Family Vacay

In early July we headed to San Diego for our summer vacation. We gave the kids a few different choices of where to go and San Diego was the choice without hesitation. 

We started the trip with Hailey planking between the hotel beds...

Bryson doing push ups on the stair bars...

...and Nick just being cool by the pool.

 We headed to Mission Beach on the 4th of July along with the rest of the southern Californians. We spent at least a half hour looking for somewhere to park and finally bit the bullet and paid more than we would've liked to with Bryson pitching in all the cash in his wallet since we were highly unprepared for the expensive, cash-only parking spots. But it was well worth it and this was by far my favorite day on the trip. I absolutely LOVE the ocean and the beach!!! Nick was the first one in the water but Brian and I spent more time in it then any of the kids...we couldn't get enough of the water and the fun of jumping the big waves.

 Perfect picnic on the beach!

 I love the next 4 pictures showing the many faces of Hailey. :)

 Bryson was sitting and watching the waves at the end of the day and one by one the other two came and sat by him...I love this picture.

 Hailey was full of energy at the end of the long day in the sun and carried Nick from the parking lot to the hotel room on her back. Pretty impressive!

 The next day was spent at the San Diego Zoo...what an amazingly big place!

We gave each of the kids some money for souvenirs and Bryson decided to get his caricature done. It was amazing to watch them draw him. I really thought I had more pictures from the zoo but apparently I was wrong as these are all I can find.:)

 The next day was Seaworld. It's always fun to hold the starfish.

Very cool touching a stingray.

 Hailey and Nick liked Bryson's caricature so much from the zoo that they decided to spend their money on one from Seaworld.

Nick of course wanted to touch or feed any creature he could so he even put 50 cents in the machine to get food to feed the flamingos.

 The coolest part of the day for me was touching the dolphins. I'm not the biggest animal lover but I LOVE dolphins.

It was such a great week to spend with the ones I love most. When the kids were teeny tiny everyone told me how fast they would grow up. It's so true that when they're little, the days are long but the years go fast. I know everyone says it, but I cannot believe how fast the years are going. I wish I could freeze time every once in awhile to just enjoy them at each age just a little bit longer. My whole life I looked forward to being someone's wife and someone's mom and as I spend weeks like this with my family I feel so grateful that I am Brian's wife and Bryson, Nick & Hailey's mom...even if I have to share Bryson with his real mom, I'll take my share of him and enjoy every minute. I know without a doubt we were supposed to have this relationship on this earth and I am grateful I get to be a part of his life.

I am a lucky girl!