Bliss in San Diego

Wow! We just got back from such a fun and busy week! My parents just celebrated their 25th anniversary and took us all to San Diego instead of throwing some big party. Of course, we loved the idea and were all on board. Thanks again and here's to 25 more!

My parents live in Prescott and my sister Suzanne and her family (hubbie and 3 kids) live in Idaho- so we don't get the chance to all get together that often and have never gone on a family trip with all 3 families. We've done little trips on the side but someone is always missing. This time, we were all together in the same house for 7 days. It was the best time! We rented a 3 BR house in La Jolla, only a few houses from the beach.

*Chet and Pat (my brother in law) at the beach house. Somehow they always got into trouble! i.e. "accidentally" ditching us with the 5 kids and "innocently" being kid free at the naval museum!


We spent a few days as beach bums.
*Braden and Bella




*My mom is the best! She is great at playing with kids at their level and never seems to tire out.




*Aw, don't we look cute! And tired......


We went to Sea World for one day. Everyone loved it!







AND the happiest place on Earth! We even ordered matching shirts for the cousins. My sis and I are a sap for things like that. Will (who is 5 months old) even had a shirt but rarely came out of his favorite spot- the Baby Bjorn.

*Will (5 months), Elise (2), Bella (3), Julia (6) and Braden (4)






*Riding the Autopia at Disney. Forgive the forced smile (lots of morning sickness mixed with a self portrait while moving)


*Will is seriously the happiest baby ever! Even Chet mentioned that. He smiles at the drop of a hat and never cries. I am a huge proponent of carrying babies as much as possible and loved my slings! Will is carried A LOT- partially due to being a 3rd child with 2 young siblings. He is probably so content. Isn't he cute!


One thing that has surprised us is how Julia and Braden have turned out to be the best of friends. They are 2 yrs apart (which is a big difference when you are 4 and 6) and different sexes but they still are such good pals and rarely fight. They have always been like this. Braden and Bella are only a few months apart but he and Julia seem to connect so much more.





This week was magical for me. I always love seeing my kids play with their grandparents and cousins. We are lucky to have both sets of grandparents and 4 cousins on Chet's side of the family- all in the Phoenix area. Suzanne and I grew up without extended family around us. We have 7 aunts and uncles and lots of cousins (20+) but they are in Brazil and we only got to see them every 2 years. I would have given anything to live near our extended family. We always wanted lots of cousins for our own kids- even though its just my sister and I (on our side). So what else could we do? We are adding one more grandchild. Chet and I are expecting our 3rd! Chet has always wanted 3 kids and I was set on only having 2 kids and even bought a cute, new Honda Civic last year (I thought that clinched the deal!). Somehow, Chet finally convinced me to try for a 3rd and our new little one will be here in March. Our girls will be 4 and almost 7 when he/she is born so its the perfect age span for me. I have loved the time with my "big girls" and will be ready and willing to start all over come March.