boardwalk time!

Just a heads-up...there are an AWFUL lot of pictures in this post. I mean, it's the boardwalk...what can you expect? I love it so much and I need to remember details...all of them...the sights, the sounds, the tastes (Thrashers fries with gobs of salt and malt vinegar, funnel cakes...I actually have the shakes right now thinking about them...I need some!).

We drove about 30 minutes to Rehoboth on Thursday night. Ocean City, MD was the other direction and not quite as family friendly. The kids are usually bouncing with excitement, and actually lots of the adults are too. As soon as you find a parking spot (good luck with that) you can hear the sounds. Lots of noise. People, rides, seagulls. Seagulls everywhere this year. Suicidal ones, swooping at your head. Didn't really dig that, although in general, the sound of them soothes me...it's part of the beach experience.

Anxious Alex...c'mon guys, let's go! This year, I decided to chill a little and let Alex go off with his cousin Matthew and Dave (I said a LITTLE). They did the haunted house and other "big kid" stuff and Alex was over the moon.

Elsie and daddy Gunnar.

I love this picture so much. This is what I envision when I think of the boardwalk. Dolles...the best salt water taffy, right people? I am generally behind the group. Counting heads mostly. I can remember the boardwalk at Seaside Heights, NJ as a kid. 8, 9 years old...and counting. I was desperately afraid we would lose Rachel. She was curious and would wander just a bit and it would send me in a tailspin. As a mom, I'm even worse. Here's the thing...you lose a kid here...I'm not exactly sure how you would get them back. SO many people. Everywhere. The ocean, cars, hotels. Help...my heart is starting to race. Several times during the night Rachel or Christy or someone would take my girls, I would forget, and panic. Where's Emily? Where's Lizzy? I know I was possibly quite annoying to my family. :(

The Gehrings...love them.

Grandpa came down this year. I could NOT believe it! The chaos, the lack of order, the noise, I thought we'd have to admit him afterwards. You know what though...he did great! He loved watching the kids, taking pictures. They loved having him there too. Can you tell?

Annie and Rachel. Annie came back to Utah with us...the kids are thrilled...and we're having a great time!

Would you believe these 2 are my niece and nephew? They go with Caroline...the 2nd oldest. I love them so much. I really, really enjoyed getting to hang out with them this year. Rich is the kid magnet. I'm not kidding. They love the guy.

Caroline paid for each of the grandkids to play some "throw the ball and win a prize every time" game. It was so cool of her. They loved it...and like I said...a prize every time!

Her first time on the merry-go-round. Can you tell that she loved it? Didn't hurt that her best buddy Christy went with her. How have we survived all summer w/o that girl?

OK...see what I mean about the crowds? Heaven help me...my heart is starting to race again...I'll be back in a second.

My brother Joe (cool dude) and my sister Lisa's daughter Christy. I got to spend a lot of time with Joe this time around. He is a pediatric cardiologist, a father of 4 great boys. I love him. I am so proud that he is related to me. We got to be together for most of the day Saturday when I photographed the wedding. I am so grateful for that time I had with him. More time than I've had in years. It reminded me how much I love and admire him and how freaking hilarious he is!

Whew! That's it! Are you still with me? Don't you want to go? You'd love it, I promise.

girls night...

So every 2 years when we go to the beach, the boys get a night out. This year it was on Monday. They headed to Rehoboth for fun on the boardwalk. They are usually out till 11 pm or so and come home laughing and completely soaked from the bumper boats. This year, for the first time, we girls felt quite jealous. We were going to have a night of our own. We got ourselves cleaned up and headed for Sea Shell City. The place is a treasure trove. Full of (mostly) junk...that my kids want to buy. Beautiful creations made completely out of shells, hermit crabs, tacky jewelry, you name it - they have it. The kids take FOREVER to narrow down their selection. My patience wears pretty thin by the time they decide. After we got home and got the girls to bed, Rachel, Lisa and Val headed out on a Rita's run. The PERFECT end to a great night!

I love all these girls. I LOVE them. In this picture, you'll find my mom, 4 of my sisters, my 3 girls, and 7 of my nieces. Tracy would have rounded things out beautifully. She has such a crazy work schedule though. So glad I got to see her twice and got to see her perfect little neighborhood in Philadelphia (another post).

My little (twin) sisters. Crazy huh? They look even more different than my own twins. I love them so much.

Checking out her fishy hat in a lovely shell framed mirror. See what I mean?

whatever...

After getting hit in the face by Molly during a mini-tantrum...

Me: Molly, you don't hit Mommy. What do you say? What do you say to Mommy when you hit her in the face?

Molly (tears welling up in her eyes): silence...thinking..."you're welcome."

my newest love...

RITA'S! Why oh why we don't have them out here in the west is beyond me. East coast thing I guess...but it'll catch on. It has to. My niece Christy and my cute Mom introduced me to them my 2nd day back in Delaware. I was sceptical. How could it compare with my Sonic slushies? Christy convinced me to get a gelati. My life will never be the same. It's almost like a parfait, but with Italian Ice and custard. You choose from 3 flavors of custard (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry) and 20-25 flavors of ice. Yeah...25-30. Some of the options are...green apple, passion fruit, mango, key lime, cake batter, root beer, black cherry, pina colada, etc. Custard on the bottom, then lots of ice, custard on the top. My first experience was a small. Great snack size, but I quickly changed to a large...mango ice, vanilla custard. We went 2 more times in Dover in the next 2 days before the beach. We were a bit concerned that the nearest one to us down there was Ocean City...a good 30 minutes. What would we do? How could we stand it? Guess what...I saw one on the way down...15 minutes from the house. I think we managed to get them 4 times while down there. 3 of the times we sent people on an errand, so they were quite soupy by the time we got them. The last time was on the way home from the boardwalk...nice and fresh. 2 more in Dover after the beach and I am forever hooked. The custard is the best stuff I have ever tasted. I realize that is a bit dramatic...but it really is good. Trust me. Love you RITA'S!!!

my parents...

August 2nd. 50 years. My parents have been married for 50 years. It's so strange to me. I can clearly remember the 50th anniversary parties for both sets of my grandparents. They were old people. I really don't see my parents that way. They are fun, silly, happy...and not old people. For the past few months, my siblings and I have been planning a party for them while we were all together at the beach. We had the perfect restaurant, free sitters from my parents ward, someone to go pick up Sally, great gifts...and they knew nothing about it.

This is Laura waiting outside The Buttery (an amazing restaurant in Lewis). She sees our sister Sally through the glass and is telling her she loves her. My parents were waiting out front with everyone else. They had been told we were having a party for Caroline who was having a birthday that day, and we had to wait for her to arrive. In truth, she was already inside with her kids and Sally (my mentally handicapped sister).

Mom was completely taken by surprise...my Dad tries to say that he had some sort of inspiration earlier that day. Hmmm. Regardless, they were thrilled!

We had put together a book full of pictures of their kids and grandkids. Caroline had made a mix of favorite "Temple" songs and finished a quilt she had been toteing around since their 25th anniversary. It had the Logan temple on it...the temple where they were sealed after they were baptized. Lisa had gathered letters from friends and family, some of them long lost. People telling my parents how much they loved and admired them.

I snapped a picture during the prayer. I'm sorry. They were just so darling and emotional. The whole night was overwhelming for them I think. LOTS of crying, but the happy kind. After we ate, each of us (minus Sally) stood and shared some memories they had with Mom and Dad. Things they remember, things they learned, things they treasure. Everyone cried. It was an incredibly emotional night. One that I will remember forever. I love my parents so much. They are an example of selflessness. Kindness. Righteousness. Love.

My sister Lisa and her gorgeous girls Valerie and Christy.

Me and my girl. We took the 3 littlest babies so the sitters wouldn't be overwhelmed (they still had 10 kids) and my fears of Molly drowning in the canal would leave. They were gems the whole night. :)

LOVE you Mom and Dad!!!

delaware...

I'm not sure how to even begin this entry. 2 weeks in Delaware = happiness. I have so much to say...so much to show...my heart is racing just thinking of how to fit it all in here. SO...I may not try to do it all today. I'll space it out. As I think of something to say over the next few weeks...I'll say it. 1400 pictures, and I love almost every single one. So many people and experiences I want to mention. I love my family so intensely. My joy is really, really full. Here are a few of my favorites for today. :)

I have to mention that this little photo shoot of my kids was at 7 in the morning. I didn't have the chance during our huge family shoot to grab many of my kids and I was desperate to. So, the last morning, before packing up to go, I woke the kids up, did my best with their hair, and we headed over. The puffy eyes only lasted a few minutes...and to be quite honest, it was fantastic! The light was perfect, the beach quiet and empty. Maybe someday I'll show you all 100+!

This is the whole gang minus my sister Tracy, nephew David and nephew-in-law Dan. Quite a mix of people, but I love them all. They all mean so much to me, for lots of reasons. If I could live on a deserted island with just these people, I would. We'd play mafia, eat like kings and queens, and laugh. Lots and lots of laughing!

Alex and Lizzy and one of my favorite pastimes. :)

Waiting for our ride to Delaware.

home...

We made it. We're home. I wish I could say I'm happy about it...but I'm pretty bummed it's over. Man, I just love my family. So, so much. Our house was still standing, we hadn't been robbed, our mail had been collected and our lawn mowed. I have great friends and neighbors. Anyhow...today it is all about unpacking, laundry, cleaning, and looking at my 1400 pictures while trying not to cry. Here's one...just to tide you over until I can get something else put together. :)