some people were less than thrilled with the pirates....

 

The best part is always dragging the nets and dumping what they catch into the touch tank. They pulled up several crabs, some different kinds of fish and some sting rays. They pull the sharp "stinger" out so the kids can pick them up.

 

Sophia holding a puffer fish.

The pirates always meet the boat back at the dock for some pictures. Joshua did not want to get anywhere near the pirates! :)

 

The same 2 guys are always running the boats. TJoe is the one who is on deck. Very interesting guy. He is missing one eye and one finger. Hmmm....

 

Mike took the boys fishing on morning. They didn't catch anything but I'm sure they were the cutest fishermen on the pier!!

 

 

The kids got to spend lots of time with friends!!! Playing tennis.....

Eating dinner together...

Checking out the sites...

Shark Week claimed a few more victims this year!

 

We spent a lot of time on the beach!! Lots of sand castles, boogie boarding and time with friends!!

 

Joshua and Hudson both have August birthdays. I know this picture is blurry...but the last night we surprised them with a cake for an early birthday celebration.

 

We had another lesson with the Sand Castle Man. He taught us how to build arches. Some of them were successful....but most fell.

These 3 girls are quite the trio. Friends since they were 2....and still going strong. We all hope they will stay friends for a long long time.

 The last night we stayed at the pool for a long time...but finally headed down to the beach for a campfire. The wind was really really strong, but the guys managed a fire inside the sand castles.

 

 

Everyone got some glow sticks and necklaces...

 

 

 We roasted marshmallows and the kids hunted for ghost crabs...and found 4. It was so windy we thought the rest of the crabs were probably blown away to some other beach!!!

This trip is always one of our favorites. And this year was really one of the best. Kids played so well together. They are all big enough to be helpful!! Each year it gets easier and easier. We were all so busy that packing and planning was pushed off until the last minute. It was more of a "throw some food and beach stuff into the car and head south" kind of deal. And it worked. 5 families with 12 kids total...quite a group but so much fun!! So thankful that we have such wonderful friends to spend time with!!