We were there for over a week, spent time with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, and parents. We ate SOOO much, and with the exception of a sprained ankle that kept Jon off his feet for a couple of days, we had a lot of fun! It wasn't always easy with 2 young kids at the beach, but with a good adult-kid ratio, an acceptance that your 11-month-old is destined to eat a ton of sand, and a patience for a toddler who claims the [calm] water will hurt her, we were still able to enjoy ourselves! To create this post of memories, I've had to navigate through HUNDREDS of photos, and here's what we have left. (And yes, I recognize it's still a lot - It was 9 days, people...)
Gabi can harldy contain her excitement while packing the day before the trip. | 
window stickers = genius entertaining the 2.5 year old on a long flight |
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 We meet up in Philly with Team CohAn to enjoy the second flight together. |
After the first full day at the beach - guess we were having too much fun to stop and take pictures - we venture down to the Boardwalk (as we did most nights)! There was enough food options for the most glutenous of souls and rides for all ages to enjoy.
Was Gabi going to enjoy her first night of Boardwalk rides? | 
Nope, most certainly not. She was scared of every single one. |
We head to the beach for Day 2. Even though Daddy was home recuperating his hurt ankle (Seriously, who injures himself on the first day of vacation?!), I was determined to capture some moments on camera this time.
With my baby backpack on, we're ready to go! |  The waves were different every day, so Nana and Gabi snuggle at the edge of the water as they figure out their plan. |
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Jacob and Aunt Debbie dig a fantastic series of connected holes and tunnels. |
Hanging out at the beachhouse in the afternoon, sweet cousin Jacob reads to Gabi:
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Second night at the Boardwalk:
Is Gabi gonna enjoy the train ride tonight? (Nope! Don't let the camera fool you! She cried and wanted off a second later.) | 
Zayde and Jacob ride the dizzying teacups. |
 Nana and Ethan |  75% of Team Cohen selfie |
Every night on the boardwalk is dessert night!
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If Daddy thought he was going to get his own custard, he thought wrong. |
cotton candy and caramel apples for Jacob, Nana, and me |
The next day...
 Aunt Sandi and Gabi play blocks together. |  Ethan and Mommy are ready for more beach adventures. |
Sweet cousins Gabi and Jacob hold hands on the walk from the house to the beach. |
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 hanging out at the beach and playing in the holes we made yesterday |
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| Jacob and Gabi fly the butterfly kite together.
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 Jacob is going...going... |  GONE! |  There he is! |
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Did we walk ALLLL the way to Delaware (2 blocks) every afternoon to refill our popcorn buckets? Sure did. | 
Super-Aunt Sandi! |
Jacob puts Gabi to bed one night. He learns the whole routine including:
 reading her a bedtime story |  giving her 'high 5'
|  Don't forget the kiss!
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The next day...
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| early morning cousin fun |
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After 2 days of nursing his foot on the couch, Daddy returns to the beach!
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|  Jacob and Uncle Jon |
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 Team Cohen attempting to look happy all at the same time...eh - worth a try! |
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some tranquil moments caught on camera |
Gabi shows Zayde some treasures she found in the sand. |  Jacob and Mira share some snacks with the seagulls. |
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The house becomes a tattoo parlor in the afternoon. | 
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 Mira and Zayde work together to try to get the slinky to 'walk' down the stairs - as advertised - which proved more challenging than anticipated. | 
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Time for some Ethan love!
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 Aunt Sandi love |  Nana love |
The Boston Kayes have finally arrived! Time for more cousins, more family, and more fun!
A family who reads together... | 
...apparently attracts more little bodies on our laps... |
 Noah and Aunt Debbie love | 
Jacob finally has a cousin to ride the choo choo train with him! |
All 6 cousins join together at the Boardwalk along with the crazy adults.
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Big cousins Mira and Jacob ride bumper cars while little cousins Noah and Gabi watch from the side. |
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Noah is happy with his first night of rides! |
A night at the Boardwalk is never complete without sugary goodness. Sandi, Debbie, and Gabi agree. |
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Reader of choice: Uncle Mitch - Book of Choice: Ocean City coupons... gotta love a weird family |
The next morning, the tattoo parlor continues with Sammy getting a manly duck on his bicep.
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With only 1 full day at the beach all together, we were going to enjoy ourselves- or at least look good trying!
all 6 cuties getting alonglylike at the beach 
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Zayde, Noah, and Amanda |
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| What to do with 2 fissy kids who both demand Mommy at the same time? Supermom carries them both, I suppose. |
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The waves were quite rough, but it was a GREAT day for digging in the sand!
Mr. Popular Jon keeps attracting more and more little kids to join him. | 
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| Jacob and Noah dig together. |
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| Sammy and Gabi dig together. |
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sillies being silly |
At the end of a long morning at the beach, it's time to get some cool refreshment and find a comfortable place to sit and relax. |
In an attempt to keep all children happy at all hours of all days, we do bubbles outside on the balcony:
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That night, after watching cousins go on ride after ride, Gabi decides she wants to go on a ride! Was this one made for tiny toddlers? Nope. Did I enthusiastically jump at the opportunity to encourage her going on rides?!?! YES! Uncle Mitch and cousin Sammy joined us for the fun too.
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 super cute shot of Zayde and Gabi enjoying their custard cones together |  Flategraff cousins joined us for a couple of days, and here, cousins Ryan and Sharon enjoy their dessert! |
It was a continued challenge to eat one's own dessert by oneself. | 
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Looks like it's time to go home. |
In the morning, we once again entertain each other in the living room of the beach house as we eat and get ourselves ready for the day.
 Being just 3 months apart, cousins Ethan and Abby were cute playing together. | 
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| Aunt Debbie-Mira time turns into 'Entertain Gabi' time. (Who's surprised?) |
Once again, the waves were different every day we were there, and the waves were finally calm enough for Gabi's confidence to return to enjoy the water!
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Amanda and Sharon | 
Ethan and Nana |
Others enjoy the temperament of the waves also! Time for boogie boarding!
 Mitch and Sammy |  Zayde and Noah |  Ryan |
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snack time! |
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Boys being boys - Mitch and Jon have man-time in the waves. |
Gabi gets her own ride on a boogie board! |
Packing up from the beach to head back to the house, Gabi decides "I got this!" |  Zayde reads with his two 2-year-old grandchildren (just 7 months apart). |
Ethan and Abby play together once again, and Pete hangs out too. |
Another night at the Boardwalk, another success in getting Gabi on a ride! |
 hanging out with Amanda and Sammy |
Gabi and Daddy watch big cousin Noah on a roller coaster. | 
Boston Kayes unite on a ride together. |
On the morning of our last day at the beach, Gabi and Ethan make sure to dress appropriately!
 A little too early to start stuffing? |  Stylin'! |
 Beach Babe Gabi is at total ease on her last day. |
|  Yes, Mitchell did in fact break a chair. However, the chair and I were probably about the same age...so... |
In honor of our upcoming birthdays, we are 'allowed' a date night away from the kiddos. In addition to dinner (and dessert of course), we enjoyed the ferris wheel overlooking the shore and enjoyed a nighttime stroll along the beach. Thank you to the adults who took care of our babies!
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Meanwhile, this is what happens with the rest of the family that night:
 our trustworthy babysitting team for the night | 
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Time to head home:
our furry travel companion for the flight home |
The enthusiasm from the trip continues onto the plane...but it's short lived...A great and exhausting trip comes to an end.
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| What does one do with these last couple pictures leftover? Who knows... 
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