Best Vacation

I am not sure I can put into words how wonderful our vacation was to the Outer Banks. After several days of beach and pool, of constant attention and love from a multitude of family members, Aidan turned to me and said intently, "This is the best vacation in my entire life."

I have to agree. I know I love my family. But there are times when I am immersed with them that I am overwhelmed with the fierceness of that love and how far it extends. The opportunity to see my family through my children's eyes, watching them as they are loved up by their uncles, cousins, aunts and grandparents - well, that is, to me, what life is all about.

We spent a week forgetting life includes having to put on shoes to go outside. The boys took all their showers outside next to the pool. Aidan learned how to play poker. All three boys stayed up way past their bedtime to chase crabs in the dark with flashlights on the beach. There was skim boarding and surfing and digging giant holes in the sand and collecting mini-oysters.

Our house was unbelievable. It was big enough that 28 people never seemed like too much. There was a game room with pool and foosball, a media room with video games and movies and sitting rooms galore to host our many board game sessions. (I learned I apparently suck at Scattegories. My cousins kicked my behind.) The boys loved having their very own pool and two hot tubs. I think they spent more time in the hot tubs than I did. Brennan could not get enough of the elevator and preferred to spend his mornings riding it up and down the three floors.

I documented the geezers vs. young uns as they took on both basketball and volleyball. Both games provided more than enough entertainment for the giggling spectators. And of course, I loved, once again, beating Seth and Travis in doubles tennis. Victory is sweet.

Each family was assigned a night to cook dinner for the group. Our night, Thursday night, was Mexican Fiesta. We had party favors of sombreros and chili pepper necklaces. We had Mexican tablecloths, a cactus cooler and even a hanging cut out for people to take pictures as flamenco dancers. Chris, Seth and Travis manned the grill and pool bar with mustaches and good humor. Travis even prepared a play list of Mexican tunes to groove by the pool. And there were, of course, margaritas in generous, oh so yummy quantities. Ole!

At the end of it all, I cried as we packed up the car and said our goodbyes. I didn't want to leave the beach, the house or most importantly, my family. As I brushed the tears away, my cousin Alli grabbed my shoulders, looked me in the eye and said, "You know most of us live like right across the street from you, right? I mean, I think we even have plans to see you all tomorrow."

She's right. They do. But I loved having us all together, there, on the beach with nothing to do but enjoy each other. It was a perfect vacation.