California Days 5 and 6 - Dance, Dance, Dance All Night Long

Days 5 and 6 just kind of run together because we didn't have a hotel or bed on Saturday night, more about that later. Saturday we were once again up pretty early and we hit Pismo Beach before many people were out. It was a beautiful day and much warmer that the last time I was there. This was Millie's chance to work on a sand castle which is what she has been most excited about since she found out we were going to California. We finally figured out that Reed was cool with the beach as long as he kept his shoes on and Millie finally got used to the feel of the sand so it was a pretty enjoyable beach morning for both of them.







After we soaked up the beach scene, we had to go back to the hotel to get ready for Diane's wedding which was the whole reason for this trip in the first place. The kids had a blast at the wedding and I am pretty sure Millie danced a total of about 4 or 5 hours. Reed didn't seem to have a favorite dance partner although he tried to show Lauren his moves but she didn't seem impressed. Millie tried several dance partners...Owen, Reed, Anna, Keri, Kenny and Daddy but Sam seemed to be her favorite. Their dancing ranged from crazy, slow to WWF take downs at different points throughout the evening.



















After the beautiful wedding we had to make the drive back to San Francisco because our flight left at 5:45 Sunday morning. Mom and Arnetta stayed an extra day so they were sound asleep in their hotel back in Arroyo Grande. Rick and I talked about it and decided it was kind of a waste to get a hotel Saturday night because we would only be in it about 3 hours. So we drove through the night and got to the airport with plenty of time to spare. We had thought we would be able to check in and then head to the gate and rest. Well, the check in counters were closed and we had to wait in that area. We finally found a little eating area we were able to get to and it was actually open so we had some subway and the kids ate pizza at 2am (it was like college all over again).

Reed did great on the trip and stayed dry in big boy underwear the whole time...except for the most inopportune time. On our drive back to San Francisco, we were going to put him in a pull up but forgot. When we got to the airport and he woke up from sleeping in the car for 5 hours, he was soaked. I decided to just throw his underwear away and we changed him in the van. We tried to soak up the pee from the car seat but it was no use, it was already in the cushioning. So, we got to travel 2 flights back to Tennessee with a car seat that smelled of pee in the worst way. That was really our only minor disaster so I guess I don't have much to complain about.

All said and done, it was a fantastic trip, with great weather, great family, priceless firsts for the kids and memories that will last forever. After this trip to California, I really don't know why so many people go to Florida for vacation in the summer. Florida can not hold a candle to California with their mild and somewhat cool temperatures at times it was a wonderful break from the heat and humidity of the Midwest summers.

California Day 4 - Do You Know The Way To San Jose

Rick and I headed to the airport to pick up a rental car early Friday morning. All the way there were signs to San Jose so the song was stuck in my head for about 2 days. My cousin Cindy lives in San Jose and I don't know how she does it, I think the song would be in my head 24/7. Anyway, we got the van, went back to the hotel to pick up the rest of the crew and then hit the road to head south to Arroyo Grande where my aunt and uncle live and where my cousin Diane was getting married the next day. We had all day to get there and so we took Highway 1 south from Monterrey through Big Sur and enjoyed some gorgeous views of the coast for about 8 hours. We stopped and hiked a little at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve in Carmel, took several beach stops and ate at a beautiful restaurant along the way.

























Although I found San Francisco to be an interesting city, I was THRILLED to leave the city and see some county coastline. I was also thrilled that it was a clear day. I drove this route about 3 years ago and it was so foggy we were only able to see the ocean in about 3 or 4 small places.

California Day 3 - We Ended Up In Prison

Day 3 began with breakfast and then a short walk to Pier 33 where our cruise to Alcatraz was going to depart at 9:30. However, since we were up for hours before that time, we were there at 7:30 because we didn't realize how early we had actually left. There was a little cafe' that opened at 8 so we were able to sit down, have some hot chocolate and a little snack. Ok, I had a huge turkey sub and it was delicious!

My comments on Alcatraz are this...1)It is super cool and you should check it out if you have the chance 2)The cell house looked in pretty good condition to me and I don't know why they don't still use it - it is prison, not a hotel 3) There is a lot more history to Alcatraz Island than just the prison and now it is a national park 4) They do not sell food on the island and you can only eat or drink down by the boat dock so that turkey sub was a blessing from Heaven 5) Reed slept through the entire jail house tour 6) Millie thought the whole thing was awesome and really enjoyed listening to the audio tour narrated by actual inmates of the prison 7) I really hope that is the last time I or my kids are ever in a prison 8) With all the neat old buildings, I just kept thinking this would be a neat place for a wedding, strange I know.

















After we reached land again, we headed to Pier 39 for some lunch and for Millie to spend birthday money and ride the Double Decker San Francisco Carousel.





After lunch Rick and I took the kids back to the hotel for what we thought would be a nap. Well, it was for Rick and I but the kids mostly just jumped on the beds and Reed managed to fall off and hit his head on the wall. I figured it would happen eventually but I was too tired to try to stop it. For supper we decided to send mom and Arnetta out for pizza and we snatched a sitting area outside of our hotel around one of the gas fire pits. It was pretty cold and windy that night so our little fire side nook was perfectly cozy. Notice the knot on the left side of Reed's forehead, that would be from the fight he got into with the wall.




Another fantastically wonderful and exhausting day!