Ode to a much needed break

Fall break has come and gone and I am sad to see it go. This was the first year that I have experienced the beach in October and it was great. We all (family of 15) got to experience it together. It was a Shannon Family lock-in. We rented a great house in St. George (first time for all of us to visit) and we cooked, vegged on the beach and let the cousins enjoy every minute of it. Most days consisted of a great breakfast ala Mimi, then lunch, then great evening dinner and when you eat with the Murphy's I do mean evening. No wonder S and I feel as if we have gained 5 pounds each just from our trip (not to mention Mimi's homemade chocolate chip cookies). We got to experience seashells in an over abundance (instead of stepped on a pop top blew out my flip flop, stepped on a seashell and said "whoa, that felt swell" sorry couldn't resist). The kids got to really enjoy the ocean one day it was like a lake it was so calm. Everyday from early morning to late afternoon we had a dolphin show that seemed like it was just for us, as well as the beach, hardly anyone in site. It was MAGNIFICENT. I got to enjoy a sunrise with Miss M and a sunset (albeit we did have to trespass on some great property but it was worth it). J found a hermit crab on the beach and, well, Hermie did not like Georgia and according to Jake was so homesick he has already passed on. The best part, though, was spending time with Mimi, Poppee, Jamie, Robin, Shannon, Asher (got to celebrate this little man turning 7 while at the beach), Terry, Trace, Ty, Talyn, S, J, little S, Miss M. We had a great time and surprisingly got along grand. Its so rare that all of us are together that I treasure each time we are. I love you all and I feel so blessed that we got to experience one of God's greatest gifts together as a whole family. Can't wait to do it again. I feel like J did the day after we got home, with big tears in his eyes he said "I miss the beach, but I miss my whole family even more." I do too, J, I do too.