It was back to the shore house for us last weekend.  Our trusty van, with its one new tire (long story, but a few weeks ago it blew so it has a new tire now… plus three old ones as well, lest you’re imagining a one-tired van driving) and 212,000 miles on it, was loaded to the gills once again.  Each of the five spaces in the back were full of bodies and blankets.  At my feet in the front seat I steadied a very full pot of lamb curry.  By the time we arrived at 11pm, the regular 4 out of 5 were asleep and were loaded into their respective sleeping spots in the tiny memory-making house.  Nadine, our ever-wakeful child, happily slept in Grandma & Granddaddy’s tent.  This time we decided not to tent it, after our near drowning experience the last time it rained… not quite, but let’s just say our tent is no longer water-proof!

The next morning we eased into our day with cousins, games, and breakfast at many different times.  Here is a snippet of what a typical lazy shore house morning looks like for us:

Lots of Pretty Pretty Princess going on outside!

Grandma’s toes even got a makeover!

The baby Princesses are sweeter than sugar.

The boys were very much into their books all weekend.  This was a typical sight.

We finally got a family picture near Wildwood, NJ.  I love the personalities.  What a bunch of fun!

Then we went to the boardwalk one night.  Chocolate and peanut butter swirl ice-cream with sprinkles… yum.

We also went on a few rides!

The highlight for me was when Nadine & I went on a roller coaster together and the screaming swing!  I remember very clearly looking at Nadine when she was a baby and saying, “I can’t wait until she’s old enough to go on rollercoasters with me!”  My dream came full circle when we sat hand-in-hand in the front seat of the Great White.  I was in my element!  And I think I found a fellow thrill-seeker in my daughter.

There’s something to be said about four brothers.  Each one so unique.  Each one somewhat fanatical about their own thing: flying, running, playing, reading.  Each one also very devoted to their families.  Servants.  Thoughtful hearts.  Where one might read the same 300-page book three times in one week, one might not read that many pages in one year!  Where one may fly across regions of the earth, another may despise the thought of leaving the ground.

Three are musically inclined, the other appreciates it, but playing the violin at age 8 didn’t suit him as much as his running shoes do now.  Some inherited the movie-quoting gene, and can make us laugh til we cry.  Some are organized, two love to collect things.  Each one’s opinion about what makes food fabulous is quite unique.  Hot wings, cheese-less eggs, ranch dressing, or Kashi cereal?  Is it better to play hockey or hooky?  Settlers of Catan or Pass the Popcorn?  Go wrestle someone to the ground or shoot some guns?  Can you fix a car or fly a plane?  Can you name that movie or run 100 miles?  I love that all of these amazing guys can do all of those things.  Each one some.  All together, a plethora of talent and humor and good looks.

Since last year at this time, Jon & Capri were engaged, we had a fun photo-shoot on the bay, where they will be married next month!

A night at the shore house is usually spent playing games under the green tent, with twinkling lights to show us if we’ve rolled yahtzee or if we’ve hit phase 10.  Dad & Mom, thanks for showing your children how to live and love and laugh!  Here’s to many more shore house memories!