We had such a great time on our vacation. It was so nice to get away and have some really good family time. We started our vacation with a 12 hour drive to Phoenix, with two small children. It actually went really well, the boys did great thanks to the portable DVD player. So after hours of driving we arrived in Phoenix and decided that we would let the kids play at the hotel pool for a little while so they could wear themselves out and hopefully sleep really well. Well, we went down to the pool and took the boys shoes off and they both immediately fell on the slick tile floor surrounding the pool. Oliver seemed okay, he hit his head but really wasn't that phased. Kaden on the other hand hit the floor so hard he split his lip open. We immediately took him back to our room and called the manager and the hotel offered to take him to the ER, but we had already called our pediatrician and he assured us that he would be okay and told us that mouths heal so quickly that it would probably be fully healed in a couple of days. So instead of taking him to the ER we gave him some children's Tylenol and iced it, and now it is completely healed. Here is our poor little man and his fat lip.
We got to San Diego on Saturday and just hung out and relaxed, we were pretty tired from all the driving. It's amazing how tired just sitting in a car can make a person. The next day we hit the beach. We went to the beach on Coronado (where Kevin and I got engaged) because it is a great beach for kids, soft sand and small waves. The boys had a blast. Oliver was of course fearless and would just run into the water. Kaden was a little more cautious. He was sure that the fish were going to eat him. Here is one of our self-family portraits that Kevin loves to take.
Here is our family at Sea World the next day waiting for the Shamu show. We loved Sea World, it was so much fun.
The boys watching the Polar Bears at Sea World.
Our great friends the Cleveland's vacationed with us in San Diego. It was so great to have them there, it made our trip even more fun. Here is Kaden meeting up with his best buddy Grant.
Day 2 at the beach. We took the Cleveland's back to Coronado so their boys could play in the ocean. It was so fun to go back with them. We brought a boogie-board with us so that gave us more to do and there were more adults to watch the kids so the adults could play too.
This is just a cute pic of Oliver when we went to Ocean Beach for dinner and to see the sunset.
Grant, Carter, and Kaden at the hippo exhibit at the San Diego zoo.
Kevin and I at Mission Beach. We went to this really delicious place called Kono's for breakfast and then we came and walked on the pier. I had to add a picture of just the two of us since we celebrated our 8th anniversary on July 29th.
Here is our family at the Wild Animal Park.
After we left San Diego we went to Santa Monica to visit our friends Chad and Emily. Kevin and Chad grew up together and Chad was the best man in our wedding. We really wanted to be able to see them and meet their new baby, James. It was great to spend some time with them and see where they are living and working and to meet their little man. They are such a cute family. 
We left on Sunday morning and drove 17 hours home, so we got home Monday morning at 1ish. We had such a great time, but it is always nice to be home and to sleep in our own bed.
Here is sweet Truman with his cake. Look at those eyes!
Kevin and I were so excited when we found out our friends the Bottomly's were coming to town- until we found out they were getting here the day before we leave for our trip. Last time we tried to see them was when we went to OK to visit family and the day we arrived they left for California, so at least this time we were able to see them one night. Maybe next time we will be able to see them twice, that would be awesome. Here is my hubbie, our friend Jonathan, and Josh. They all went to high school together so it is fun to see them all together.
My delicious chocolate cake, Yummy.
