California

I'm sad to say we are back from California and slowly getting into the routine. We went nonstop the entire trip and haven't slowed down yet. The kids had a great time; each time we got in a car they asked if we were going to more "fun places?" People would ask them where they lived and this was Kate's reply,"Right now, we live in California but in a little while, we have to move back to Arkansas."
California is such a beautiful place-there is always something gorgeous to look at on the coast. Here were some of my favorite...
The cute little town of Tiburon

An old lighthouse (which I cannot remember the name)

Rodeo Beach

Monterey Bay

San Francisco Harbor

There are so many things for kids to do..
We went to the Bay Area Discovery Museum for Kids and spent half a day there. They had all kind of exhibits: a wave workshop, a harbor scene, a sunken pirate ship, sea island living area, Golden Gate bridge under construction, and the list goes on and on.
Will loved the life sized harbor scene where they had a boat he could steer and fish from, then reel the fish in and send them to the market.

Kate loved all the animal exhibits and life in a coral reef.

Eli just liked getting wet and pulling levers in the wave workshop.

Just uphill (of course) from the apartment where we stayed in the seminary, there was a great playground with a beautiful view of the bay. The kids played there everyday while Mommy enjoyed the California breeze and scenary. It was perfect!



We went to a farmers market in San Raphael-we ate some great food, had some of the best white peaches and grapes and danced to the live music...lots of fun!



Anytime Kate didn't think anyone was looking, she would start dancing and twirling to the music. It was so cute.

We got to play on the Rodeo Beach one day. Notice we are on a beach and wearing sweatshirts...very chilly! The kids enjoyed just playing in the sand and Will and Nate braved the frigid temperatures and went for a quick dive.





We spent a couple of days in the city. The kids got to take a sailboat ride under the bridge, ride the cable cars and visit the sea lions at Pier 39.
Will and Daddy on the cable cars

Lombard Street...neat, but what were they thinking

Will and the crazy street entertainer that needs to get a real job

Aboard the "Adventure Cat 2"


Our last day, we went to Monterey Bay and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. We visited the aquarium, had the kids' faces painted, rode tons of rides and ate all the 75 cent corn dogs we wanted. A great finale to the trip!
Spidey Boy (Of all the neat designs they could do, Kate had to have a mermaid which turned out okay, but not cute enough to make the picture cut! :))

Hands on stuff is always a hit.

They loved the jellies.

Eli, of course, getting wet and sucking his thumb.

Looking out at Monterey Bay

On the Boardwalk





All in all, it was a fun, (chilly) trip!
Sorry for such a long post...too many pictures!