The most recent, best week of my life.

I’m a seriously lucky girl. I spent last week waking up each morning (with the sunrise) looking out 6, 10-foot windows at this. Sometimes the sky was a cloudy blue gray and the swells were 4 and 5 foamy hills deep. Other mornings the sun peeked through and the sea was calm and steady. Big Zoom and I would wait patiently as each member of the family padded up the steps in their own time.

We laughed and whispered and giggled and sang and hugged and snuggled and ran and rested the whole week away. It was wonderful.

During the day we’d chase waves and fly kites. We hit golf balls into the howling wind on the shore. We drove on the beach searching for wild horses and collected seashells. We shivered in the swimming pool and ate lunch together as a family.

The kid Zooms got to meet their 2nd cousins; a delightful pair of spunky twins. She was dolled up in the most fantastic accessories and he too quick to photograph!

We were officially at the beach for my cousins wedding. By night, we partied hard. Our family reunions/weddings closely resemble frat parties at times. I am the oldest of my grandparents 18 grandchildren (the youngest is a freshman in high school) and we’re a very social bunch. Throw in a couple of Panamanians (the groom was from Panama) and you’ve got yourself rocking party. Check out my Instagram feed for “those” pictures.

Big Zoom was spoiled completely rotten. He went on an ice cream with his aunts and uncle, had unlimited access to YouTube garbage truck videos and stayed up late every night to play. He had the time of his life. And, Little Zoom learned to crawl! Despite living so far away from our families, they always seem to be around for the big milestones.

I’m so lucky to have been able to check out of my everyday life here and check in with my family for a whole week. My batteries are recharged. My heart is bursting full and I’ve got enough fantastic memories to last until our next visit.