I got my toes in the water...

Nags Head - Outer Banks 2010... our first family vacation!!!  What a great time we all had.  The boys had a blast and it was so nice to be able to hang out and relax with family and friends.  I had forgotten how relaxing the beach can be.  The last time I set foot on the sand was my honeymoon five years ago.  Sad but true.  Needless to say, all of us were super excited for the trip.

All of my nightmares about blood curdling cries and hour long fits of screaming in the car were all for not.  The boys were AWESOME on the car ride there and back.  THANK YOU  THANK YOU  THANK YOU boys.  :)  The kiddos had fun playing in the sand at the beach each morning.  Liam was the only one brave enough to hit the waves.  Poor Landon will probably be in therapy after I nearly dropped and lost him in the surf due to the wicked currents.  Liam also proved to be our little fish of the trip spending countless hours swimming in the big kid pool with Maddie and Laura!  So proud of him for this big accomplishment.  Gabe and Landon hung out in the kiddie pool or on the steps of the big pool, but seemed happy as clams with their toes in the water.  Thank God for the pools in the back yard.  Lord knows what havoc the boys would have gotten into without the opportunity to swim in the pool every day. 

So, instead of me blabbing on and on about the great time that we all had, I figured I would make this into a picture post.  So get ready!!!

Miss this view already.

Day One:  Beach bums already!  :)

Love this pic of Laura and Liam just watching the waves.

The boys...

My little Gabey Goo

Cliff and Liam ready to chicken fight.  :)

Cousins all snuggled up and cozy.  :)

Maddie striking a pose, even while jumping in the pool!

Who doesn't love a dance party?

Look at those handsome boys!  OK, so I'm a little partial.  :)

Miss Madison looking all grown up.

Landon (L) and Gabe (R) watchin' the waves.

Me and my Lander Bear

Laura hanging out with Mr. Krabs.

Maddie showing off her mad gymnastics skills.

When we put Gabe and Landon to bed on the last night, I asked them if they wanted to go home to see Gimli and sleep in their own beds.  They both told me no.  Gabe asked "go to the beach 'morrow"?  And Landon chimed in with "go get sheshells 'morrow"?  Poor boys didn't want to leave.  Liam woke up at one point on the car ride home and asked if were were going back on "bacation".  We told them all that we would go back next year.  Sounds like the whole Hein crew is looking forward to OBX 2011!