It's hard to believe that this years beach vacation with the DiSanto family has come and gone already! We headed down to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for some fun, sun and family on July 4th. We were there for a week and had great weather, great company and an all around great time! The cast of characters were the same except for a few guest appearances! Granddad, Laurie, Aunt Suzanne, Jerry, Mom, Dad, Uncle Mike (Aunt Patty stayed behind to save her leave for Alyson's wedding next weekend!!), Shawn, Chris, Me, Dave, Steph, Damian, Alyson, Erin, Jerry T., Nicole, Zoe, Anthony, Kayia, Zachary, Aidan, Dominic, Madeline and baby Isabella. This year we had some very very special guests (see picture below)!
Jim and Dolores are very dear friends of my grandparents who have know my family for over 60 years. They used to babysit my mom, Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Mike as babies/kids and have remained a very important part in all of our lives ever since. I think it is safe to say that Dolores was my grandmothers best friend and with this being the 11th beach week without grandmom, it was so nice to have just a touch of something familiar in Dolores. She loved on me and my family like we were her own (the kids called them Grandma D and Grandpa J) and reminded us how special she and Jim really are! It was so nice to have them with us this year and I am hopeful this will become a permanent thing!! We love you, Jim and Dolores!!!
Although I am an only child, I have always been blessed with lots of family! My cousins are like my siblings and therefore it only seems fitting that my kids call them all Aunt and Uncle (boy it is going to be so confusing when these little ones all grow up!). Here is Zachary with Uncle Chris enjoying a squeeze during our family photo night! :)
We were fortunate to get "date night" twice this year. Steph and Damian didn't make it down until Thursday so Friday evening, the 4 of us went to Awful Arthurs for some yummy raw bar seafood and good company! :)
We get matching beach week t-shirts every year and this year was no exception. The back of the shirts have a picture of my great-grandparents, Guiseppe and Angelamaria DiSanto (waaaay back in the day) and it says "In the beginning....". I am sure they would be proud to see the family that my grandfather created!
And of course my little ones. They had such a great time this year. They both caught the OBX creepy crud and were a little under the weather but managed to have a good time and shower everyone with their cuteness :)
It's no question how much my kids love their cousin, Zoe!! She is so good to them and they really enjoyed following her around.
On date night, the cousins went out to the OBX brewing station. After 3 attempts of a good picture, I gave up!!!
Doing what she does best!!! Being cute and sassy!!
Jim and Dolores are very dear friends of my grandparents who have know my family for over 60 years. They used to babysit my mom, Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Mike as babies/kids and have remained a very important part in all of our lives ever since. I think it is safe to say that Dolores was my grandmothers best friend and with this being the 11th beach week without grandmom, it was so nice to have just a touch of something familiar in Dolores. She loved on me and my family like we were her own (the kids called them Grandma D and Grandpa J) and reminded us how special she and Jim really are! It was so nice to have them with us this year and I am hopeful this will become a permanent thing!! We love you, Jim and Dolores!!!
Although I am an only child, I have always been blessed with lots of family! My cousins are like my siblings and therefore it only seems fitting that my kids call them all Aunt and Uncle (boy it is going to be so confusing when these little ones all grow up!). Here is Zachary with Uncle Chris enjoying a squeeze during our family photo night! :)
We were fortunate to get "date night" twice this year. Steph and Damian didn't make it down until Thursday so Friday evening, the 4 of us went to Awful Arthurs for some yummy raw bar seafood and good company! :)
We get matching beach week t-shirts every year and this year was no exception. The back of the shirts have a picture of my great-grandparents, Guiseppe and Angelamaria DiSanto (waaaay back in the day) and it says "In the beginning....". I am sure they would be proud to see the family that my grandfather created!
And of course my little ones. They had such a great time this year. They both caught the OBX creepy crud and were a little under the weather but managed to have a good time and shower everyone with their cuteness :)
It's no question how much my kids love their cousin, Zoe!! She is so good to them and they really enjoyed following her around.
On date night, the cousins went out to the OBX brewing station. After 3 attempts of a good picture, I gave up!!!
Doing what she does best!!! Being cute and sassy!!
