San Diego in a Nutshell

Our vacation to San Diego this week was awesome. It was 40+ degrees cooler than the weather we left behind, so we were thrilled. Sweatshirts, cocoa, blue-lipped kids on the beach insisting on swimming in the 60 degree ocean...couldn't ask for a better break from our long desert summer!

We walked everywhere; the van went into the garage when we arrived and didn't come out until we left. Such a different way of life than what we're used to in spread-out Phoenix!


We spent most of our time relaxing. The kids played on the beach morning, noon and night. (You can see the house where we stayed above Mike in the first picture below. We were on the left side of the three-story unit.)






The kids created lots of snow angels sand angels, but Kaylin didn't understand why hers didn't have a pretty face, so she figured out a way to make a face for her angel...


Many, many sand castles were constructed. Some with multiple "rooms."


With the kids playing together constantly, I got tons of one-on-one time with Jason. He was held a lot since I didn't want him eating the sand. I know most moms think that's a hilarious right of passage, but I didn't want to deal with the clean up. On the beach, he stayed on the nice, clean blanket the whole time and didn't know any different. Yes, I know. I'm boring...sue me.


Ryan learned to roller blade, which was his favorite part of the trip. The below picture was his first time on the boardwalk and not inside on the tile floor, surrounded by walls and doorknobs to grab. As he fell, his feet looked like a scrambling cartoon character and he grabbed me as he wildly made his way to the ground. He got REALLY mad that I was laughing so hard, hence the look on his face. Now, he thinks the memory is as funny as I do.


I finally got to jog on the beach, fulfilling #47 on my 101 in 1001 list.



Which worked out really well considering we ate garbage the whole trip. (This is a 30 inch pizza at Luigi's in Mission Bay. We had less than one slice leftover...it was demolished!)


Another highlight was that we saw dolphins in the water every day.


All in all, it was a great trip. These $1 store dry-erase boards came in handy for keeping the kids busy in the car. That and lots of borrowed movies from a friend. (thanks, Julie!)


But I'm glad to be Home Sweet Home. And ready to send Kaylin to her first day of school tomorrow. Back to reality!!!