Camping in Ocracoke

In July Ryan and I decided to take a short trip down to Ocracoke Island and camp for an evening. It takes about two hours to get down there and we have to ride the ferry from Hatteras Village to get there. If you have never been there you should make a point to go. Ocracoke is one of those hidden treasures where people truly live on "Island Time". Most people that go down there rent bikes and just ride around the town and enjoy eating on the water and shopping in their quaint shops. We went last year for our anniversary, but this year we decided to actually camp with Kallie in a tent. We packed everything up in Ryan's car, as well as our bikes for a quick, but extremely relaxing and enjoyable time. We camped at the Ocracoke campground, visited the Ocracoke horses (Kallie wanted to climb through the fence and pet and talk to the horses. I was actually surprised that she wasn't the least bit scared of them...she even held her hand out and let them eat from her hand!), rode our bikes all through the town and in the evening we ate at our favorite restaurant down there, The Jolly Roger. It is right on the water and you get to sit outside and eat on the deck while you watch one of the most breathtaking sunsets you will ever see. It is also the ideal place to eat with a toddler b/c when she drops food on the floor you don't feel bad about making a mess. Ryan and I also love having the opportunity to be able to drink one of our favorite beverages, the Harbor Sunset (Champagne, O.J. and a splash of Cranberry Juice), which is one of their special drinks. We usually drink a pitcher or two while we are there. Here are some of the photos from our trip.

*Ocracoke Island doesn't serve any liquor, so any of the restaurants that you go to either serve beer on draft or champagne drink concoctions that they have made up.

SWEET SUMMER TIME

The Summer brought with it lots of fun in the sun with friends and family. Kallie learned how to swim (with a floatation devise) all by herself. As you can see from the photos lil' miss isn't so little anymore. She talks up a storm, is strong-willed and is determined to do everything as she says "I do myself Mama". It is hard to believe that we are getting ready to celebrate her 2nd birthday...WOW has the time flown by, but I am truly loving this stage that she is in now. Everything is so new to her and she soaks everything up like a little sponge. She has seemed to pick up on everything quite quickly. We have even been working on potty training, I am thinking within the next month or so she will be fully potty trained...she loves to use the potty! Well hopefully this finds everyone well and we hope that you enjoy the slide show, it is just a little glimpse into all of the fun times that were had during the summer. We had so much fun this summer, but are definitely looking forward to what the fall brings...cooler weather, FOOTBALL season, Kallie's 2nd birthday, jeans with flip-flops, a beach with out tourists!!, and cooler evenings.

Playing In My Pool

So this was absolutely too cute not to share with everyone. I am going to make a couple more posts, but I just had to share this one first. I got Kallie a pool from Wally-world, it is a Giraffe and she absolutely loves playing in the water...as if we weren't already expecting that! I hope you enjoy the pics.

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FuN iN tHe SuN

On September the 3rd, Ryan and I decided to go to the beach and spend a little family time with Halie. My mom and little sisters also decided to join in on the fun. The day could not have been more perfect and we where fortunate enough to have a little shallow pool followed by a sandbar, which made for perfect surfing conditions for Halie and my sisters. Yes you read right, our dog Halie is an avid surfer and has been doing so since she was a couple of months old. I love to see how all of the spectators at the beach are in complete astonishment of this dog that surfs. What can I say, she was meant to be a part of our family! On this particular day, my little sister Isabel, who by the way is 7 1/2...will be 8yrs old in April!!!!, decided to try surfing for the first time and might I say she is quite the natural at it! Genna even gave it a try while we where there. Here are the pictures from the day.



Ryan taking Halie out.


She always takes the first ones a little slow.





Now she's ready!


Taking a little break by the water.




She was getting tired by now.


A day of fun in the sun can sure take a lot out of you!


Izzy's first time on a surfboard!


As with every first try...you have to wipe out.




She did not want to come in!


Genna (4yrs old) even tried it!