Since we didn't take any pictures of Christmas day we are just going to say that Christmas was wonderful for us this year and move on to the next exciting event in our lives...our trip to California!
This is a trip that we have wanted to take for several years, but never seem to find the time, but this year several things came together and I was able to convince Ted we really needed to go.
We left on Tuesday morning and flew into San Francisco. We had to wait about 30 minutes on the runway (due to fog in San Francisco) before we could take off, so when we arrived in San Francisco Lon, Sandee & Ann were waiting for us at the airport. We collected our bags and drove straight to the Golden Gate Bridge. Sandee had packed a lunch so we had lunch right there with the most awesome views of the bridge.
After lunch we decided to walk across the bridge (it is 1.7 miles) and the girls thought the first .5 mile was fun, but after that not so much. But I told Sydney that now everytime she sees the bridge she will be able to say that her mom made her walk across the entire bridge.
After we finished our walk we drove up the hillside just as the fog was rolling in and got some awesome picutres. The entire pacific ocean looked like a sea of fog.
We stayed and watched the sun set and then drove to Lon & Sandee's house. They live in Santa Rosa which is about 90 minutes north of San Francisco.
On Wednesday we got up early and headed back down to San Franscisco to Fisherman's Warf. We rode the cable cars from Fisherman's Warf to Union Square and back. I loved the cable cars (it was my favorite part of the trip). We had lunch on the warf and then went the Ghirardeli square (chocolate heaven!) We went to pier 39 and saw the sea lions and then finished out the day with a drive down Lomard Street.
I have to say the Lon & Sandee are the best tour guides we have ever had!
Thursday we went to the Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve. The redwoods were amazing (how can something grow that tall?) After the redwoods, we went to Bodega Bay Beach at the ocean. The ocean was cold, but it was water so of course we had to get in. We saw starfish and crabs and sea enenemies. Sandee helped Sydney find a sand dollar which she loved.
Friday was Ted's nephew Thomas' wedding at the Oaklund Temple. When we arrived at the Temple the fog was so thick that you couldn't even see the Temple from the parking lot (about 200 yards). During the ceremony Ted and I took the girls and Sam (Rex's youngest son) to the visitors center and were able to view some amazing bronze sculptures depicting the life of Christ. After the ceremony the fog had lifted enough that they were able to get some pictures that you could see the Temple in. We then went to the family dinner and then drove back to Lon & Sandee's. It was a very long day for everyone, but especially for the girls. It was so fun to be there with Ted's family. Thomas and Katie are such a cute couple and we wish them the very best (having a year and a half honneymoon in Hawaii should be a great start!)
Saturday we had a quiet morning and then decided to go to Lake Sonoma and to the fish hatchery. Lon also wanted us to see the area where the Prows family had settled (the Prows and Dearden family lines cross a few generations back) it was a beatiful area that is now mostly vineyards. In the afternoon we had just stopped for lunch when Sydney got sick (this was the only bad thing during the whole vacation) but after eating something she felt better and so we went to the movie
Bolt. Then we came home and let the girls play, and play, and play.
Sunday morning it was very hard for Sydney and Ann to seperate. It is amazing that they usually only see each other once a year, but when they do see each other they are inseperable.
I just want to say 'Thanks again' to Lon & Sandee and their family for they great week that we had. We had so much fun that I don't think we will be able to wait another 10+ years to do it again.
