Ocracoke

We are having a great time at the beach this week.  Last night, we went to watch baby sea turtles hatch but they had all already made their way out to the ocean.  We learned a bunch and had a great time taking family pictures from the dunes to the ocean.  E said, "Mama, come dance in the ocean with me!" and pulled me in.  What a sight I bet we were dressed in white fancies, all wet.  Hubs and I celebrated 13 years of an incredible marriage this week and had a fabulous (kid free!) date that included roasted eggplant that was like candy in my mouth and long bike rides under shining stars.  We've taken lots of walks around the island and ride bikes multiple times daily.  Although we got attacked by mosquitoes, turning our family hike turned into a family RUN to Springer's Point, the awesome water at the end was worth it.  The girls have learned about pirates, which has brought new vocabulary into their world- such as swords, eating turtles and guns.  Uh oh.  I love some NC history lessons but wasn't ready to hear those stories coming out of their young mouths. 

It's odd to not be camping here on Ocracoke.  Since my MIL came with us this time, we rented a house so she could be comfortable.  Additionally, hubs has been able to work from here so our vacation could pay for itself!  But, we are realizing that one of the things we love most about this tiny island is how close to the surf and sand we are when camping.  We pop into town some while camping but we don't stay long.  Our days in years past have been filled with cooking over a fire, cleaning up, sleeping outside, showering in the pull down cold water, walking over the dunes to the beach multiple times throughout the day and fellowship with friends.  We're still riding bikes everywhere and hitting the beach.  But, we are also spending time in the air conditioning, doing laundry, rocking in chairs on a screened in porch and using the internet.  It's just such a different kind of trip and not one that we'll probably mimic, again.  We know we'd prefer to camp.  Great lesson to learn.