Life à la Moad: OCNJ 2018 | The Tradition Continues

I go into every year of our OCNJ trip with fear and trepidation that it will be our last. This trip is sewn into the fibers of who I am. When you do something every year for 35 years... the thought of not doing it is almost unimaginable!

It seems with every new season of life, despite the changes and adjustments, it gets even better! When we went as kids - it was the greatest thing ever! Just 3 Manz kids and John and Jan in an 800 square foot house like 10 blocks from the beach! Our walk to the beach was long. But we loved it all. Friends would come with, our cousins would come and spend some time - and we all crowded ourselves into the tiniest little house. I still remember the glass decorations in the windows, and the massive box fan in the living room. We ate blueberries and lots of pasta! It was glorious. It seemed like it could go on like that forever.

But time marches on and... we grew up. We found a new house to rent, closer to the beach. Matt and Marji didn't come as much because they were busy with their lives and it was just me, my friends and mom and dad. It was different. The family dynamic had changed. But I didn't care... my and my best friends were too focused on what we were gonna wear to the boardwalk that night and what cute boys we could pretend we didn't care about.

cue the eye roll at our ridiculous teenage behavior. Good heavens!

Time continued to march on... and we found ourselves as adults. In came new members. You'd think this would not really jive. After all, I'm a purist. I want the original. But... it was great! Renee and Ben joined the ranks and it just added to the fun! Then came nieces and nephews and a whole new beach house! Down on 6th street now - the forbidden land! We never thought we'd be down that far! Ugh the crowds. Ugh the parking. Ugh the traffic - but... it works! With 10 kids 10 and under an easy walk to the beach and boardwalk is essential! In this stage of life... this is what works, and it works beautifully.

Our trips down to OCNJ have evolved, grown, changed, adjusted just as all other areas of our life. So... even though it has never gone away, it has just evolved... I still live in fear that one of these years we will hear: "We just can't do it this year." And maybe to my husband or my brother in law, who still struggle to understand that obsession we have with OCNJ, that will be ok and they'll plan some other exciting place to go. But to me and my siblings and for sure those 10 grandkids... it will be like someone died. OCNJ is a part of the family.

Do I sound crazy?
Not to shore people. You're out there, I know it. You get me.

For now, I'll live in the present. We had a fantastic week together down the shore this year! The gang was all there! If you read my blog post about last year you know my mom couldn't be there. But we were thankful everyone was present and healthy for this year's trip!

Granted... Greg only came down for a portion of it due to a knee injury he was nursing. But... he was still there for some of it, which is much better than none of it!

I did not pick up my camera to capture moments as much as I usually do. But I am glad to have gotten some pretty sweet photos of our days on the beach and evenings on the boardwalk.

I hope you enjoy the OCNJ Photo Journal! :)

Last year we were dealing with a 3 year old who was terrified of the ocean. She didn't want to go anywhere near it. This year was a totally different story! We could not get her out! Lucy really had the absolute best time on the beach! I am so thankful!

I grew up with a very close relationship with cousins. It is really one of my greatest joys in my childhood! I am so thankful Lucy and Charlie have so many cousins that they love and get along with! This whole week together I think is so good for really building those bonds and relationships. Not to mention I love the chance to really get to know my nieces and nephews more!

My parents are King and Queen of this trip. They have been trekking down to this shore far longer than we have - their history here is long. We are continually thankful that they gave us this tradition! We absolutely could not do this trip without them!

Down in OCNJ our days are spent lounging at the house, going to the beach and eating! :) Our evenings are spent playing games, walking the boardwalk, talking and still eating! :)

Ice cream is almost a nightly ritual of course.

Charlie was adamantly against any sort of ride in his life. Our fun trip to Hershey Park consisted of him screaming on every ride we put him on. We forced him to try the Fire Engines at the boardwalk. Which is still the same exact ride I sat on at his age... I kind of love that! But much to our surprise... he loved it!!! He rode it a dozen times! And then he joyfully rode on many other rides with nothing but smiles and laughs. I was overjoyed!!

Sadly, upon our departure from OCNJ and return to Hershey Park - he immediately returned to despising rides.

Oh well.

Down on 6th street it is crowded. There are people everywhere. The beach is crowded. The streets. The restaurants. All of it. But, we endure it for the ease of being able to go to the boards when we want - like in the mornings to ride bikes for an hour. Or really quickly for a slice of pizza or some Johnson's popcorn. We really do like that convenience!

We also always designate one night for photos - this year the evening we chose was absolutely perfect! It was cool, no wind and beautiful skies! What a blessing!