Hotel Del Coronado=Paradise!

Hello to all of my friends, now this is a very lengthy post...probably over 50 pictures, but it was my parents 25th year at the Del (my 23rd, Steve's 3rd and Joe's 2nd) and it was magical. This is the vacation that I literally start counting down the days at Christmas. Here's a little recap of what we did, for my journal purpose...Tuesday left at about 11:00, stopped at Del Taco at Avery Pkwy...I saw the Matterhorn first, Chelsea and I tied at the exact same time for seeing the San Diego Temple first, and I think Ben and Ben tied for seeing the bridge first. Tuesday night we ate a delicious pizzeria. Wednesday we woke up and ate at a nearby bagel place, headed to the beach, headed to the pool, ate pizza, headed to the room to get ready and went to Costa Azul for dinner. Went to the park to play, went and got Moo Time Ice Cream and then Steve flew in! YAY! Thursday went to Sheerwater for a fabulous breakfast, went to the beach, went to the pool, ate Subway, went to the room, ate dinner at a diner, went and played at the park. Friday, ate breakfast at the park after the bike ride had a great orange scone, went to the beach, went to the pool, had pizza for lunch, and then to Miguel's for dinner which Joe slept completely through on my lap...amazing. Went to the park and then Moo Time for ice cream. Saturday, the Sheerwater again, then pack up, pool, candy shop, and on our way home. Such a fun trip, I love being with my family! It is so fun to go somewhere where we can go everywhere together and eat together and stay so close together. I love my family tradition!Joe & I flew into town Monday afternoon and got to have a yummy dinner at Wood Ranch with the fam. Since I hadn't seen Ben with his braces off I knew I needed a picture with this stud.
So excited to be reunited with my sista sista, and of course her hubby who wouldn't stop taking pictures
Ben's first time at Coronado, he was thrilled!
My brother Dan, helping Ben try out my new camera, he looks so tough!
Joe's favorite women...couldn't give enough hugs or licks for his grandma who he calls ma ma!
Joe loved his cousin Grace, she took such good care of him and even taught him to say a couple new things...my fave...I see ya! which sounds like I-te-ya
Joe's first time in the ocean, he reacted like his mom, fine as long as the freezing water doesn't get me too wet!
"Ha ha so many choices, cereal, croissants, muffins, fruit..."
So excited to have arrived!
I think these 2 were really in need of this vacation!
Can my son go anywhere without flirting? This is 15 month old Charlotte that came and introduced herself to him...
My suave JK
Ready for din din! JK, Max, Jimmy, Ben, Em, Jack Jr, Kenz...all reunited and ready to go
Some of the fam at a yummy pizza place
Ah Sheerwater restaurant at the hotel...we have had the same waitor for about 3 years now, I wonder what he thinks when he sees all of us back again...hopefully good thoughts :) and hey, he's lucky that it's a buffet because all he does is bring drinks
My mom played smash ball with EVERYONE and I finally got a chance for all of 2 minutes before I was summoned by my dad to tell Joe to stop eating sand
Emily after a sweet ride
JK, Max and Grace (running behind) with their boards
O the life of a baby who can't walk through lots of hot sand...nice uncle Ben gave him a lift
Mom, Sammy and Julie taking pictures of our boogy boarders, I think between all of us we took almost 1500 pictures!
Begging Joe...cookie please!?
Grace, Kenz, Josie and Joe playing together, thanks girls for entertaining him!
My boys, I am so glad Steve got a vacation! Hope you enjoyed yourself honey!
My sweet boy, the star of our blog!
Very concentrated on...not looking at the camera
This should be a postcard or advertisement for the hotel!
McKenzie and Joe were getting a kick out of each other
Mr. Independent, probably singing to himself and talking with the sand
Happy boy with room to roam
Obsessed a little! Yes, my sister snapped a bunch of good shots
Jack Jr, Jack, Julie, Sammy, Kenz, Emily relaxing
Joe eating, dad reading, Chels relaxing, Jack relaxing
Joe & Joe relaxing on the beach, my dad is really a happy person he just doesn't hold a smile past 1,2,3 cheese...red dot...flash...flash
Joe sat here listening to "the ocean" in the shell for about 5 minutes, he'll do anything my mom tells him too. Me, envious, a little!
Grandpa...kna kna I know you are in there! Let me in...
Every year my mom makes sure we do a bike ride on these surry's, except her and my dad usually get singles, so no wonder they like to do it EVERY year. I think my brother Jack said, the one thing we want to leave the island is still staying strong...A couple of our restaurants were gone this year. Jack starts us out and he is pretty aggressive and will literally run you off the road, he makes up the directions so you don't want to pass him in the beginning, of course his team took 1st
Getting to the final destination...Jack's way, so we came in 2nd!
Joe loves bikes, steering wheels, pedals, handle bars, pretty much everything that is too big for him right now that he could get hurt on. Luckily Grandpa Joe and daddy stayed close to watch him so I could eat!
After a fun game of bs, me and my brothers, JK nice shades!
Everyone loves playing 3 flies up and taking charge of the pool...hey we've been here so long we deserve it
My sista sista best friend who slept most of the time under a hat or magazine, whew, I remember the tiring days of being a newlywed, no kids, not too much to do besides take care of your spouse...pretty rough Chels!
I am crazy about this man! So grateful he FINALLY got a vacation...It is very long overdue!
Joe loved swimming with Uncle Ben and we had to watch him very carefully because he would get out just to walk to the other side and get back in
My big kick kick boy trying to get to grandma
Joe loved the pool, he would probably love it even more if we let him go so he could swim like his big cousins, Max, Grace, Jimmy, Jack Jr and Cass.
Allstar baby, slept the best at the pool after a long couple hours at the beach every day.
Every year outside our favorite Mexican restaurant my mom gives everyone pennies and they make a wish and we try to catch the "wishing picture"
The one model shot I agreed to taking...my sister asks for at least 1 a day to make me feel dumb!
Max-"Baby Joe we are going to look at your mom and say cheese!"
Yes, we were there at the local bookstore at 8:00 am, they opened an hour early for this release and we RAN down there bought it and RAN back in time to try and get ready for family pictures
Superstar Ben
Superstar JK...obviously they were never on the same team it would have been unfair, not even a game
Our little tree hugger...we love you Max!
My hubby playing wiffleball
The umpire enjoying his bench and the grandma feeding her picky grandson so his mama could play!
After our last night of wiffleball and football...we love "our" park that we've adopted. Dad was the umpire and some pretty funny things happened that I want to remember...JK? running into Abby to make a domino effect with Cass and Grace I think...a couple pitchers getting hit...Julie said something hilarious where I think everyone ended up on their knees...my brother Jack taking me out completely in the most suave way possible coming into home with me as the catcher, I just remember seeing him come at me and I started to duck and somehow I didn't hit the ground hard at all...
Ben & Jack Jr. dominating...None of us like to end our vacation when we are enjoying ourselves, so after the 2 1/2 hour drive home, everyone came over to either hyperventilate over Breaking Dawn, eat, play cards or play tennis. It took me so long to find random things to wear for tennis, it looked like my parents (or brothers) were trying to make it look like I never lived there! Daddy, I love you for rescuing me and next time I come I hope my new tennis clothes will be hanging up (hope it's white)! Ben Hudson-keep practicing, maybe one day you'll be as good as Steve & I, but when you are dancing on the court with Chelsea don't be surprised when we whip you 6-2!
O, this little one was tired and just walked onto the court to give me a hug...it was a nice reason to give me a minute break. I just love him!
Max & me, he is such a tennis pro
Maybe one day I will cut the umbilical cord as my husband would say, but when I have such a great mama why would I?!
The family that still resides at home...must be pretty quiet without Chels and I
The grandkids all looking quite beautiful ready to head to the beach for big group pictures
My siblings and I, JK would rather not put his arm around any of us in case we fell off the rocks and took him down with us!
Our happy family, all 28 of us...Mike & Shuho are out of the country with Shuho's family, but next in line is Tim and Julie (far left), and they have Abby, Kenz, Cass, and Jim. Then there is Jack and Sam (standing next to Steve & I), and they have Maddie, Emily, Jack Jr, Grace, and Max. Then comes Dan (if I knew how to put an arrow in I would, cuz he is in the back left next to JK white shirt). Then there is Steve and Tina (next to Tim & Julie) and they have Ethan, Josie and Ryan. Then comes me and Steve with Joe, then Chelsea and Ben by Jack and Sam, then studs JK and Ben and my cutie parents. Whew...that was tough

Here are the 2 that make it all possible! Thanks mom and dad for working SOOOOO hard to make this trip for all of us so wonderful. It is very much appreciated. We are so lucky to have such amazing parents and grandparents that want to do a family vacation every year. Thank you for the memories, the great meals, and the company. We love you more!