Long Beach Island

We just got back from a wonderful vacation to Long Beach Island, NJ. We left NC last Friday night and headed up to Virginia to stay with my folks. We woke up Sat, threw Mimi in the car and continued our journey up to New Jersey where we met up with Josh's family. One of Josh and Nick's buddy from high school offered his family beach house to us for the week. It was a great little cottage on Long Beach Island, only a block from the beach. Perfect!!

The first weekend we were there I counted 16 people in the house. It was chaos but SO much fun! Our family of four, my mom, Shelley, Peter, Grandma Nancy, Grandpa Joseph, Nick, Carolyn, Nicholas, Connor, Carolyn's Parents, Carolyn's two sisters and a sister's husband made up the crazy crew at the house. Wow, I think that was everyone!

We had a blast hanging out with everyone. We ate and drank enough for an army and loved every minute of it. Grady and Myles had a blast playing with their cousins, Nicholas and Conner. My mom was thrilled to get to know Josh's family. The trip was a huge success.

Now, we are back in Virgina at my parents house. Josh is leaving today to head back to work. The boys and I are going to stay for another week and fly home next Sunday. We are going to miss Josh terribly but someone has to "bring home the bacon"!! We miss Josh's family already. We can't wait for Christmas at Gramma and Grandpa's.

The first thing the boys did was check out all the beach toys Gramma brought for them. Playing with Gramma is SO much fun.

Carolyn's parents and little Connor.

Grandma Nancy, Grandpa Joseph and Myles. Myles enjoyed the donuts they brought. They always come bearing goodies....sweets, toys, etc. Thanks, Nancy and Joesph.

On our second day there, we celebrated Connor's first birthday. I can't believe the little guy is already one. He was adorable and had such a sweet, calm personality. I could eat him up!

Happy Birthday, Connor

Birthday cake....yum

Mimi and Grady won the prize for being the silliest people in the house. Who else would smear green frosting on their faces?

Beach time! It was perfect weather for the beach. Not too hot, not too cold. Plus, there was hardly a soul on the beach. Josh and I were saying that we will never go back to the beach during the season. It is much better without the heat and the crowds.

Boys on the beach

Uncle Nick and Connor

Dad playing football with Uncle Nick

Grandpa and Grady playing in the surf.

Nicholas and Aunt Carolyn looking for shells.

Spinning!!

Relaxing after a long day at the beach.

The island's lighthouse.

The boys looking for shells by the lighthouse.

We climbed the stairs to the top of the lighthouse. What a view!

We really wanted a picture of all the boys and Gramma but getting four boys to sit still was impossible. This is the best one I took.

Gramma and "the babies" watching cartoons.

Grady and Nicholas had so much fun together. Here they are dancing with my ipod. What cuties!