We're joining the wonderful world of blogging!

We've been enjoying the family blogs tremendously. We're ready to plunge in! It seems like a great way to stay in touch and capture the moments and insights of daily life.
We recently returned from a week at the beach with the family the last week of June. The rhythmic sounds of the waves and the salt air were just the tonic we needed to relax. We had great company, delicious meals, happy hours, and a good balance of togetherness and personal time. It was heavenly!! One week didn't seem long enough. We loved having the whole family together. It was a highlight for Grandad to meet Gemma for the first time! The grandchildren certainly enjoyed each other, as well as their parents. Greg and John assisted with Fred's transfers, and helped with their nephews and nieces. John could only stay a few days,and unfortunately a bad sunburn got the better of him. We celebrated Gabe's 3rd birthday,and took a trip to the boardwalk. Thanks to everyone's help, Fred enjoyed the beach several times in a beach wheelchair on loan from the Ocean City Recreation Dept. Luis and Tom fished from the beach and each caught a sand shark. I didn't realize how close I came to swimming with the sharks! A highlight was celebrating our 32nd wedding anniversary on June 26. We were treated to breakfast out, and mimosas made by Matthew. Our festive dinner was a scrumptious collaborative effort by Jen, Carolyn, and Catherine. For dessert we walked two blocks to an ice cream shop where Greg treated us to sundaes. Yum! We had fun a few evenings playing "Apples to Apples" after the kids were in bed. Our house had a great setup, with an elevator,and a ramp to the beach right outside our back yard. With great teamwork, the week flowed smoothly. Fred says it was such a joy to be at the beach with the whole family.