Cold Spaghetti

Watching the birds fly around the bushes 

Posing on the porch 

Ice cream is a must when Will is around. Even if it is a little chilly outside. This day, we found out that Strawberry is not a favorite flavor for Will… but he’ll still eat it. 

We went to a local coffee shop most days… this day, we went to the one in the Waterside Shops and Will checked out one of the many themed horses they have throughout the Outer Banks. 

Will puts on a show at bathtime. 

Will LOVES to swim and play in the tub! (He *does not* like the jets in the tub.) 

Bathtime is over! Will does not wait to be taken out of the tub, thank-you! 

Will gives Nana a hug after his bath 

We are safely in Duck, North Carolina. The rain and wind poses limitations to beach outtings, but we are having a great trip.

No wireless… so no pictures yet. We’re using my in-laws dial up for outside contact.

Friends Christie, David, Steph, and Mike all came down and spent the weekend… full of great laughs. It was so wonderful to connect with old friends and we had a great time. Amy and Kevin (Paul’s sister and brother-in-law) were here, too, and we all got to bond with Will.

We took Will to the North Carolina Aquarium in Manteo today. Although he’d been to the NOLA Aquarium of the Americas before, this time, he really got into the fact that there were “fishies” in the tanks. Before, he was much more interested in the children’s exhibits and various pushable buttons than in any animal. Of particular obsession: otters. Much time was spent at the otter tank, with Will taking great delight in announcing the presences of “otters!” to all who came by.

We haven’t spoken much of our plans and are decompressing from the week. Maybe after we both finish our novels (Paul reading a Terry Pratchet, me the book “Wicked”) we can reconnect to our real lives. Until then, it’s just a day at the beach!

Paul returned to Mobile this afternoon, safe and sound, but clearly shaken. After seeing the video and several hundred pictures they took, I am feeling a bit shaken myself.

We are scrambling to get ready for tomorrow… we are leaving for a week in Duck, NC, where we will stay with Paul’s folks in their co-owned house in Ship’s Watch. The trip was a gift from Paul’s parents — it was suppose to be a congratulatory gift as I was going to be taking my comprehensive exams today and tomorrow.

We are looking forward to a relaxing week. I’m bummed that the weather is suppose to suck. Something about me and Duck… this is the third time I’ve been and I don’t think we’ve seen good weather for any of the trips! It sort of blows my idea of just spending all day walking on the beach. Regardless, we are ready for a serious break and hope that the time we have will allow us to reflect on all of this and make some choices.