Stormy Beach Day

It was a bit scary for awhile this afternoon as we sit right in the path of the latest tornado.  All afterschool activities were cancelled here in Virginia Beach.  Sandbridge Beach flooded by noon today and it hadn't even started raining yet!  Thank God we are all safe and sound now.  I've checked on family and friends and we are very fortunate.  My heart goes out to those in Alabama from the terrible mess they had to endure yesterday.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you. 

Lighthouses and Hermit Crabs

So, every little beach bum needs a pet, and what better pet than a Hermit Crab?!  Today we welcomed "Hermie", the oh-so-uniquely-named hermit crab, to our family.  So far he has done.....well, not a whole lot.  Ok, well he did crawl around and fall off of the table while we were cleaning and setting up his cage.  Then later he climbed up on his little sponge, which was the highlight of our afternoon.  I can hardly wait to see what tomorrow brings!!  But seriously, the sweet part of the whole thing is how my oldest son is taking such good care of his pet.  He's been checking on him periodically, reporting back to us how he's doing, making sure he has enough food and water.  He's also very concerned that "he's bored Mom...I think he needs a friend".  Looks like we're off to the overpriced tourist-y shop once again tomorrow to get a pick out a friend for "Hermie". 
We visited and climbed the Currituck Lighthouse in Corolla this morning - 214 steps, 162 feet tall.  It was quite an adventure.  All of us made it safely up and down the winding staircase, even though the 5-year-old kept worrying that he would get "tower sick" from climbing such a tall tower.  The view from the top was absolutely breathtaking - a panoramic of Corolla and the Outer Banks beyond.  I managed to skirt out of the souvenier shop with only $20.00 in MUCH-needed purchases, so I'd definitely call the day a success!

Corolla Light

my little beach bums at the top

view down the loooooong winding stairwell

New Beginnings

Spring has sprung!  Wanna know how I can tell?  No, it's not because the weather is warmer or because flowers are blooming all over town.  It's because my car is now green instead of blue, thanks to the daily coating of yellow pollen.  Most people hate the pollen because of allergies.  Growing up in Virginia Beach, Virginia, allergies are just a part of our daily lives. So for me - the glass half-full girl, I love pollen - because pollen means SPRING!  And spring means NEW BEGINNINGS - a fresh start!  We "spring clean" our houses. We "spring forward" on our clocks to lose an hour of the past and begin anew.  We celebrate Earth Day and all things green and fresh.  Strawberries are ripe for the picking and produce stands dust off their clapboard coverings to welcome visitors once again.  Children everywhere are relishing in the lazy days of Spring Break - sleeping in, playing all day, and staying up late.  My little beach bums and I are doing what we do best:  vacationing on the Outer Banks of  North Carolina, dipping our toes in the sand and soaking up the sun.  It's all about rejuvenation, soul-searching, and falling forward - because no matter what has happened in the past, SPRING is here and it's time for NEW BEGINNINGS!