Every year since I can remember I have taken all 5 of my kids on a family vacation. My mom and I usually loaded all the kids in my old suburban and set out for the beach or somewhere for a 3 or 4 day vacation. We always went the week of mom's birthday July 19th. Mom passed in Oct. 22, 2012 three months after our family vacation to Virginia Beach in July of 2012.

It is our tradition to go every year but each year it gets harder and harder to make it their and back with some many people. The girls have grown up now and have families of their own so we keep growing in numbers. But we still go and we have fun, quarrel and bicker but that is just the way of our family.

Our vacations are more like the movie 'NATIONAL LAMPOONS VACATION" with Chevy Chase. We are always blowing a tire, losing something, locking the keys in the car. eating bologna out of the cooler, running off the road and going air born (and this has happened to us in a spot with road construction LOL) No air conditions in the vehicles, we stay at cheap hotel, and we eat cheap but we still have a lot of fun. We save the money for family activities while there. It is hard to travel with 11 or 12 people but always manage to make it. I take all 5 of my girls and their boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, partners and all of my grandkids which is now 4. I have a 7 year old grandson, 17 month old granddaughter, 5 month old granddaughter and a 1 month old grandson and that is an adventure in its self . Dress Affordable vow renewal garment for wedding anniversary

I am very thankful that we have gotten to spend another family vacation together and create lots of memories. I love my kids and grandbabies with all my heart!! So we make this annual journey every year as a family. I so thankful that the girls still agree to come and put their busy lives on hold to share this time as a family.