Irene and the Beach

Last year we didn't get to go to the beach for a week, so we took a few days off and went down for a long weekend. We enjoyed it so much, we decided to do the same thing this year even though we had already been down for a week. Unfortunately, Irene hit the Saturday before we were supposed to go on Thursday so we weren't really sure if we would be able to go or not. The storm pounded "our" beach nonstop for hours, but they were spared compared to how it could have ended. Our hotel confirmed our reservations on Wednesday, so we were good to go.

A couple pics of the sunset at home the night before Irene. You can always tell when a storm is brewing!

Bulldozer spreading the sand back out

Aidan playing on the playground

Andy riding a bike for the first time in quite a while. :)

Aidan loved climbing on this, and got comfortable enough to go all the way up and over the side. Couldn't get him to flip over the side, but he did at least climb over it!

One of his favorites, sliding down the pole (like firemen do)

We were some of the first people on the beach after the storm passed, and the shells were amazing! Never seen so many big unbroken shells before!

We did not intend on Aidan getting wet, but as soon as we got out there, he went straight for the water!

I was trying to get a picture of our shadows together. I was looking through the camera trying to get it lined up and suddenly there were 4 of us. Quite freaky! The guy finally passed (see his legs at the top), so it was just the 3 of us again. Aidan loves for us to run around and try to step on each other's shadow!

Evidence of Irene. The end of the pier is completely gone.

My two boys. The water was so calm pretty much the whole time we were there. I kindly reminded Andy that this time of day was feeding time for the sharks (which he later saw at the end of the pier!!!).

On Friday we got up and went to Cape Lookout. It had just reopened the day before, so we were excited to be some of the first people back over there. Shells were not great and I was pretty disappointed, but it was nice having the beach all to ourselves.

Playing with his water "gun".

The damage to the dunes from the surf

Feeding the seagulls graham crackers
We had an accident with our camera while we were at Cape Lookout, so the pics stopped on our first full day we were there. We were pretty disappointed, but all is well now so we are back on track! :)