Back from the Beach

Warning - This post is gonna brag about our awesome beach vacation.

You know a vacation was good if you arrive home feeling like you've been gone a month instead of a week and a half... It's been three years since we've had a beach vacation, and I wish we could swing one every year. Well, at least we get two this year (more bragging).

Ever since my family moved to Texas, we've been going to San Diego for summer vacations. It's only a 6 hr drive from Tucson, and we ALWAYS went to Tucson to see extended family. This trip was similar. Tucson is a comfortable drive from the ABQ, and I love getting to visit family there. It's especially exciting now that my family has family: one cousin's son is Jordan's age, and one cousin's daughter is Jacob's age. How cool is that? This time we spent a few nights in Tucson with my Grandma, visited cousins, took a trip up to beautiful Mt. Lemmon to do engagement pictures for my cousin and see their wedding venue, ate an awesome steak feast at my Uncle and Aunt's house, and looked forward to our trip to the beach.

This year we moved up the coast to Carlsbad, CA, about 30 mins north of San Diego. Karen's friend who lives in the area suggested it, and it was SO SO SO much better than Mission Beach. We rented a huge beach house, plenty of space for the 9 of us: my family, my parents, Jamie's sis, my sis, and girlfriend Marsha. We had awesome meals every night, played in our private pool and TWO hot tubs, played at the beach and suffered the cold Pacific, and spent a day at Legoland. We had gorgeous coastal weather.

Without a doubt the best part of the trip was us all just enjoying each other. Everyone gets along, you find yourself paired up with someone different every day, we all had a great time together. There was no drama, just good times. Here are my personal highlights:

- Katherine and I making a sand mermaid for Jordan. Which she promptly destroyed.

- Boogie boarding with Jamie in that ice cold water. Karen and I kept convincing ourselves the cold temps were burning calories.

- The calories. Beer and wine every day. We took turns cooking, so it was like eating out every night. We had Indian curry, paella (with crab, shrimp, sausage, chicken, lobster....), heavenly cheeseburgers after Legoland, Italian sausage with peppers and mushrooms and fresh bread, spaghetti and meatballs, and dinner out for sushi and seafood. Oh, let's not forget the pie run to the local pie shop.

- The house. It was fabulous. 4000 sq ft of posh beach awesomeness. Comfy furniture (except for Katherine's bed), HUGE pro kitchen, pool, hot tubs, huge patio overlooking the beach, glass glass everywhere. When we got home last night, I looked around my nice, but small, kitchen, and sighed. We'll rent that house again.

- Running. Yes, I really enjoyed running there. There's a lot of oxygen at sea level, and anyone can run in a 65-degree ocean breeze. My last run was with Karen, we did a comfortable 5 miles, and then met Katherine and Marsha at a local breakfast spot and PIGGED OUT. Sweet.

- Wine tasting at Witch Creek.  It wasn't fancy, but it was an unexpected surprise stop on our walk into town.  And of course, the fact that Jacob was with me didn't go without comment (You have a BABY.  In a BAR!!)  Who said that??  Marsha?  Katherine?

- My kids. They were so good in the car, so good about everything. I loved watching them have a great time. My Jordan highlight was her on the dragon roller coaster at Legoland. She was sitting with Marsha (of course) and I was a few cars back. I could hear her SCREAMING through the whole thing; I was in tears, I thought she was traumatized. After the ride I ran up to her and scooped her up, and she was laughing and saying "Again! Again!"

My Jacob highlight was watching him check out the sand. Unlike Jordan, he took an immediate shine to sand. The surf however, not so much. I held him such that his toes could feel the water, and he had a fit. Can't blame him, it was frigid.

So, now it's back to the grind. Grocery stores, bills, a filthy car covered in splattered bugs. But some fun stuff, too: engagement pics and family beach pics to edit, Jordan's school's pictures in a week, the State Fair, apple picking, pumpkin patch....all in the very near future. Many thanks to my wonderful family for such a perfect week at the beach!