Happy 4th of July weekend! This summer has been nonstop — we just returned from two weeks in North Carolina visiting friends and family, and I’m still catching my breath from that June trip. I plan to share a longer post soon about the places we discovered, but for now here are a few highlights and photos from our beach and family time.
Judah absolutely loved the pool at the beach house and was so proud when he learned to stand on the boogie board.
The beach house included jet skis that we could use, and Uncle Clayton and Auntie Heather took Judah out for his very first run. He was thrilled and wanted to go again with the rest of us.
Having a private pool while staying at the beach is priceless — perfect for the days when you want to skip sand and still splash around. Nana loved swimming with the grandchildren and making the most of every sunny moment.
My sweet little beach boy — I can’t get over how much fun he has exploring the shoreline.
We took drink breaks with cousins and neighbors, which made the afternoons more relaxed and joyful.
One personal highlight: I ran my first 5K while we were in Wilmington, alongside my two sisters-in-law. It was such a motivating and fun experience to do together.
Family photo while jet skiing — memories like these are why we love these trips so much.
Uncle Joel met baby Simon for the first time during the trip. We all adore “Uncle Pépé” and loved watching their first moments together.
While Ben traveled to California for work, the kids and I stayed a few days in Winston-Salem with my sister and brother-in-law. We spent afternoons sharing popsicles with cousins and neighborhood friends. Simple pleasures made the visit so sweet.
If Judah could swing every day with his cousin Avery, he would be perfectly content. They’re inseparable when they get the chance to play together.
Favorite Things Lately
Before I share a more detailed guide to dining and activities in the Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach area, here are a few products and services we’ve been loving recently. These have made travel and family life easier, more fun, or just a little more organized.
Kidoozie Build A Road X-Track — This flexible car track is great for young kids. The pieces click together easily without tools so children can design custom tracks and rebuild them over and over. Our son played with a set at a friend’s house during the trip and immediately loved it, so we ordered one for him. The set includes battery-operated vehicles that drive the track, and it’s easy to pack up into a bin for travel or storage.
Pley (LEGO rental service) — We tried a subscription LEGO rental service that sends complete sets in a box. You build the set, enjoy it, then disassemble and return it when you’re ready for the next one. It’s an economical option for families who want a rotating selection of LEGO projects without buying every set. It worked well for our household while traveling and in between other toys.
Food Huggers — These reusable silicone wrappers keep cut fruits and vegetables fresher longer than a plastic bag alone. The avocado-specific cover is especially handy for preserving half an avocado until you’re ready to use it again. They nest for compact storage and help reduce single-use plastic, which is a big plus in our kitchen routine.
Kitchen Club Kids — Garden Safari Vegetable Soup (Volume 2) — This delightful children’s recipe book teaches kids how to make vegetable soup through colorful illustrations and step-by-step directions. We first shared the series last year and loved how interactive the books are; the new volume encourages kids to choose their own vegetables and get hands-on in the kitchen. It’s a great tool for fostering healthy habits and culinary curiosity in little ones.
That wraps up this edition of Saturday Seeds. Thank you for letting me share moments from our life and a few products we’ve been enjoying. I hope these recommendations inspire something new for your family — and stay tuned for a follow-up post with restaurant and activity favorites from the Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach area.