~ Carlsbad 2010 ~

As I might have mentioned before...We went to Carlsbad with our friends the Grote's for the fourth of July. Aaron, Sheli and their kids (Lily, Pike, Tate and Nora and Lily's friend Morgan)followed us over and spent a long weekend while Travis, the kids and I were lucky enough to get to spend 2 whole weeks! It was splendid! The weather was questionable at best though. Not that we mind in the slightest. Any break from our scorching sun in the summer is a welcome change, but it was unusual even for the beach. Almost everyday with the exception of scattered sun on the 4th was cloudy and cold. It even rained. The weather did not in any fashion disrupt the kids beach plans though. It could have been 40 degrees and they would be out there in suits with boogie boards. Meanwhile, the adults are bundled up like Eskimos... Those kids are CRAZY!

Tate and Nora.

Tate.

The Daddy's. It's sort of funny how similar Travis and Aaron look. At some point in time each one of my kids has gone up to Aaron as if he were Travis and then that look of panic washes over them as they realize their mistake. It's funny, poor kids!

Lily and Emi. Lily and her friend Morgan brought along a Mr. Potato Head dressed as a pirate. They took pictures of and with him everywhere. At Pizza Port (our first night, it's tradition) with a very nice bearded gentleman, with a crazy patriotic lady dressed in red, white and blue for the 4th, on the beach in front of the Army Navy Academy, you get the idea. It was fun.

Billy and Pike.

Nora and Emi. There is just about the one and only sunny picture!

Forget sea monsters, what about sand crabs!

Can you believe this did not make her cry? She seemed completely unaware that there was sand in EVERY possible crevice of her body. I love the beach. Everyone is always happy at the beach...

The Fabulous 4th!

The Fabulous 4th of JULY!

The 4th of July fell the same weekend as Ashley and Cody's wedding so the annual family beach trip got shelved. While the rest of the Deatsch Family made it to Fruita, CO for the festivities there we opted out and went to the beach with the Grote Family. Ashley's wedding was beautiful (Erin was her photographer) and we were bummed to miss it, but we had a great time as always!

Miss Nora Lee Grote, looking sweet & sassy!

Lily, Emi, Nora and Morgan making red velvet cake balls for the festivities (with Mr. Potato Head too).

The food. There was an executive decision after last year that there would be NO mexican food served on the 4th anymore. We went with the all-american styled hamburger/hotdog route instead. Let's not forget the red, white and blue popsicles. Abi really enjoyed hers.

Some of the crew out for some 4th of July sparklers...'til next year!