We're back!

We've returned from a wonderful week at Uncle Tom and Aunt Audrey's beach house. The weather was absolutely perfect, and the girls made some wonderful memories, swimming at the beach, resting and playing at the house, and eating delicious food. We even took sunset walks on the beach, enjoying the chilly evening air. The highlight of the week was Friday night. Cousins Jack, Ella and Charlie all came to their beach house for the night, and Beth, Amy, Jack and Ella had a "slumber party". The all piled into one bedroom with their sleeping bags and pillows, and laughed and giggled for a few hours before finally drifting off to sleep. Erin and Charlie slept in their playpens in separate rooms, so they missed out on the "party", but maybe by next year they will be big enough to join in! We returned yesterday afternoon, and the girls seemed happy to curl up into their beds after their busy week.

Today was Nana and Grampy's 40th wedding anniversary party! Uncle John is home from Rome, so he said a beautiful Mass, where Nana and Grampy renewed their wedding vows. We then headed over to Tom and Audrey's for an amazing clambake out in their gorgeous backyard gardens. I don't eat seafood, but Dan tells me that the lobsters and clams were incredible, and luckily there was also chicken and steak for the meat-eaters in the group! The afternoon was filled with laughter from all the cousins, as the kids romped and played. New friendships were made with some second cousins, and Beth, Amy and Erin fell into bed once again, exhausted but full of chatter about their exciting day. What a wonderful way to honor 40 years of marriage and commitment.

And now, the laundry awaits. Going away to the beach for a week produces an incredible amount of sandy laundry, and it's time to start folding. Hopefully I'll find the bottom of the basket sometime tonight.