Emerald Isle

Recently I had the good fortune to vacation at Emerald Isle with my whole family, minus only 2 people on my dads side of the family in the beginning of June 2012. Very happy days indeed. We rented a house on the ocean called "The Beach Castle," and what a castle it was! About 10000SF, 10 bedrooms, a game room, an entertainment room (I guess there's a difference in homes this opulent), a sauna, heated pool, kitchen with ocean view and so much more. It was an absolute blast, as it always is with family.
What's more is I went when Will was deployed, as much as we missed him, I got a much needed break from pseudo isolation and I had more help than I could possibly ask for. In the course of 1 week I think I read about 4 books, took naps, played pool watched a movie, swam in the ocean, went for walks on the beach, cooked my heart out and spent quality time with my family. It was amazing! All while Quint was a stones throw from me and having more fun without Mommy than I care to admit ;).

I even had time to do a little photo shoot with Quint man!

This was the house we stayed at, view from the ocean

This house was wonderful as it was right on the ocean AND the lots on either side of us were empty and the house was away from the big hotels so, in effect, we had private beach front access which was awesome!

Nai Nai teaching Quint to keep the balls on the table

This, of course, was after she taught him how to throw them off the table. Nai Nai is always so much fun!

Just call me Fast Eddie...

Swimming in the HUGE waves 

Jolly Green Quint Man

Playing with Nai Nai, of course. She has the super power of creating games, fun and good times out of anything and in any situation. Pretty remarkable, really.

Family Photo

I told you I cooked my heart out!

This was super fun. For each dinner night, a different McCowin Family group (grouped by Nai Nai) cooked dinner. It was AWESOME because of course we all had to put our best foot forward for family! As a result we all ate very well and had dessert EVERY night! Woo Hoo!!
The girls made tacos. We used a combination of Bon Appetite's "Perfect Taco" and a recipe my good friend Dorsey taught me where you cook beef pot roast in a crock pot with pepperocini peppers for about 6 hours to flavor the meat. I was so tickled, I had to get a picture :). Thank Uncle Dave!

The Girls cooking team 

Which consisted of me, my beautiful sister Karen and the beautiful Hannah.

Just plain happy

Mom, I'm done playing!

I'd rather not be taking photos!

My little Big Kahuna

Hehehe I love how he looks with these shorts, his little amber necklace, beach blond hair and his big round belly. He looks like a little Kahuna Surfer.

Playing with shells

Close up of him playing with sand

Hug-a-me!

Quinthammer and I at the beach

Close up at the beach

Patio shot

Me and my Hammer

He LOVES playing in water spigots!

And drinking from them :)

There are many more photos, but since this IS My Quint Pro Quo, I tried to include pictures that he was involved in. A big thank you to my whole family for this much needed wonderful vacation! In addition to being a blast, it's always humbling to spend time with a family that's like 10 times more interesting/talented than you are! My sister can run faster and gets better grades than I ever did, my cousin Hannah is one of the most interesting, cultured people I have ever met, my cousin Garrett is wicked smart, can talk more intelligently about Virginia Woolf than I can and is great boyfriend to the lucky Linda (sorry ladies), my Aunt Sue is as graceful a dancer as she is beautiful (and intelligent... and thoughtful), my cousin Craig is a better and more impressive leader (already) than I could ever hope to be, my Uncle Randy's determination and loyalty is inspiring, my cousin Daniel Goering makes INCREDIBLE documentaries (as in movies!!) and is more articulate than I think I will ever be, my cousin Eli Goering is the best chess player in the family and one of the best in the state of Illinois, my Aunt Mary's devotion to the Lord, her family and now triathlons inspires me today, my Uncle Steve makes the best pancakes, breads, and cinnamon rolls EVER, my brother David continues to teach me things about the Internet and Youtube I would have never figured out, my brother Jack's ability to charm Quint's heart with Legos make my heart melt, my dad and Roxana are 2 of my rocks, my Uncles Dave and George always keep me laughing and thinking, and my grandparents Nai Nai and Baba I am in complete awe of; they are so talented and incredible. They have been the glue that keeps, and has kept, this family connected and together for at least my entire life. Love you all!