Topsail Island, Part 2: The Hayes House!

Even though the ceremony was over, our time at the beach was not!  My side of the family was ready and waiting for us about 8 miles down the road at a HUGE beach house right on the ocean!  As fate would have it, my Dad had a real estate colleague who unfortunately needed to unload the property for that same week due to a recent diagnosis of breast cancer.  While I know she hated that her own family couldn't take advantage of a week at the beach, she was very thankful that we stepped forward to claim it for her and recoup at least some of her money.  Who would've thought that after no family vacations, we would essentially have three in the span of six weeks!  We were so thankful that Granny decided to join us this time around <3  We spent nearly every daylight hour on the beach--the weather was AMAZING.  So, no real story to tell, other than the ones the pictures tell--just life on the beach <3

The "Tipsy Turtle" Beach house...look at my beautiful Grandma standing on the second level!

Our look from the porch...I seriously could live on the beach <3

Tommy didn't waste ANY time unpacking!  He hopped right into the pool with Grandma :)

Row, Row, Row!

Ethan, meanwhile, decided to amuse himself by picking up seashells with his toes!

He's obviously quite proud of himself ;)

Enough of the pool, let's hit the beach!

I got both of the boys a cool little Cars raft on clearance!

Don't the boys look so adorable carrying out their rafts like little surf boards?!

The closer they got....the more apprehensive they became!

:)

I was so proud of Tommy for giving it at least a brief try with Granddaddy!

The honey badger was having none of it!

Andddddd, that was pretty much the end of the rafts...maybe next year!

But, it didn't stop Tommy from trying to MAKE Ethan try it out :)

Moving right along--let's just play some football instead!

Once again...catching does not seem to be his "thing" ;)

Tommy is wanting the ball, but Granddaddy isn't about to just let him have it...
what comes next is a series of photos that just cracks me up!

Granddaddy is down in his old linebacker stance, and ready to rumble!

Tommy went with more of a sumo wrestler stance!

The approach....

Granddaddy putting the moves on!

Tommy's going in for the tackle!

Uh oh...Granddaddy is in trouble....

Down goes Granddaddy!!

Hahaha...Tommy knows he better run for it now :D

Run, Tommy, Run!!

Granddaddy says, "wait, come back!"

My little ginger...he liked to stay under the umbrella and in the sand!

<3

Sunrise the next morning...I love how you can see the rays coming before the sun actually shows up.

Probably a silly comment, but it is unbelievable how quickly the sun rises, and how much brighter everything immediately gets!

The colors of the sunrise...God's creation is so beautiful <3

Ethan found a little friend to play with!

"Hi puppy dog!!"

Ethan is our animal lover for sure :P

"Bye bye doggy!"

Time for a little brother playtime!

Who would've thought that 2 boys would have so much fun racing a toy tractor all the way down the beach on real tire tracks?!

Davey decided to give us his best Hasslehoff impersonation as he sprinted into the water!

Granddaddy was determined to show these boys how to build a castle!

Tommy actually did help some....

Daddy and Ethan......haha :)

Granddaddy kept on building!

This was too cute...Ethan tried to make one, but he didn't put enough sand in!

Sooooooo, he decided to stomp on the whole castle instead!

Haha, Daddy was so sad to lose his castle :)

Grandma came on over to console him though :)

Tommy liked it when he had "little pools" to splash in <3

What am I going to do with you--dumping out all of my shells?! 

My cute little stinker <3

Tommy's little footprint <3

I think Tommy could live at the beach too!

He stayed out for hours at a time this time.  Basically the only time we came in was for lunch, naps, and dinner!

And, Ethan was just as content to play in the sand and do his own thing....

But.....now it's time to hang out with Granddaddy!

So cute...he just parked himself right in front of Granddady and continued to play in the sand.
 Also, please notice the difference in skin tone between my Dad and Ethan--LOL!!

This time it was Daddy who was determined...he wanted to build a moat like he and Nathan used to do when they were kids, and see if it could withstand the rising tide!

Looking good, Daddy!

Tommy finally joined in!!

LOVE!! 

Ethan....well....Ethan didn't....

But, he did have a new target well within his sights now......

GRANDMA time!

My main man <3

Uh oh...the tide is coming in too fast...time for reinforcements!!!

HOORAY!!!  Granny finally made it out on the sand <3

Granny and Grandma in front of "Grandma's Beach House"--as Tommy calls it--BAHAHA!!

Even Uncle NoNo and Aunt LoLo couldn't resist a picture with Granny!

Hahahahahhahaa...As my Mom and Dad are about to pose for a picture together, a wave splashed up, and got them unexpectedly!  It wasn't a huge wave, but the water was a little chilly!

Shooo....that's better :)

Beautiful Granny <3

Time for a little fun with Uncle NoNo! 

If anyone can outlast Tommy, it's Nolan!

Haha...Uncle NoNo keeping it classy...no beach bum this time!  

<3

Nolan is getting a kick out of Ethan checking out the moat...like he owns the place!  

Off for a romantic walk....

Can't you see how thrilled Nolan is that I interrupted it for a quick picture?!

Granddaddy and Ethan filling up the dump truck!

Destruction is on the horizon!!

Retreat, retreat!!!!

There's no safe haven like Granny!

Tommy and Grandma <3

Wave hi to the camera!

Nolan actually got Laura to go out into the ocean this time!

Such a cute picture <3

Okay, I'm sure they'll both kill me for this picture, but it was too hilarious to pass up...Nolan is getting NAILED by a huge wave, and Laura is staring back at her impending doom!  The waves were WAY rougher here than at Ocean Isle!

A brief period of calm...

Nolan is calling out for Laura to come back out where the waves are :)

He lured her out!

But this time, he protects her from the waves--so cute!

Tommy and Granny also formed a sweet little bond over the weekend <3

SMOOCH!

Snuggling with Granny is THE BEST!!

Granddaddy will do anything for his grandsons...if you can't tell, he is WINCING with how freezing the pool water was!

How cute is she, seriously?!

Daddy will do anything for his boys too ;)

Grandma Jan <3 

Okay, here's the start of another funny little series (well, maybe you had to be there, but we thought it was funny!!).  Ethan has a shell in his hand and is threatening to throw it in the pool, which of course he isn't allowed to do....

Look at that mischievous little face :)

Naturally, he thinks he is hilarious!

Haha...this one cracks me up...he was seriously holding it over the pool, and then pulling it back.

Big Bro thought he was funny too, which only added to his little "show"

Yes, we see you!

Don't do it!!

Shocker...he finally gave in after about 20 minutes--break time! 

We were at the highest point in visibility--perfect to see the sun set this time!

This was actually the view opposite of the sun set.  I thought it was really cool how the rays kind of "rebounded" on the other side--and, the colors were amazing!

After that beautiful sunset, the whole family had a big party on the porch.  Yay--night before my birthday celebration!!

Ahh, another beautiful sunrise to start my 33rd year.  Happy Birthday to me!!

And, this adorable scene <3

Of course, I had to share the birthday duties with the boys...mainly just the candle part ;)

More fun with Granny!

Haha, Tommy was feeling very lovey dovey!

More tractor racing fun :)

A boy and his truck <3

Or boat ;)

Granddaddy had the good idea to build them a "track" to race on so they would at least stay in the general area!

Mom and Dad <3

Me and Davey!

My silly goose :)

Sparkly waters make me happy :)

Time for a little mother/daughter selfie!

And, a little pic with the 'rents :)

Tommy was just so cute--he wanted to take walks with everyone on the beach too for "exercise" :)

Auntie LoLo's turn for a walk!

Time for a little snack after all that walking (it was about 3 miles total!)

And, maybe a little boat watching....again--doesn't it look like there are diamonds on the water?!

I decided I have to take an "artistic" umbrella shot every beach trip :)  There's my Dad silhouetted in the background! 

Then, Dad starts calling my name, and walking toward me...so, I hand off the camera, AND...

He found a red rose in the water...ON MY BIRTHDAY!!

Happy birthday to me!!!  

It was a pretty perfect day, and a pretty perfect vacation.  The boys were really well behaved, and we always have so much fun when the whole family parties it up!  Although I was sad my family had to leave to go back to work, I was so incredibly blessed to be able to stay the remainder of the week--thanks to my INCREDIBLE husband!!  He took the boys back with him, and my best friend Leslie came to continue the birth "week" celebrations (as my brother so fondly calls it)!

Even without the kids around, Leslie and I were both so used to waking up early, that we were still up to see the sunrise!  In case you've never seen one, I decided to try to capture one from start to finish.  Although, the pictures don't really do justice to seeing it in person, I still think they're pretty cool :)

Leslie found a WHOLE conch shell on our first walk--so jealous!

Time for a little R&R for 2 stay at home Mamas!!

We ate at Daddy Mac's again...mmmm...grilled sea scallops!

So, the first jellyfish appeared on my birthday, and it was the only one we saw.  Every day after that though, the jellyfish numbers kept going up and up!  By the last day, I think we saw around 100!  

Here's one up close and personal.....

Thank goodness we had a boobalicious "science" teacher to give us a lesson on jellyfish!!  She was super nice, actually...although, maybe not the brightest--"It's stinging me right now, but that's okay."

This little guy was so well camouflaged that I almost stepped on him!   

The final sunrise of the trip :(

And, the final sunset--farewell Topsail Island!