Mission Beach Summer 2008

Finally, I am posting the pictures from our 2008 family vacation to a beach house in Mission Beach/Bay, California. It was a blast! The beach house we stayed in was awesome. I guess it has a reputation: it's known as the "Night club house." Oh boy. How fitting the name is. It was pretty ostentatious. Everything was extrememly modern and covered in mirrors, glass, black granite, and lights. A vain man definitely lives there. It wasn't my personal taste, but it was fun to be in such foreign surroundings and just take an escape from everyday life with my awesome family.

The best part of the beach house was the view. We were right on the Bay with a view of the water and the nightly fireworks shows from San Diego. It was fun to just sit on the porch facing the Bay and watch the fireworks dance and reflect against the water. Scott and Spencer had a blast playing tricks (harmless tricks) on people that walked by on the boardwalk. They tied a dollar bill to a string, placed the bill on the boardwalk and waited until someone tried to pick it up. Right when they were about to pick it up, they'd pull the string. They thought it was hilarious. It was pretty funny, actually. But I would get too embarassed, and so I would go inside. They also had a lot of fun with fart putty they bought at Seaport Village. They laughed and laughed for hours sitting on that porch. It's a fun memory.

We did so much during the trip. We went parasailing--which was sooo fun! The captain was freaking me out a little as he was talking about what to do if the line snaps and we fall into the ocean. Of course, first thing that comes to my mind is "shark." I was scared at first, but the sail went up pretty slowly and once Scott and I were up there it was so peaceful and quiet. So we were just gliding along, looking at everything, when I look down. There was a HUGE black shape in the ocean below us. PANIC. I yelled at Scott to look and we both gave each other a look of terror....then....we realized that it was just the shadow of our sail. Yeah, we're dorks. I kid you not, I thought it was a shark. haha.

We went to Seaport Village one day, the boys and Lina went deep sea fishing, we went shopping, out to dinner, found an authentic Philly Cheesesteak place, played card games, and of course just bummed around on the beach reading "Breaking Dawn" by Stephenie Meyer (which is wonderful by the way). Wake boarding was also way fun. Donald, Sam and Chloe joined us for a couple of days and it was fun to have litle kids around. Sam and Chloe are definitely fearless.

Outside of Anthony's where we had dinner. It's a tradition to eat there, and where Scott was first introduced to seafood when we were on our honeymoon over two years ago.

There is a Mission Beach Pier area with a rollercoaster and all sorts of carnival rides, food, etc. We walked there one night along the beach. A lot of the cool pictures in this post were taken by my amazing photographer Uncle Donald.

Deep Sea Fishing. Dad, Scott, Spencer, and Lina went. Scott puked three times. But they got some fish! The captain's cook cooked them right there on the boat and they all ate them.

One night for dinner we went to this fun diner place in downtown San Diego where they have peanut butter hamburgers. Interesting, huh? A balloon guy made us all hats.

Seaport Village. It was soooo hot. And I was soooo sunburned.

Bert got a henna tattoo on her foot.

Dad biked every morning. He is crazy, but very buff.

It was a wonderful vacation. I am so thankful for my parents and their hard work and desire to make it a fun family trip.