Beach Week 2017

It’s been fifteen years since we began this tradition. And it’s become my favorite week of the entire year. Even more than Christmas or my birthday. It’s beach week in Ocean City with my entire family. When we started, we were a family of seven, now we are thirteen strong. The youngest grandchild was just a baby that first year, this year the oldest just graduated from high school.  With busy schedules especially during the holidays, this is the only time my parents, siblings, nieces and nephews all get together. We look at it as our Christmas (in July!).

I know it sounds trite, but the kids really grow up fast! I love comparing photos from one year to the next as you can really see how much they have grown.

For months we all countdown the days to vacation only to have it end in the blink of an eye. In so many ways, some things never change. In so many other ways, time changes everything. You can see it in our faces, in our memories, in our experiences. I'm so grateful for this time to reconnect, to make new memories, to be one family under one roof. It goes by too fast, but it gives me something to look forward to year in and year out. Here are our some of my favorite memories from beach week 2017.

Every year I always take family photos. In the last few years, I've gotten better about being in some of the photos with the kids. It feels awkward since I'm not used to being in front of the camera, but I'm always grateful for these images.