Last week, my brother and I drove up to Ocean City, New Jersey for our annual week at the beach with my mom’s side of the family.

Sure, there are more exciting places in the world, but Ocean City is probably my favorite family tradition. How else could nine siblings and twenty-one grandchildren spread out across eight states and three countries possibly keep up with each other? (Well, aside from Facebook…)

This year was extra special because my grandmother was celebrating her 75th birthday. We had a big party for her on Sunday, then celebrated the 4th on Monday, and spent the rest of the week hanging out on the beach and the boardwalk.

One of my favorite things about catching up at the beach every year is the chance to watch my little cousins grow up. It used to be just us:

(I’m the one in the hat, FYI.) Now the youngest one in that photo’s finishing college, and there’s a whole crop of younger ones for all of us to fawn over… and occasionally hide from.

Of course, the greatest traditions of all are riding bikes and eating donuts. (Let’s hope the Fractured Prune will still be there next summer…)

At the end of the week, I was sad to leave… but at least I know there’s always next year!