Some years are kind of boring for us. I mean, we usually move every year, but aside from that- some years we just lay low, sign up for every session of swim lessons the city offers, and call it good.

but not so this year my friends. this year, we are on crack! California crack! our first trip was in march when we went to Monterey to visit my sister and her family. then in april we went to Disneyland with Chris’ dad and co. then in june we went to Mission Beach in San Diego with Chris’ mom, step-dad, and Robert’s family. and it was AWESOME.

chris’ mom and Jerry have been planning this trip since LAST year- when they decided they didn’t want to give us a Christmas present- and instead gifted us this trip. and it was worth it!! my kids don’t need more toys- they need more awesome memories with people they love! and this year was choc full of that so we are counting ourselves extremely blessed. and as Robert aptly, though depression-inducingly, noted- that lily is already 1/3 away from being out of the house so we need to be creating memories ASAP styles!

so we left for San Diego on a Saturday, and got back the following Saturday. so wonderful to spend a whole week away from this sweltering desert that we call home! Barb and Jerry rented out a beach house that was about 27 steps away from the beach. it could not have been more awesome. we played at the beach twice a day, most kids, and sometimes adults took naps during the day, we ate in for 98% of our meals- which was perfect because Mia is at the anti-being-in-public portion of her toddler career. and most of those meals were MAD DELICIOUS! and I didn’t have to make hardly any of them!!!! (coincidence?… I don’t know…)

the kids loved playing in the sand, burying themselves, jumping in the waves, finding sea shells, and surfing on boogie boards. all six of them were so ridiculously good, I didn’t even know how to handle it. I was afraid the beach- and mostly the ocean, were going to be too dangerous and crazy for the kids. but they seriously did so stinkin great. lily even got stung by jellyfish remnants twice, but she handled it like a champ.

most nights Robert, Lindsay, Chris and I played cards. I LOVED that too. such a simple activity that just doesn’t occur when we are at home. everything about the trip was excellent. it was laid back, fun, and relaxing. the only outing we went on was to the San Diego Wildlife Zoo. it was fun, and made all the more so when we go to hang out with 13 other Watsons who just happened to be in San Diego on vacation the exact same week as us, and who also happened to buy the exact same discounted tickets that we did on LivingSocial.

all in all, our family has been spoiled rotten by our extended family this year and we are SO VERY THANKFUL for it all.

these pics are in reverse order…: