wordless wednesday: beach style

yippee!  we're back at the beach!

not since we moved back to raleigh (where we're a mere two hours away) have we ever gone until july before getting down to topsail.  but weddings and babies this year have prevented us from driving down any sooner, unfortunately.  we finally made it for the week of the fourth of july with our frequent traveling companions: my best friend lainey, her husband bill, and sons web and marshall.  (in fact, we spent last year's fourth of july with them in the mountains.)

i have to admit that during my first venture across that humming bridge to the island each summer, i feel like i'm whole again.  there's just something about the beach that seems like it's a part of my soul or something.  cheesy, i know.  but with a week like we had, creating amazing memories with family and good friends, it's no wonder why i feel this way.

topsail does its fireworks show on the third of july in an effort to save money, so the kids and i watched them over the sound while waiting for everyone else to arrive

extreme boogie boarding

all that boogie boarding wore out some people

checking out the pier after a hot day on the putt putt course

shell dentures: bill's brilliant idea

for hours each day, susanna and marshall canvassed the wooded lot next door as they created a membership-only club.  you're looking at the president and vice-president, natch

i'm honored to have been given my very own membership card!  (although i suppose i shouldn't be publicizing my secret password on the internet)

skimboarding was a debacle, but paddleboarding and kayaking i could handle

liam figured out how to hold his paddle eventually

a rousing game of badminton with our new net

thankful yet again for huge noggins ... liam's wearing a hat of my dad's since it was the only one we had with a strap

my beach glass collection finally has a home in my kitchen -- on the island, of course