Newport Beach 2010

So first, let me apologize for the novel that is about to ensue, but I haven't blogged in like forever, so you will forgive me right?!? So this year we went a little later in July, we rented our own house, and Matt's fam stayed in another, and things were different, but still great. We were determined to have fun before our life was literally turned upside down with the move and we did just that!

Matt and I celebrated our 8th anniversary in Newport this year. It was really great. We woke up and started our day with Colby locking Brody in the master bedroom that had no key, and later that night on our date, the battery died in our car. But the good news is, thanks to Papa's handy wood whittling skills, and Matt's smooth hand with a credit card Brody was free in about 15 minutes. Even better news, Matt and I were still able to go to a fabulous dinner at Ruth's Chris, enjoy a movie, and get the car home before the battery totally died.

This year the boys played so great with their cousins and we actually got to lay on the beach and chill, so I took entirely too many pictures of them! I just wish the sun would have been out, I came home still white as a chicken!

Colby could not keep his pants on, it was too funny.

It's not very often that I get both of them to cuddle on the couch. I love this picture!

We spent hours looking for crabs in the rocks. We learned that crabs are super fast, the rocks are stinky and super rough, kitchen tongs make the best crab catchers, and falling into 4ft crevices head first is no fun.

The day before we left I turned around to get our bucket and tongs and ask Colby to come down lower with me because he had ventured too far. Mistake. He tried to climb down, got distracted and fell head first into a crack. By the time I turned around he was no where in site, and as I looked for him I heard a faint, "mama" When I found him he had fallen about 4ft and was lodged inbetween two rocks. Luckily though his head was down first it missed all the rocks and he was wedged from his chest to his feet. In fact, all I could see was his feet when I came up to him. Yeah, heart attack, ya think?? I was so scared. We thought he might have broken his arm, but he turned out to be just scraped and bruised. We were so thankful!

Brody flying a kite.

I love those chubby little foot prints.

After a few days on the beach we discovered that some neighbors from Cortina, the Opfels, were right there with us. Our kids were actually butting heads for part of the time, but they worked it out. They built this giant hill one day and our kiddos thought it would be fun to make it a slide with their boogie boards! I love the faces they are making!

I'm not sure how this picture got here, but I am too lazy to change it...Matt built a seriously awesome sand castle one day with Colby and Andrew. Their arch nemesis was Brody who tried with all his might to crush everything they built.

The boys played so hard in the water. Brody loved it, but wanted Matt or I to be right there with him. He loved when we would hold him down in the water and lift him up just as the waves would hit him. After a few days he did venture out on his own.

The waves were huge this year. Bigger than we have ever seen. It was great!

Colby absolutely loved the water. He didn't care if he was freezing or got knocked down, or completely wiped out by a wave. He and Andrew were buddies. We sure do miss our family already.

Brody loves babies, and he did not want to let go of Braxton. Check him out. Seriously that kiddo is a beast! He is such a miracle and totally a mini me of his daddy!

We always walk down to the pier, and this picture cracks me up, number one b/c the boys are wearing their cools (sunglasses) and number two b/c we all look very serious and concerned.

Our last night at the beach was perfect, ate fantastically greasy beachy food for dinner at Jane's corn dogs, had the best lemonde, walked on the pier and saw all kinds of fish and a sting ray, ate dessert (mmm frozen bananas are my fav), and then were able to have a sweet stranger take a great picture of us!

We had a great time, and it truly was just what we needed before the move!