Talked about and dreamed about for many years and started planning two years ago...getting everyone together at Rehoboth beach in Delaware. Jake's Pop used to own a beach house here and they frequented this very beach when he was growing up. So lots of memories here for the Herways. Everyone was able to make it with the exception of Jake's sister Nicole who was almost due with her first child.
It was a fabulous vacation. Hours and hours spent on the beach every day, kids playing with their cousins, walks and treats on the boardwalk, Funland, beach volleyball and bike rides. The best part is that we never had to get in our car the entire week.
So in no particular order...
ALL the Herways. Including Jake's uncle and his kids and grandkids.
A couple of the nights we met on the beach to play with glow sticks. I believe this is one of their traditions.
Beautiful girls!
The grandkids
Squishy picture
This actually took quite a few tries to get it right. It was sure fun in the making.
We shared a house with 4 other families so there was a rule to keep things quite in the morning. I think we did a pretty good job.
Cousin time!
A great capture. It's a great feeling, isn't it.
Tommy LOVED having boys to play with.
Uncle Steve was (as always) great with the kids. He was often found coloring or playing games with these girls.
There were a few mornings Lily woke up way too early. I would bring her in bed and she would eventually fall back asleep. I am pretty firmly against co-sleeping with my kids, but I really enjoyed this.
The Gravitron!! Took me back to those days at the 49th Street Galleria. It was the coolest ride ever. Still is!! The kids loved it. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I'm amazed I ever liked it. It makes me sick just thinking about it.
Speaking of sick...another ride I absolutely will never ride.
What we all love about Funland is that the price per ride is pretty much the same as it was back when Jake was a kid, and they're all the same rides too. It hasn't changed at all.
Picture perfect ice cream cone
Boys
We attempted the entire clan at a restaurant one night. I love how we stuck all the kids on one table. They actually did pretty good.
Baby Kent (Steve's baby) is so so cute! And Lily loves every baby she sees.
Jacob had a Katelyn and Caitlyn had a Jacob. Cousins and second cousins. Not planned, just happened that way.
Ah ha ha ha! Wipeout!
Kate and Tori. Cute little friendship formed between these two.
I just love pigtails
Tom and Tom
The house we had was just a few blocks away. The kids were good troopers.
One of my favorite shots of these girls, Rachel, Scarlet, Bryn and Daphne catching a good wave. Most of the days the waves were pretty high and strong. I thought the kids were pretty brave. I was only brave enough to venture out near the end of the week when the waves were a little calmer and
warmer.
Kate's favorite ride, because it goes backwards.
Melts my heart :)
One ice cream shop boasted having over 100 flavors. We had to try some of their creative creations. Mine was Cookie Monster. Cotton candy flavor with cookie dough
Rachel tried Booger. I can't remember what flavor but it had green caramel. Ew!
Isa was so good to Lily.
We had to play a few games where we were guaranteed to get a prize when it was just our family.
Oh the simple joys!
Haunted House
The Sea Dragon was Tommy's favorite ride.
Scarlet is amazing with little kids!
Girls day, while the boys (+Rachel) tried to go fishing. No luck.
The race. Tommy was SO excited to see Jake win. It was his first time ever beating his brother Seth. Seth says he's going to do some training before the next reunion :)
Sibling shot. They have this picture pose dating back to when they were just kids.
Oh the endless hours they can entertain themselves on the beach.
We rented some bikes to take turns going to Lewes ("The first town in the first state") I think it was a 13 mile ride?? The boys did it first and thought we would have trouble. We did it no problem. Our little one hour breakfast pit stop probably helped ;)
I was pretty nervous about the weather with it being the beginning of June. The week before this it was actually quite cold. But we really lucked out and had beautiful weather the entire week.
It was a rare treat for us to have it out here on the East Coast, since we are the only ones out here. We sure appreciated it. I think we should do it again ;)
