T he last time the Gosselins went on a beach vacation together, it was one of the happiest times of their lives. Along with the camera crew that films their TLC reality series, Jon & Kate Plus 8, Jon and Kate Gosselin and their entire brood jetted off to Hawaii in August 2008. With their eight adorable children looking on, the couple renewed their wedding vows in a touching beachfront ceremony.

Yet in the 10 months since, everything has fallen apart. Both Jon and Kate have been accused of having extramarital affairs, and both have publicly admitted they're unsure whether their marriage has a future.

So when it came time for Kate and the kids to take a getaway to the shores of Bald Head Island in North Carolina, it wasn't hard to understand why Jon didn't go along. But Cara and Mady, the 8-year-old twins the younger Gosselin children look up to and adore, didn't go either. Instead, the older girls stayed home, keeping their dad company in Wernersville, Pa.

For more on Jon and Kate's turbulent family life, pick up the latest issue of Life & Style, on newsstands now!

Photo Credit: Courtesy of TLC