Hatteras Pics

More Cape Hatteras Pictures

Outer Banks Mens Surfing Weekend

What can I say? This was probably the BEST weekend (or one of the best) I've ever spent with a bunch of a guys for just "man time". It was incredible! We had great times of fellowship, laughter, jokes, prayer, worship and surfing and fishing. The above picture is taken in the cottage we stayed in. Thankfully, our dear friend and former neighbor from Richmond, Donna, let us stay there at a super price. Muchos thanks to Donna and Dave!! Ted is teaching Brad about surfing and specifically how to apply wax to the board. Brad was very excited about some of the name brand waxes out there on the market. I think he took some home with him, too. For some reason Eric is trying to lick the wax - maybe it was the nice coconut scent that drew him or the fact that he was starving since his roomates ate all his food. :) More pictures to come too. See the next blog.
The surf posse after a day at the beach. This was on Sunday afternoon and we were packing up after a full morning of surfing. Dan had just bought some jelly for all of us and we were ready to partake of the finer things in life after a day of saltwater and sore bodies. :)

Here is the crew from left to right. Eric Feldpausch with the nice mohawk- (Virginia Indian style), Ted Meehan sporting the Wilmington mop, George (me) with the NC scrub brush dew, Dan Latshaw with the Georgia trucker mudflap and Brad Austin - the first Peachland resident to ever surf!

This picture was taken on Friday, September 19th from the Frisco Pier just south of Hatteras. This was the area we surfed on both Friday and Sunday. The view at sunset is breathtaking! This beach is by far my favorite.
THIS IS A GUEST BLOG FROM GEORGE BURTON:

fun friday

Quick disclaimer: OK I haven't blogged in a loooonnng time. That's because I've been on Facebook a little bit each day and then don't have time for blogging. So anyway, moving on...

Today was Fun Friday. First, Brady woke up and got dressed and while I was helping everyone else, he went in my room to make my bed. I couldn't believe it! I asked him why he made my bed for me and he smiled and said, "Mommy, I'm just making a kingdom choice". See the pic for what a great job he did!

Then, we all went to school to meet Brady for his teddy bear picnic outside. The whole kindergarten was there with their bears and their families. It was awesome!!

Then, Brennan fell in the driveway while running after a ball. He didn't even cry, but look at his fat lip! I think he is totally going to be an athlete.

Brooke has been getting ready all afternoon for a birthday party this evening for one of her friends. She was dancing in her room to Hannah Montana music. See pic.

And Boone? Well he's just the peek a boo and hide and seek master lately.

We are praying for safety for George who is on a "mancation" for 4 days in Nags Head. He and 4 other guys are surfing and fishing. I think short breaks away from our responsibilities and jobs are so important and actually refuel us to come back with a renewed sense of purpose and vision. And that is why I'm going away for my break in October :)

All in all, a very fun friday. Oh yeah, and I'm not cooking for 4 days straight!!!

Summer Vacation Adventure Pics

This picture was taken between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument. I was sooooo proud of my kids. They smiled for every picture and I know they were sick of Dad's constant desire to capture the perfect kodak moment.
Break time after walking through the Air and Space Museum. Brennan is a happy camper with Mom.
Boone, who I've dubbed a future General or Navy Seal, is proudly standing by one of the many artistic dislays at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. Can you tell me what war this was from?
In front of the Capitol. The Chinese man taking this picture had a million dollar camera and actually had trouble focusing with my cheap Canon. With four kids one out of every ten shots is a winner. Notice Brennan with the stale milk bottle. Poor little guy - it felt like a hundred degrees and he had to drink that stuff.
Boone, peering through a T-Rex skull at the National Zoo. The best thing about the zoo is it's free!! And they have the hairiest and funkiest looking bears I have ever seen. I mean really, it looks like bears mated with the hippies back in the 60's and this is the offspring. They are extremely hairy and unkempt with super long claws that look like elephant tusks hanging out of a paw. They mope and look depressed too; which would explain the generational drug use that was passed down to them.

More Summer Vacation Adventure Pics!

On our way to the White House we ran into a perfectly timed "PROTEST"!! Yeahhh!! I gathered the kids and said "look, guys, a real protest - quick, get in front and let's take a picture of angry people shouting behind you and blaming BUSH for everything" It turned out it was a protest to fight for rights for Christians in Egypt. I explained to the kids what a protest was and how blessed we are to have the "right to assemble" and voice our opinions in a free democracy.
Brooke, the Dean; Brady, the Governor and Boone the General. That's what Pam and I have coined them in accordance to their personalities. We even bought Brady a shirt that said "Future President". If he's smart he'll make his old man the Secretary of Defense.
Passersby loved this one. While waiting for the girls during a bathroom stop; which us men know can take a looong time, I put Brady and Boone next to this statue about 6 feet off the deck and snapped it with Big Bird in there too.
Georgetown in the evening.
The Burton Family in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Overall, this was a GREAT vacation. A ton of walking, curious stares when you get on the Metro at 8am with four loud kids, a huge stroller and a constantly rolling and dripping milk bottle. The kids did great. It was a challenge at times but a definite bonding experience for the Burton family. Best of all it was free. All of the Smithsonian Museums are free, unless you see a movie at the omnimax theatre and i highly recommend it, but its worth it. On Tuesday nights a "must see" is the US Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps and Silent Drill Team at the Iwo Jima Memorial. Breathtaking and perfect execution!! If you have never seen them you need to go. The National Zoo is also free and the new National Museum of the Marine Corps along with dozens of others museums and places of interest in Washington. Hotels are not cheap. We stayed in Arlington at the Virginian Suites. It was affordable and not bad but the rooms were a little musty. Don't drive, just take the metro and save the money on gas, the hassle of parking and fighting the constant traffic. If you go, call Pam and I and we'll be your guides for a small fee. ;)

Happy Birthday Grandma Joan and Grandma Alice!

Here's a shout out to two lovely women who celebrated birthdays this week, my mom and grandma. Check out the picture of Joan with 4 of her grandkids. She looks 40!!