Outer Banks Hinman Family Reunion

Ever since we moved to Virginia we have been hearing of a supposedly awesome vacation spot called Outer Banks in North Carolina. We've wanted to go for years but it just didn't happen. Well, we were able to organize a Hinman family reunion, split the cost of a beach house rental and we were all in. It was only after we had decided on the first week in September that we realized that it conincided with my in-laws anniversary and father in laws's 70th birthday. What a great treat to all be together for those events!

Heidi flew out from Utah to Ohio with son Jason and then they and Mom and Dad drove down from Ohio (a two day adventure). Jeff and Allie and kids and ourselves drove down the day of.

The House
Jason and Asher shared a room (and did really well together) while the rest of us adults had our own room and bathroom. The babies (Lincoln and Jacqueline) slept in their respective parent's room. Because we went in the off season (after school had started) and we split the cost the house rental was very affordable. It was great staying in one place all together.

 The beach is right behind that house at the end of the block

Lighthouse Climb
One of the first days there we all went to a lighthouse.

 Asher and all the cousins (at least those that can walk well) climbed up the whole way.

Jacqueline's pacifier fell over the side at the top and I was able to find it on the grass at the bottom. Hooray! 

 The neat thing about Outer Banks is that they are situated so that a sound is on the west side and the east side is the ocean. Behind me is sound side, in the next picture is the ocean behind Allie.

 

Sand Dunes

One of the days we climbed the sand dunes at Jockey's Ridge state park, the largest natural sand dunes on the East coast. Makes me wonder where the largest unnatural sand dunes on the East coast are located. Fortunately the sand wasn't too hot.

Path to the dunes

Climbing the dunes

 Allie brought along a kite for the kids to fly

 Plenty of room on top throw a frisbee around

People were learning to para glide

Doesn't Dad look a wise sage looking into the future in this picture?

 

Evenings

Monday night we had a special family home evening lesson by Mom and Dad and they shared some thoughts and pictures with the kids.

Here Mom's showing them pictures on her laptop.

The kids (and Jeff) in some masks from Mom and Dad

 Doesn't Allie look terrific?

   Showing off the beautiful scarves Mom gave us

After kiddos were in bed we'd chat, look at pictures from Mom and Dad's Europe trip and eat delicious desserts.

Dad's Birthday

Dad turned 70 years old while we were in Outer Banks. I hope that I also turn 70 years old with good health and sitting in a beach house someday. Anyway, so Dad turned 70 years old. Rob and I made him some homemade jam (the blackberry jam was from fruit grown in our backyard) and gave him a hat (the stylish one he's wearing) and a subscription to Popular Science (Dad's a scientist). 

 It's hard to see, but the coolest present he received was headed by Allie, but given to him by many many people. Allie and Mom sent an email to dozens of people asking for 5 descriptive words of Dad. Allie then typed all of those words into a program and  it created a picture in the shape of a tree with the words in a variety of sizes. The largest and bolded words, which were the most commonly used descriptions ended up being: 1) Kind 2) Humble 3) Spiritual and 4) Smart. Cool huh?

We're glad you were born and for the example you show us! Happy Birthday Dad!

Family Photos

My sister-in-law Allie is an awesome photographer and did a shoot on the beach with all of us.

 

 Rob Hinman Family Photo

 Random Fun Shots

  

 

 

The Beach

Ah, yes, the beach. How awesome is it to be able to walk to the beach in 2 minutes? I am beginning to understand why people are enthralled with living by the ocean. We'd usually go in the morning for several hours, come home, eat, get kids down for naps, trade off going to the beach without kids, get the kids ready after naps, and then head to the beach for another few hours before going home for dinner. When some child broke down we'd just head back to the house with them and let them rest, eat, etc.

A pretty typical day

 The waves were coming in from the north the first day so they were a little cold, but the next day they started coming from the south and were much warmer. They were also a little stronger which was perfect for body boarding.

Asher, like many young kids, had a healthy respect/fear of the ocean so he was quite glad when a "river ocean" as he calls it (tide pool) appeared and he could safely splash and play without fear. All the kids loved it. Asher loved the crocodile floaty because he could run and then splash down and glide for a little while. I knew his fear of the water was easing a bit when he flipped over one time, went completely head under, got up and then kept right on playing without a pause.

 Beach Bums

Regenerating before another beach run

A couple of the mornings Allie and I headed out for a run/walk and this was our view

Jacqueline

So where is Jacqueline during all of this?

Some of the time here

Or here

Other times here

But usually in here, safe with mom (notice the random leg). I LOVE the Ergo brand baby carriers and they have a nifty little cover so I wasn't too worried about her becoming sun burned. 

Crabs

So I thought it would be fun to go crabbing, but with all that was going on we never got around to it. So instead I went to a small local seafood store and bought a couple of crabs. I walked into the store and told the lady that the crabs were to be used for the novelty of cooking crabs and she kindly explained different cooking methods including snapping off their shell when their alive and freezing them to death first. Guess what I chose? Yup, the easier, finger safe method, so into the freezer they went before being cooked. My niece Emma and nephew Jason were the ones to get the biggest kick out of the whole experience.

Pretending to eat them whole

 

 Making them kiss

 Creative destruction

Seagulls
What do you do with burned popcorn when you are at the beach? Feed the seagulls of course!

 

Cycling

Rob and I brought  our bikes, thinking we'd use them a bunch but only used them a couple of times. There just wasn't enough time, which was sad because they have some awesome dedicated bike trails that went for miles and miles.

Jeff (on  my pink bike) and Rob rode north until the road ended to where the wild horses roam free. Crystal repeated the same adventure the next day on her own.

Farewell

Outer Banks, you were not overrated and did not disappoint! I can see why many families in our area make visiting you a yearly event. Farewell until, hopefully, next time!