Today is our 11th wedding anniversary. 11th on the 11th. Last weekend my parents very generously offered to keep the children so that we could get away for a night. We chose to go to Wilmington, NC as it's the closest coastline we could get to! Above is a few of the river which runs through Wilmington (I think it's the Cape Fear) and a dinner cruise boat going along as well as a US Coast Guard ship stationed there.
When we arrived, we went to Wrightsville Beach for dinner at the Dockside. It is right on the intracoastal waterway so boats pull up to the dock at the restaurant. It's fun to watch. Kevin perused the menu, but his mind was quickly made up with shrimp and grits.
He's acting like he's thinking about it!
The next morning we went for a run together and then out for breakfast at a fantastic local spot called the Dixie Grill. I had a wonderful Farmer's Market omelette with lots of fresh veggies in it. Kevin had grits ;0) My poor Southern husband with his Yankee wife misses out on a lot! Then we headed over to Carolina Beach and literally hung out on the beach for the day. The weather was perfect and we were really able to relax.
It was great to come home and be greeted with lots of hugs and kisses from our children. My parents were a little tired, but still cheery! We were very grateful for this trip away.
This week I was diagnosed with pneumonia (something brewing for the previous 10 days) so I have had to take it slow--kind of hard for me to do, but a good kind of humbling. We pressed on with school but probably didn't get everything done that I had planned to do. Hopefully I'll be able to be back running next week.
Philip thought it would be a good idea to go there in his snow boots. Okay, his sister's snow boots. It is still quite warm here--in the 90s, so his whole outfit was rather sweltering.
Abigail has consistently been a good sport at being relegated to the lone ranger seat in the back of the van.
Kevin refused to allow him to wear the purple snowboots and put cleats on instead.
Here we are enjoying a yummy treat at DQ on the main street in little old Fuquay Varina!
Today is our 11th wedding anniversary. 11th on the 11th. Last weekend my parents very generously offered to keep the children so that we could get away for a night. We chose to go to Wilmington, NC as it's the closest coastline we could get to! Above is a few of the river which runs through Wilmington (I think it's the Cape Fear) and a dinner cruise boat going along as well as a US Coast Guard ship stationed there.
When we arrived, we went to Wrightsville Beach for dinner at the Dockside. It is right on the intracoastal waterway so boats pull up to the dock at the restaurant. It's fun to watch. Kevin perused the menu, but his mind was quickly made up with shrimp and grits.
He's acting like he's thinking about it! 
My parents came with us, and my mom brought a special friend: a mummified tree frog she found trapped in her windowsill. Philip has claimed him as his new pet and is keeping him inside an old baby bottle.
It didn't dawn on me that it is dang near impossible to bring creatures which live over 3000 feet below sea level on the abyssal plain up to the land. The pressure on their systems would kill them, therefore there was only one live creature in the exhibit. A little disappointing.
Here are my trusty parents who came along for the ride. My dad met a young friend for lunch while my mom helped me with the kids. My dad got his teeth stuck together on an energy bar, hence the smirk.
