Figure 8 is great

My husband's family goes to the beach together every year. Actually, last year we missed the trip because of our wedding and a cousin's high school graduation, so this year we were back with a vengeance. This year was especially important because my husband's grandmother was diagnosed with pretty serious cancer in February. We weren't sure if she'd make it to this trip and she is the matriarch of this amazing family. She's been rocking babies on the porch for 30 years.

We go to Figure 8 island. It's a private beach just north of Wilmington, NC. If you're not from NC you probably haven't heard of Wilmington, but it's actually making it to the big time...it was the filming location for Dawson's Creek and is now the filming location for One Tree Hill. Katie Holmes once described her home on Wrightsville Beach, just off of Wilmington, as a quaint little fishing village. Not so much, Katie, but thanks for trying. They originally started going when my husband's uncle owned a house there, but he lost it in a divorce, so now we rent. Good times, anyway. :)

We have quite a crowd. My husband's father is one of six children. Pretty amazing side story actually. My father in law is the oldest and had 2 little brothers when his mother died. Grandma Dot raised those three little boys and then had three more and then her husband died. She's amazing. Anyway, those 6 kids then had 15 children and those 15 have had 8 more and at some point all 29 of them are there, plus their spouses...and the pre-teen usually bring a friend. It's crazy but I love it.