Fun filled day in the sun!! We had a little issue with the weather around 3pm that caused us to pack up and go inside and hit the hot tub! [It’s only 100* and I didn’t stay in very long.] But the sun came out and we were really lucky to avoid the rain!
Shade!
Lots of bocci
Check out Matt’s back surgery scar. He had a spinal fusion when he was 22 due to a genetic protruding disc that both Karen and Gran Bet also had.
Stylin’ Karen
Momz
Cocktail hour
The boys eventually hit the waves, but we watched a rescue in a riptide (thankfully the man was OK) so I’m not going in the ocean until she calms down a bit.
Silly boys
My shower at 5:30 felt soooo good!!
Check out photo #3 – that’s the catfish / trout face and it is accompanied by the worst vocal sound EVER. We’ve been doing it for years and years.
For cocktail hour we had an amazing cheddar cheese tasting that Karen brought from Feast! in Cville.
Accompanied by crackers
And four types of white wine to pair with them (sniff)
Plus buttery clams!!
And a sunset!
It was mom and dad’s night to cook and they put on a seafood feast – crabs, shrimp, potato salad and cole slaw
I made my way through one crab and I think the Matts ate about 20 between the two of them!
Dessert… vanilla bean ice cream with toppings!!! Plus the last of the cookie cake.
Havin’ a great time!
{ 58 comments… read them below or add one }
does anyone else think Matt and Matt(?) look like they could be brothers?? I was so confused when I saw him on the blog for the first time. brothers… and sisters…? haha. love the photo ops. I always realize what a better scrapbook I come up with when I’m taking photos to blog.
Yes, lots of people do think so
Coincidence??!
What are the age differences between you and your sister and the two Matts?
AGREED x 1000000000
I was gonna ask the same thing!! i thought maybe thats why your matt and other matts mom comes too (karen??) bc they were brothers.. haha..
omgsh omgsh! ahahha! I was thinking the sammmmmme thing! I think it’s their face shape, hair, etc.
And you guys look like you’re having such a beautiful time together! Me wants those crabs and clams~seafood is my fave! And Karen looks so pretty in that cute polka dot swimsuit! Make sure you let her know
I thought they were brothers too.. ha
love that your family takes turns cooking…i remember that from years ago when i first started reading your blog.
Great photos and your parents put up quite the spread
Your family vacations always look like so much fun!
I LOVE the sister pics. Especially the catfish face one – that’s the kind of pics my sis and I take, LOL! Also, nice scar Matt – I had the exact same surgery at 19!!!!!
Looks like a great vacation.
Waving at you from Wilmington. Beautiful photos. Riptide warnings all weekend – Be careful!
P.S. I am a midwife – if you have any prego needs while you are here
Karen is stylin’ indeed. She always looks so lovely and classy.
The pictures of both the Matt’s are super adorable! Looks like you’re all having a great time.
Ahh, that seafood looks so good! I love it so much that your family & Karen are such great friends. I can’t imagine my in-laws ever vacationing with my parents– two different worlds! No mentioning margaritas around the MIL, whereas my mama’s the one mixing them up!
I love the blues of the ocean, the sky, and your and your sister’s shirts. So summery. I am going crabbing in Oregon in September, but that’s the next time I’ll get to see an ocean. Le sigh.
Looks like a fabulous meal at the beach! You all took a bunch of cute pictures, but that one of Matt & Karen is especially sweet
Karen, so cute!
You guys’ve been through a lot in the last year: cancer, baby on the way, an engagement. Glad to see you are all relishing life!
Love your beach cover-up! That seafood feast looks wonderful!
I don’t think I’ve ever eaten crab out of a shell! I need to remedy this…
Amazing pics. I want to be there! Fri nites at Blue Water or Oceanic were our thing. Followed up by many bars and much bar-hopping. Thank you for these posts, Kath. It’s so nostalgic for me to see!
Happy Vacation! Hope you are enjoying every second!
That first picture of the beach is gorgeous!!! The crab and seafood feast also looks uhhhhhhhhhmazing. Sorry you couldn’t enjoy the wine, but soon !!
simply splendid! the whole day!!!
Gorgeous beach photos…you always capture group gatherings/events so well! I’d book you as a photographer if I had a big bash on the horizon. Makes me want to instantly book a trip to the Carolina beaches. Especially admire the soon to be brother in law love between the Matt twins! Glad you’re keeping yourself sun protected…the right message/reminder for us all! Karen looks as stylish and lovely lounging on the beach, as always – love her cover-up. xo
Wow, what a beautiful post! The shots are amazing, and so is your family closeness. LOVE IT! Makes me miss my family. We’re scattered around the country this holiday weekend.
Gosh….this just sounds like the perfect day. Makes me so happy to read about how close you are with your family and how well you get along! It feels weird to say but I am so excited for you and Matt and the eventual new addition. You guys will make fabulous parents!
I think the “Matts” look alike, too. Your parents will now have two SIL’s named Matt.
I also think you look so much like your dad and your sister like your mom.
Your vacation looks amazing so far. Is the beach always that empty? That’s awesome. A regular public beach would be a zoo.
Hope you have a wonderful Saturday.
looks like so much fun, nothing beats the beach with your family! can’t wait to be at the beach in a week with all 40 of mine : )
I’m so jealous! Looks beautiful there!
Oh my gosh…cheese and wine! My fave! Then you top it off with a seafood fest…you are killing me! Then ice cream…heaven! You guys truly know how to enjoy yourselves! Sante!
Beach, seafood, cheese? This is literally my dream vacation!
Does your house have an outside shower? That’s one of the things I’m looking forward to the most when we get to our Carolina beach house tomorrow….LOVE outside showers
Oh my gosh Bo and I are drooling over those crabs! I miss Southern seafood so much!
I love that you and your family have this tradition every year! So fun! Congrats to Larbs!
Everything looks gorgeous! I am so jealous.
What a fantastic day with your families!
I gotta say, you folks know how to celebrate being together! That’s an incredible feast, and you all look so happy together. Makes me smile (and drool). Thanks for sharing with us.
What a spread! I want to vacation with your families…is that weird?!
where did you buy your beachy cover-up? the prettiest colors…
the seafood feast looks amazing! can’t wait to see what you and Matt cook up when its your turn!
Old Navy!
Great photos and the is Quite a feast!!
You guys could run a b & b! The basil wheat would be your niche!
Great vacation photos. I feel as if I am there, too! Have a blast!
Wow it looks like you are getting all the greatness of a beach trip in for sure! The seafood looks delicious and I love the cheese tasting idea. Very clever and it’s always fun to incorporate pieces of home while on vaca!
WOW! Fun! I love all the photos. You all look like you’re having a blast
I’m drooling for the seafood spread! Yum! Also insanely envious of the beautiful beach. Enjoy!
Wow, the seafood! I’ve never been to such a spread, must be fresh from that side of the country! I live in the midwest, so we don’t get such great seafood unless we really PAY for it! Enjoy, me loves some crab!
You all really know how to do it up right! I am loving living vicariously through you, I haven’t been to the beach in 6+ years, so this is just amazing! Also, I just tried honey on my salad and loved it! Looks like a great vacation.
Those crabs look delicious!!! I hope to be having some this weekend also!!! Hope the weather holds out for you guys!
Wow, looks like such a fun time…that sky is so blue! I’m missing wine too…but it’s for a good cause
Thats a heck of a hard surgery Matt went thru. Its so funny that the two Matts could pass as brothers. Karens always stylin! And Mom and Dad nice food spread, mmmm.
I think it’s so neat the way your and Matt’s families vacation together…especially the way your vacation includes such a fun shared love for food. =)
You look so cute with your little baby bump
Yummy food for the foodies
Everyday seems like it is filled with great food!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
You and Larbs look so gorgeous in your blues!
YUM. We had crabs this weekend, too.
But we don’t eat them on a plate. I’ve never seen anyone eat crabs at a table that was set so pretty. It’s usually just brown paper or newspaper!
gorgeous pics
Heidi xo