Top Sail Family Vacation

July 4-11 the Fisher family spent a week at North Top Sail beach in North Carolina. Mom's boss, Dr. Davis, gave each of his employees a week as a bonus. We quickly decided on the week of Independence Day knowing it would allow Ryan and extra day off and a good excuse to not teach summer school for me.

Saturday
Ryan and I arrived at the realty company the same time as Michael and Tracy. We got a little nervous when we pulled up to find the office closed. Tracy quickly discovered a late check in box and off we went key in hand to the house. Ryan and I quickly unpacked, set up our room and headed to the grocery store to get supplies for the week. We pretty much just explored the house, beach, and poo. After a long day of driving we were all beat, so we soaked in the hot tub and watched fireworks.

Sunday
Ryan and I really wanted to maintain a proper Sabbath Day. We spent the morning just hanging around the house. We looked up the time for church on the internet and used our calculations to determine that sacrament would start at 1:00. (We knew that sacrament was the 3rd hour). Unfortunately the time on the internet was for the start of sacrament meeting, not the time everything started. So we missed church, but I guess God knows we tried.

It was our night to make dinner. Ryan wanted sausage casserole, peas, and brownies. Everyone seemed to love our dinner. Ryan and I tried to be smart and use all paper products, but it still took awhile to clean up.
The night ended with snacks and games till pretty late into the night.

Ryan makes sausage casserole.

Noah helps make brownies!

Monday
There was raining weather so Ryan and I went into Surf City to explore. We went in quite a few shops, but we didn't buy anything. All the shopping made us hungry so we went into a restaurant called Andy's for lunch. It is a 50's style dinner with a simple menu that we loved. Ryan loved their milkshakes and got several throughout the week. I became quite partial to their Twist-ins that I got with Snickers.

Monday night means.... family home evening. It was so much fun to have family home evening with everyone. We had different assignments:

• Dad- conducting
• Mom- treats & s
  
• Nicki- opening prayer
• Ryan- story (told about a time he broke a bone)
• Richard- talent (ball balancing)
• Melinda- closing prayer
• Noah- activity (hide & seek)
• Macy- song
• Michael- lesson
• Tracy- song
• Jessica- talent

Richard talent- ball spinning

Michael teaching the Lesson

Tuesday
Everyone headed to Wilmington to tour the Battleship North Carolina. I was afraid that we would not get to see very much, but I was totally wrong. We explored the ship from top to bottom. We went up and down so many sets of stairs (more like ladders) and discovered so many areas of the ship I could really get an idea of what it was like to live and work on this floating city. The tour took almost 4 hours. I thought it was really cool.

The family on the main deck.

Could Ryan, Noah, Macy, & I sleep on the ship?

The men hit the head...

I steer the ship... ahoy matey!

After we left the battleship we were starving. Our neighbors recommended a place called Sticky Fingers. They are known for their ribs and pulled pork with different sauces. Ryan and I both tried ribs, but honestly we didn't think they were any better than Texas Road House or Outback. Ryan went to find a shop called Blowing in the Wind. He needed to get new string for his kite. Then we hit a shopping a mall. We weren't impressed with the store selection and actually left without buying anything. Then we tried an upscale shopping area called Mayfaire. It had some really good stores. We found some more pillows that matched the others we had already bought a Kirklands. I used my coupon in New York & Company and got a pair of pants, a shirt, and belt for only $9.00.
We headed home for a yummy dinner of tacos madeby Michael and TRacy. Then Ryan fell asleep on the couch while I learned how to play a game called Chicken Foot with Mom and Dad.

Wednesday
This morning was girls day at the beach. All the men went to play golf at the cheapest course they could find. So we took the kids down to the beach and just hung out. I worked on my tan and read a book before I finally dozed off. Once we were done being in sand we went to the pool. I actually like to sit on the beach and read or lay out, but I really prefer to swim in a pool. I just don't like how the current and waves wail me around.

Jessica, Noah, and Macy

The guys came back from golf and were pretty beat. Apparently they got really dehydrated and needed a break. While the guys rested Mom, Melinda, and I ran to Food Lion to pick up a few things. Then we went to a Christmas store. I thought I would find an ornament, but I didn't like any of the ones that had Top Sail on them. Jessica made dinner and again we had another night of playing games and just relaxing in the hot tub.

Thursday
Ryan and I played golf a a really nice course called North Shore. They even had valet cart parking. We started off kind of late because they were fertilizing the first hole. So we had to wait till the sprinklers were done before we could start. We both played pretty well, and yes, Ryan won. I did beat him on two holes though! I learned that I can play much better on flat courses.After golf we headed back into Surf City to look for a Christmas ornament. We never found one that we likes, but we did go to a restaurant to get some pizza. We looked in a couple of shops, but never found anything that suited us.
Mom made Aztecha chicken for dinner. While she was cleaning up the girls got in the hot tub. We were just minding our own business when all the sudden we were douched with cold water. Our dear, sweet husbands thought it would be hilarious to dump buckets of cold water from the above deck onto our heads. Watch out next year boys...
Just in case we weren't sick of golf, we played putt-putt with everyoneat Pirate's Cove. The course had cute decor, but he holes were pretty simple. We had to play in two groups, which I disliked. I at least managed to beat Noah and Jessica.
Again, we just played more games and ate food till we all passed out. I loved this time more than anything. I actually could stay awake past 10:00 and have a good time.

Friday
Friday was beach day! We all spent the day playing in the water, building sand castles, flying kites, and just making a general ruckus. We had enjoyed the beach in bits and pieces all week, but this was actually the first time we were all down there together. Karma Maples came and taught us how to find sharks teeth and I collected a large amount of smooth rocks to make a centerpieces with at home.

Macy & Noah

Ryan & I
Ryan with Boogie Board

No one was assigned dinner so we headed out for seafood. We found a place called Crabby Mike's. The food was good but pretty expensive. I had fried shrimp and scallops. I could barely make a dent in the large serving and felt guilty paying so much for food I could barely eat. Reminder to self... don't get fried seafood, you don't like it nearly as much.

Jessica, Tracy, Michael, and Ryan in front of Crabby Mike's

Saturday
We all packed up pretty early and headed home. It was an amazing trip. I thought it would be difficult and that my family would get on my nerves, but they didn't. I realized how much fun we can still have together. I better appreciate all their unique personalities and am better able to see all their good qualities.