San Francisco Day 4: California Academy of Sciences, Presidio

In the morning we hit the California Academy of Sciences which has an aquarium, planetarium, rain forest and natural history museum all inside. It was pretty cool to see it all and if we take the girls back this is one place they would love to go. In the rain forest they had birds and butterflies flying everywhere and some would just land right on you. After we spent a few hours there, we headed over to the Presidio which is just at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge. It was an old fort that Dave wanted to see and despite it being extremely windy that afternoon, we still managed to snap a few photos. I didn't read many of the signs so I'm sure Dave got more out of it than I did but it was still cool to see all the cannons and ammo they had there.

It was so windy up on top and if we had the girls with us, Katelyn would've for sure fallen in the ocean from the third story!!
Dave's just trying to figure out how to get his hands on one of these!!

One thing I loved about the city is there were walking trails everywhere, winding and lined with trees so there were always people biking, running, and walking anytime of the day. I could so live there. For a week. Until the money ran out!! So for now, I'll just have to visit instead.

On our last day we went back into the city and went to the Museum of Modern Art, which my mom would be so proud. I think we may have spent a total of an hour there and then left to hit Union Square (which is much more our comfort zone), to do some last minute shopping and lunch before it was time to head for home. We went into a 4 story William-Sonoma which was absolutely amazing and had a fabulous lunch at the Cheesecake Factory. And so ends our San Francisco tour. We had such a wonderful, relaxing trip that we might opt for leaving the kids on all our vacations now!!

A huge thanks goes out to Kimber for watching our girls and hopefully they weren't too horrible for you. Although I was so pleased to hear her say that she would be willing and wants to swap kids for vacation again. Where are we going next?!

San Francisco Day 3: Oakland, Alameda, Half Moon Bay

On Sunday we decided we wanted to see more of the outlying city than be in the thick of it since Saturday was crowded and busy enough so we headed over to Oakland to see the temple. The grounds were so beautiful with the lawns, flowers and fountains (something we miss here at the Las Vegas Temple).



The view from the visitor's center. Wouldn't that just make you want to come to the temple all the time?

If you look closely you can actually walk up on the second level where the hand rails are. They had it open so we went up and the flower beds were so pretty up there too.

This is the view from up top and there is actually water running down the middle between the two fountains.


After that, we drove over to Alameda and took a tour of the USS Hornet which is an aircraft carrier that served in World War II. We took a tour of the engine room and Dave having done the USS Midway in San Diego too, said we could see and do a lot more on this carrier than what they had open to the public on the Midway. Unfortunately we left without getting any pictures of how big it really was so I guess we just have to go back again.

I thought this was interesting, the stats of the ship.

Down in the engine room

Up on the flight deck.
Looking over to San Francisco off the back of the ship.

When we finished up the tour we drove down to Half Moon Bay, which we were told we had to go see and drive back along the coast. I'm sure it would've been beautiful to see, but since we left too late in the day, it was already fogged back over in the late afternoon to actually enjoy it.

As a side note, when we made it back to the city, we went to see Iron Man 2 since we already had a babysitter, why pay for another one?! I loved it and thought it was just as good as the first. Dave on the other hand, liked it, but didn't love it like the first one. But still a great movie.

San Francisco Day 2: Alcatraz, Golden Gate Bridge

Our second day was just as busy as the first and it was the only day we headed out bright and early to catch the first boat over to Alcatraz Island. Today we actually saw the sun and the sky was so blue.

Coit Tower. We drove to the top, but didn't go in because we'd had enough walking for one day.
The Transamerica Building.

Alcatraz Island
The Lighthouse
All the cells were this small. We took the audio tour and it was so fascinating to see how they lived.
What is left of the wardon's house. The fact that there were actually families living on the island while it was a prison is so hard to comprehend.

The Golden Gate Bridge fogged over, again. Only this time you can see the top poking through the cloud cover.
The Oakland Bay Bridge.
At the edge of the island.
Another view of the city.
It was a bit windy and I just gave up brushing my hair out of my face for the pictures. After finishing up at Alcatraz we headed back to the Pier for a crab sandwich for lunch that was to die for. Then we headed over to the Embarcadero and financial district where we hit the farmer's market and then up over to Chinatown.
Driving down Lombard Street

The Palace of Fine Arts/Exploratorium. This museum was a lot of fun inside, all about how things work and if we ever take the girls back, this is one place they would've loved to go to. A lot like the Lied Discovery Museum here, but on a much larger scale.

We drove across the Golden Gate Bridge and over to Sausalito. If we lived in San Francisco, we'd be broke so fast with all the fun little shops, great food and transportation/parking everywhere!! But it sure was a great place to visit.

San Francisco Trip: Day 1 Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz

Our trip to San Francisco was wonderful. We took tons of pictures and did all the touristy stuff and walked and walked everywhere. The weather was beautiful and fabulous, you couldn't help but love it there. Nothing like a 50 degree change in weather when we came home to make us want to go right back. We didn't really have an itinerary as far as what we would do when, just what we wanted to do and had time to do. The only thing we had tickets for was Alcatraz and other than that we just went at our own pace and spent as much time as we wanted seeing and doing everything.

This was the view from our room, right on the water, so peaceful and beautiful.

On our first day we started with Pier 39 and Fisherman's Wharf. Although we rented a car, we were right next to the BART station so we took that into downtown on our first day. We got off right in the heart of downtown and Union Square and the passes we got were good for all the muni buses, and cable car rides we could fit into our trip. At the pier we went to the Aquarium, ate at the Boudin Sourdough Bread Company, and picked up some stuff for the girls. I knew they wouldn't appreciate anything with San Francisco on it so why not a little bling for them instead.

Out at the end of Pier 39

And of course since we were right there, we had to walk over to see the Sea Lions. I know Dave didn't appreciate them, but there were two that kept fighting and pushing each other back into the water. Prime Realstate, I guess!!

After Pier 39 we took a cruise on the Blue & Gold fleet that took us out under the Golden Gate Bridge and around Alcatraz island. It was fogged over and windy but still worth it.
The San Francisco skyline
Alcatraz island, on our way to the bridge. We didn't get any pictures of the bridge, well because it was covered in fog, but plenty of it the rest of the trip.Alcatraz island

This sign is posted on the perimeter of the island warning anyone not to help the prisoners to escape.
Leaving Alcatraz.
Heading back to the shore, still really windy at sea.
Back to Pier 39

The destroyer ship, Jeremiah O'Brien from World War II. We just walked down to it, but didn't take the tour. The size of these ships in real life is amazing to see.The USS Pampanito from World War II. The fact that this is still afloat is incredible. We took this tour and to see how small the spaces were that those men lived in is just mind blowing. Pretty incredible.

The cable cars. These were pretty cool to ride on, especially up and down the steep streets in the city.

The cable car museum. Dave especially like seeing how the cable cars work and run and to see that they are still run on cables today. Pretty cool. It was actually really noisy in here with them all running at once.

We're back!!

Stay tuned for some much needed updating, (again) and pictures from our trip. It was, for lack of a better word, fabulous!!

We'Re oFf!!!!

We're headed to San Francisco for our anniversary. We are so excited and have been anticipating this trip for over a month now, especially because it's our first trip without kids since we've had them in tow!! See you all again in a week!!

Happy 10th to us!!

Yesterday Dave and I celebrated our 10th anniversary. It's hard to believe we've made it to double digits!! Dave took the afternoon off from work and we went out to lunch and then came home and watched a movie with the girls while Addison slept and he sent me out shopping. With three little ones, there isn't time to simply wander anymore, get in, get out, and get on with the next task. While I was still gone, he then took the girls, yes all of them, out to do some shopping of his own. It was such a nice, relaxing afternoon and I didn't even care that I was by myself. Sometimes it's just better that way.

To really celebrate, we're just waiting for school to be out and then we head to San Francisco for a week without the girls. Dave's never been and I love it there. Can't wait to eat all the great food, hang out with each other, have uninterrupted conversations and not have to be doing a headcount of the girls everywhere we go. So excited and have been waiting for this for a year. So here's to us and to another 10 years.

Out with the old, in with the new

A couple of weeks ago, I was released from nursery. I was not expecting this at all since I'd only been in there since after Christmas. I was quite happy in there, with only 6 kids at most and I finally had a place to go with Addison when she is crawling, walking, and roaming the halls. But apparently I was liking it too much because that is when change comes, right? Just when you think you have it all planned out, it never works out that way. I was called as the Beehive addvisor and am so excited and looking forward to this new experience.

Since we've been in this ward, Dave has been in Young Mens, or in the bishopric and going to mutual on Wednesday so I was always home with the kids and "untouchable" for that kind of a calling. But we've made it work and the girls like it too because they get to have Aunt Kaylene come over to play with them so we can be at mutual. And that means I will be heading to girls camp too. I haven't been to camp since I was in Young Womens myself so this should be fun. I look forward to getting to know all the girls and being able to serve with some great ladies in our ward!!

Bread

I can make bread. This is huge for me because while I can follow a recipe, if the flour isn't exact I shy away from it. But this is my second attempt at making it and both times were a success. And my drive to succeed was to have Navajo tacos for dinner. They are the simply the best.

Silence...at least for a little while

While I still have Addison here with me and Dave will be returning from a campout with the deacons later, Kelsey and Katelyn are headed up to Salt Lake for 5 days with my parents. What an adventure for all parties involved!! My mom and Kelsey have their Spring Breaks from school this week so the four of them took off. It should be interesting to say the least since they've never been away from home without us before. I will be sure to miss them but will be loving the peace and quiet as well. This may be the last time anything like this is done.

Nine years of bliss!!!!!!!!!

Today marks our ninth anniversary!! Wow, has it really been that long? Through all the crazy ups and downs that we call life, I'm so glad that I am able to spend them all with the greatest guy in the world. For him I am truly grateful. I appreciate all he does for me and the girls. Last night while I was out with some girlfriends for a few of hours I came home to an early anniversary present: an immaculately clean house. I'm embarrassed to admit that it's been needing an overhaul for a while and it is extremely frustrating when I spend a few hours on it and have nothing to show for it. Yet when he and the girls get together, the entire house is cleaned top to bottom in just 3. Now if we could just keep it this way for more than a day!!
He is such a kid at heart. I love to just sit back, listen and see him play with the girls. The peels of laughter that come from them is simply hilarious and you can't help but join in. They run to the garage the second they here it open when he comes home at the the end of the day. They really are "so glad when daddy comes home."
I am so lucky to have married my best friend and that I get to spend forever with him. So here's to the nine great years we've had together and to many, many more.

I love you so much!! Happy Anniversary!