Beach: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Growing up you could ask any child in the Christensen extended family what the most wonderful time of the year was, and they would most likely NOT say Christmastime. Even above Christmas time in our family was BEACH WEEK! Every year we looked forward to it more than anything else. We would count down the days, and barely believe it when the time actually came!

Now that we're all grown up and many of us have families of our own, it continues to be one of the most wonderful times of the year! This time we spent the week....

Snuggling with nieces and nephews

Playing on the beach with awesome cousins

Making intense chocolate cream filled cupcakes...

for about 70 people...

which were all decorated to look like a beach scene

Playing frisbee

And frisbee 3-flies up with the boys

Setting up and playing beach games

And putting together and flying shark kites 

Playing smashball
And playing some more with nieces and nephews

Getting buried with shy nieces who didn't want to do so alone and waiting for our sand-mermaid tail
Swimming with nephews

building insanely high towers with children's blocks
and more insanely high towers

Planning out and making huge sand castles...
Patterned after ancient Mayan ruins

Snuggling and playing with more nieces and nephews
Catching waves on a 2-man blow up raft and laughing hysterically while doing so

Matching with cousins due to a shortage of cute and modest bathing suits (there were many matches!)
And sadly saying goodbye to my dear sister Shelley who lives across the country...

with her adorable family, who I am so glad I got to see, thanks to the beach!
Thanks Grandma  and Grandpa Duck and Mom and Dad for the wonderful time we had this year! We love you and can't wait for next year!