Today was our last full day at Virginia Beach. We had hoped to meet up with the Thompsons who live in the area and have a son who is a year younger than Lukas and adopted from the same baby house. Unfortunately we didn't catch up with one another. I must say that our vacation went out with a big bang! We slept in and then headed to the inlet for the Capt. Jack Pirate Adventure. It was a great trip and Lukas had a blast!
First we rode the shuttle from the boardwalk to the ship in the inlet. Prior to boarding they gave all the kids pirate hats and took our photo with the pirates...or in the case of the one, what was left of him.
Always the ladies man, Lukas got picked to assist with the safety demo
Naturally they have pirate items for sale on board. Yet more guns for the arsenal
While the other mates wanted to hunt for blackbeard and treasure this one preferred to sing a little Gilbert and Sullivan....
The others had other ideas and managed to pursade her otherwise...
Ah, more face painting. A pirate must have a mustache and scar...arrrgh!
Chatting it up with one of the ship's mates
We trolled back and forth in the atlantic in front of the Virginia Beach boardwalk. We had seen the ship earlier in the week while on the beach. We got to see some dolphin as well. At one point one of them came swimming up towards the ship.
About half way through the outing they had the kids sit down on the lower deck and told them all about the history of Blackbeard the pirate, pirate symbols and other pirate lore. It was very educational and well done.
Then they brought out the big cannon and the kids got to prep it to shoot it off. Lukas got to help with step one, cleaning it before packing it.
They didn't actually fire the big cannon but a little tiny one clipped on to the side. It did make a big, loud noise just the same. Then it was on into the inlet to look for Blackbeard.
LUKAS ON THE LOOKOUT
LUKAS INFORMING ONE OF THE SHIP'S MATES THAT HE SPOTTED BLACKBEARD
ALL THE SHIP'S MATES DEFENDING THE SHIP AND TREASURE FROM BLACKBEARD WITH WATER CANNONS
Each child was allowed to pick out one item from the chest. Lukas chose a canary diamond ring to go with his pirate ring, eye patch, gun, and cup that we came home with from the trip. We also had an actual pirate cap that we managed to lose walking from the shuttle to the car. It literally vanished into thin air.
LUKAS GETTING HIS COPY OF THE TREASURE MAP AND HIS SHARE OF THE LOOT 
One last photo op before heading to the shuttle ride back to the car
Once we got home and had some lunch it was off to the beach for one last afternoon of fun in the waves. Lukas got to try out his new body board in the surf with the girls.
LUKAS, MADISON AND KIRA
Lukas was a little tentative about going out beyond where the waves broke. If he stayed at the shore it was hard to really catch a wave. The biggest problem was he couldn't really make his way beyond the breakers with the board by himself. Madison and Kira came to his rescue.
GETTING A LITTLE ASSIST FROM THE GIRLS
Lukas spotted Skyler laying at the surf's edge. Look out Skyler...
COPY CAT
GIRLS, WATCH OUT FOR THOSE SLEEPING SURFERS...CRASH
Since it was our last night we headed into town to the boardwalk to pick up some more souveniers. Can't go to the beach without stipping by the candy shoppe to pick up some salt water taffy and other sweets. Then it was on to hunt down some t-shirts. Lukas had the best line of the evening. We had gone into several shops as we made our way down the boardwalk. We had bought what we came for but Aunt Becca asked if we wanted to go in another shop. Lukas replied,"why, they all sell the same stuff." Ain't that the truth little guy! So we headed back to the car to meet up with Aunt Ro who went looking for Skyler who was out playing his guitar somewhere on the boardwalk. Never did find him. Lukas was quite taken with the Mime on the corner though.
LUKAS WITH TWO OF HIS FAVORITE THINGS, A BIG LOLLIPOP AND HIS BEST GIRL, KIRA
And so ends a great week at Virginia Beach with great friends and family! See ya next year!
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