ahhhh.....vacation

Last week was spent with my whole family on our annual week-long beach vacation. It was not the usual Memorial Day week in the Outer Banks due to a number of reasons:

~pregnant sister

~2 teachers

~1 OT working in a school district

~2 people w/new jobs [read:not a lot of vacation time]

~2 kiddos in school fulltime

SO, we decided to keep it a little closer to home this year and rented a house in Ocean City, NJ. We were within 1 1/2 blocks of the beach and walking distance from the boardwalk amusement rides. The house was great ~ a little smaller than we're used to for so many people, but it worked out. The beach was gorgeous and the water was perfect! Many days we were some of the last people off the beach after 7 p.m.

The kids had a blast. Evan spent the entire vacation boogie boarding. Ryan was quite brave in the waves this year....going in up to his armpits and jumping the waves as they rolled in. Nathan had little to no fear either and split his time between water and sand. Needless to say, it was not a very restful, relaxing vacation for mom and dad. [Especially since Ryan had a knack for waking the entire house up around 6 a.m. EVERY day ~ I don't know where that kid gets his energy!]

A good time was had by all. Time spent together as family is never wasted. The kids enjoyed their cousins and the morning walks for donuts and the rides on the boardwalk and the evening walks for ice cream. Who am I kidding?!? The 'big' kids enjoyed it all, too! :)

Here are a few of my favorite pics from the week: