Mission Beach!

Our last beach excursion during Connor and Kathryn's visit was spent at Mission Beach.  The night before we went shopping around Belmont Park to let the kiddos pick up some souvenirs and enjoy some fresh dipped corn dogs and ice cream.  After shopping, we walked along the boardwalk at Mission Beach, and the kids decided that was the beach they wanted to go back to for their last day.  Mission Beach is a bit more touristy than Coronado Beach, so it was also more crowded, but we didn't mind; we actually enjoyed being apart of all the busy activity going on around us.  Connor and Kathryn decided to get in on some of the action going on, and rented some boogie boards.  It took them a little while to get the hang of them, but by the end, they were little pros at riding the waves in!  We spent all day at the beach, into the evening.  In fact, we had to have the life guards kick us out of the water (Apparently they don't like it when they're going off duty, it's getting dark outside, and you're still swimming, Lol)... Don't worry moms (Tanya and Christine), I promise we were getting ready to leave ourselves and your kids were never in any danger:)  We had the best visit with Connor and Kathryn!  They are such great, well behaved, wonderful helpers, fun, hilarious kids!  They (along with any of our other family members) are welcome back anytime!

Connor and Kathryn are such good little helpers.  I didn't even have to ask... Kathryn volunteered to do the dishes.  Say what?!  And everywhere we went, both of them were so helpful with Mitchell and Duncan, Connor carried the heavy cooler every time we went beach, they both helped pack towels and supplies, etc.  And they never complained.  Someone is raising them right:)

Belmont Park!  We enjoyed doing some shopping, eating, and taking in the sights and sounds of this famous park.

Check out those muscles!

Enjoying our hot dog on a stick (a.k.a. A corndog).

Connor went the classic hot dog route.  Haha, he also bought some fun, goofy sunglasses as a great souvenir:)

On the Mission Beach boardwalk.

Enjoying the sunset on our evening stroll.  It was a cloudy sunset, but still pretty:)

The next day we were total beach bums at Mission Beach!

Kathryn was getting her boogie-boarding on!

Connor was a bit faster into the water before I could take his boogie-boarding picture.  He's such a water bug.  (Sorry, the bright sun made it hard to get real clear pictures.  But hopefully through the shadows, you can make out that this is Connor).

Our girl after she just got done riding a wave into shore.

Mitchell wanted to try out the boogie boards too.  Kathryn was nice enough to share:)

Duncan was happy just chilling and napping in his tent.  And kudos to Connor, who put up and took down this tent every time we went to the beach.  He was such a great help!

Connor and Mitchell frolicking on the beach:)

Loving life!

Duncan enjoying a little sunshine!

Snack time.

Beach, cuddle selfie!

Of course, occasionally the boys took a break from the water to go Pokemoning.  Lol!  Always Pokemoning:)

Just two goofballs in front of a gorgeous sunset.

Two little night surfers.

Just got done riding some waves.  And it was a little bit after this that the lifeguard kicked us out of the water:)

This day at Mission Beach also happened to be Chris and mine's wedding anniversary.  Awe!  We're still so in love!

The next morning, before I dropped Connor and Kathryn off at the airport, we decided to go see a couple of sites in L.A.  Here the kids are with the city/skyline behind them (if you can see it through the smog:).

Hollywood!  The sign looks farther away than it really was.  I mean, it definitely was a few hillsides away, but it still looked closer/bigger in person.  It was cool anyway you look at it:)

And of course we had to hit In-N-Out Burger before the kids left.  Connor said it was one of the best cheeseburgers he has ever had.  Haha, it also might have helped that we were all starving by the time we ate here (food always tastes better when you're starving:).

Some last minute cuddles before they left.  Awe!  Come back any time Connor and Kathryn!

Mitchell singing his favorite Disney song to Kathryn.  Can you guess what song it is?  Lol!

Connor riding some waves!

Kathryn showing us how it's done!

A race to the ocean! Thanks for going easy on him Connor:)  I love watching Mitchell jump and play in the waves.

Getting in their last surfing rides before they fly home the next day.  We're so glad they had fun and so glad they came out to visit us!