Family vacations, especially with six adults and five children, can sometimes be a challenge. When eleven personalities mingle together we remember things like compromise, how to forfeit control, how to negotiate space and time alone. Family vacations can also reacquaint us with one another, especially between the young cousins.

Yes, our recent trip to the Big Island in Hawaii meant beach time, snorkeling birdwatching, etc. But my favorite times were spent watching sunsets and listening to the laughter of my grand babies.

Who would have thought that making a “butt star” (I didn’t even know what that was until they taught me) could bring such joy!

Or frog hunting at night?

Or jumping waves?

And as the week progressed, our one-year-old learned that walking on the sand wasn’t so scary after all.

And then, there was the quiet times when I reflected on the day by watching a gorgeous sunset. Here are some of my faves:

When it was all said and done and the sun set on our vacation, the bright oranges and yellows remain in the reflection of my precious new memories.

I hope you, too, are building colorful memories.

Carolyn Dennis-Willingham is the author of Distilling Lies, now available on Amazon.