Traveling in California

In the middle of June, our family flew out to San Francisco for a small family vacation and to celebrate my grandmother's 90th birthday with our extended family. We had so much fun, all four of us, enjoying all that vacations have to offer. We arrived in San Francisco on Thursday and drove into the city to visit Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. We paid a king's ransom for parking but had a lovely walk on the pier, watching and listening to the sea lions, spying a mother seagull with two babies (probably the best part for Harper, who looooves babies), watching the sailboats on the bay and enjoying lunch at Hard Rock Cafe.

We spent the night at a hotel in Redwood City, close to where my sister and her family live. We took advantage of the hotel fun - swimming in the pool, taking a long bath, eating breakfast in bed while watching cartoons, and swimming in the pool again. It was so fun - just not having to be overly concerned about cleaning up - that I'd consider getting away to a hotel close to home.

Friday, we went to brunch with Clare, Michael, Jaden and new cousin Maizy (Lesley's daughter) at our favorite Hobee's Restaurant in Palo Alto and got Jaden and Harper's haircut (Harper's first!), swam again in the pool after Lesley got off work, and then drove to Half Moon Bay to dip our toe in the ocean.

We four continued up north to Bodega Bay from the beach, driving up Highway 1 and sitting in classic California traffic on the northside of the Golden Gate Bridge. We enjoyed ocean views at my grandmother's house while eating dinner with Nana and Poppa. The kids were worn out and went to sleep in our cozy bedroom. One thing I love about vacations in worrying less about bedtime - Asher and Harper went to bed after 9 every night.

We had another beach adventure in Bodega with Nanna and Poppa on Saturday. Asher loved playing in the surf, and princess Harper go rides with Poppa and Dad to avoide the sand blowing against her legs (it does hurt). And Saturday afternoon, with my sisters and their families, both aunts and uncles, 11 of 15 cousins and cousins-in-law, and five great grandchildren, we celebrated my grandmother's 90th birthday with a fiesta and tres leche cake. What fun we had all gathering, sharing old stories, hearing new stories and generally just enjoying each other's company. What a blessing to have such a celebration with so many of our family members!

We had a slow Sunday morning, packed up, had delicious lunch at Sand Point Crab Company, and headed back to San Francisco while Asher headed to Lake Tahoe with Nana, Poppa and the Gorham's. We had so much fun that it took me and Harper at least two days once we were back home to get out of vacation mode. Poor Michael was thrown back into work on Monday at a cheetah's pace. Like any good vacation, we brought back many good memories, new experiences, a little filling of the beach-need cup, lots of of family love and connection, and a gladness to be home from our trip to California.