Vacation, all I ever wanted

Oh, I have an AWESOME idea!!! How about I take the kids to CA by myself for two weeks! WooHoo! AND let's fly Southwest because the added anxiety of possibly not getting 4 seats together just amps up the FUN factor! And, you know what would totally top it off? If my parents' house wasn't really toddler friendly. For good measure, if "I" could lose Vinny at a golf course this could be the best vacation, EVER! Except really it was. The kids were (as always) so easy to travel with. Vinny did do some damage at my parents' house but I don't think there was any permanent damage. And he was just making sure I loved him when he wandered away from my mom and made me cause a hysterical crying scene at the Rancho Bernardo Inn.

I'll try not to make this too long, as I've already shared all of these on facebook. You should probably get on there

My sister decided to change her Engagement Party into a wedding and Beto flew in for a short weekend. There is just something magical about family weddings. It was beautiful.

The Bridal Shower
My sister, Dayna, and I
Me, Mom and Dayna
The Rehearsal
Steve and Dayna
Tiffany, Dayna and I
Beto and I
A Decent Family Shot
The little girls: Sophia, Leah, Emma and Ava
Dylan wouldn't be excluded!

The Wedding
The Happy Couple
The Other Happy Couple
Emma and Leah
Flower girls: Ava and Sophia
Emma caught the bouquet!
My sweet girls
The cousins (minus Vinny-we were afraid to lose him again and he stayed home with a sitter.)
Me, Sis and Mom

After we recovered from the wedding festivities, we had lots of amazing fun with some of our very favorite people. We hit La Jolla Shores and Mission Beach a few times.

We spent a day at Balboa Park. Like a good little evolutionist, I took the kids to the Museum of Man.

Me and the Kids
NooNoo and the girls
Ava, pointing to the skull that looked most like Beto :))

NooNoo and the kids at the Organ Pavillion

Ava, Vinny and I met Dawn and her kids for a playdate. Then we headed out to Alpine for a fun-filled Smith Day!

Brandon, Jenna and Ava

My little brother turned 30. We went to his resort, I mean house, for a party. "Somebody" might have kind of lost Vinny again. "Somebody" can no longer be trusted.

My brother

Peg and Ava take the plunge!

Emma jumps!

And Dylan!

I think Emma eventually talked Leah into it :)

The birthday boy.

Finding Nemo.

Vinny got a skate lesson.

This makes my heart go pitter-patter.

Our trip generally coinsides with the opening of The Del Mar Racetrack season. We hit up a late Friday and I took the girls for their first time. They LOVED it and even got to cash a few winning tickets, unlike their mother.

I got to have a great dinner at old Town Mexican Cafe with two of the hottest Bs in town.
Jennifer, Janelle and I

And I got to see the most beautiful pregnant lady before she moved to CO.

Shawn and Leah

It was an amazing time with friends and family. It is always difficult to leave and every time we do, I wonder why we ever did :( Until next time, sweet CA.