Long Beach Island Family Tradition

As another summer rolls to an end, I wanted to share a tradition my family embraces each summer.  For eleven years we have enjoyed renting the same beach house in beautiful Holgate, Long Beach Island.  It is our little oasis on the Jersey Shore.  Nine of us living together in one house for one week--a little crazy at times, but cherished none the less. A tradition. Some may think doing the same thing-same place would be boring, NOT us.  Instead, we anticipate our "traditions"...meeting at the diner at 9 am for breakfast before getting into our house...our first dinner out and mini-golf night...the rides and games at Fantasy Island-each year getting a little braver...the annual treasure hunt my dad and daughter create together for her younger cousins...dusk on the beach...kites...bikes...the water park..ice cream at Bay Village (almost every night)...cocktails on the roof top deck watching the best sunset ever!  Looking back, this special week is what started my love of photography-of capturing my daughter through out the years.  I fell in love freezing the story of our week.  We now have eleven photo-books documenting each year.  Many events stay the same, but it is priceless seeing the kids grow up and the joy that only the beach can bring!