Trip to Cali (part 3): Saying Bye to Buddies and San Fran

I just remembered that I hadn't shared the last part of our trip and probably the most pictures. I decided I better do it this morning before I forget stuff about our trip. I tried to combine them all as much as I could so this wouldn't get too long. I really like how blogging has turned into such a good way to keep a record of our little family for ourselves and it's so fun to share with all you friends and family. I understand how pics from vacations can be to other people so I don't wont feel sad if it's boring to you. It's just nice for us to remember. :)

Just a few quick cute pics of Kenzie playing with the Josh and Noah. I love that pic of Kenz and Noah crammed on a chair reading their books on morning. The pics of Josh and Kenzie are when they were making a potion together. They mixed together some dirt, water, and a little clover-y ground cover growing just outside their back door. They mixed all that together and then dumped it on the dirt again making nice green blobs. If I remember right they said there was two purposes to the potion. First, it tricks people and makes them think there's a ground cover on the spot of dirt you put it on and second, if you want to just keep in it in the cup in your house it will make your house smell like nature. Roz and I discovered a third purpose- it makes a really big mess. Of course all good creations do.
Saying good bye to some of our favorite people from LA. We dropped by the school on the way out of town as it was getting out so Kenzie could surprise old classmates. It was so fun hearing all the kids scream and seeing them tackle her as they got out of class. I loved how all the kids then came running to me too. I love those kiddos there. I spent 10-20 hours a week there volunteering and I could tell you every single second graders name and about 1/2 the first graders. I missed taking a bunch of pictures because I was shaking and bawling for a good 10 minutes, but here are some people that stuck around long enough for me to pull it together. It was amazing to me to discover how much of my heart is still there. (Wish I had taken some pics of Kenzie's old teachers- still mad about that one)
The amazing and talented Kristen made these WONDERFUL capes for our girls and here are her sweet boys that were best little friends with Kenzie and Kendyl. I can't get over Fletcher's pose standing on one leg and pretending to drink from a cup. And I love Connor's cute smile and holding the jewel the girls just gave him. We sure miss you guys.
One last pic before SanFran pictures... Proof of the "Underground Book Club" where we read the books we want to read, but don't necessarily want people to know we read them. Even though I don't live there and go to their monthly meetings anymore, I find out what they are and read them that month and sometimes write about them on our "Underground Book Club Blog". I'm not sure if there is anything more geeky than that. :) Roz and I went on Wednesday night after Disneyland and had the best time. We talked about the book for maybe 30 minutes, then the usual discussions began of other books we've read, embarrassing moments, silly kids swapping stories, babies, bodily functions, sex, etc. You know- women topics. Most of these girls went to Eclipse Prom with me last May. I can't believe it's been almost a year! WOW!
On to San Fran. Well Thursday morning we realized we had hung out with all our friends a few days in a row and that maybe we were wearing out our welcome with Roz and Jarren, we packed up and took off to San Francisco. The girls and I hadn't ever been there before and it was such an adventure trying something new with no game plan, schedule, or people to meet up with. Before we left I got a few hotels for while we would be there on the internet and that was good enough. Here's some of the beautiful sights. We rode the trolley and the train, stopped at China Town, some of the piers, Ghirrardelli Square, got close up looks at big ships, drove across the Bay Bridge, The Golden Gate Bridge, and Richmond San-Rafael Bridge. We also stayed one night in a suburb of San Fran and checked out Pixar and homes around that area for fun. In one of those homes I experienced one of my most embarrassing moments I've had in a long time thanks to Makenzie and Kendyl, but mostly Makenzie. :)

Anyway, SanFran was such a beautiful place filled with the friendliest people. I felt like I was in Idaho as far as how warm they were to us. People were cracking jokes and talking to each other as they met all over the place. We'd get on the trolley and you'd think you were reuniting good friends with how they conversed and people would wave at us as we passed on the trolley. It was almost like Disneyland, but they weren't getting paid to be friendly. They are just a happy group down there. We really had a great time the 3 days we were there. This was where we went to lunch on one of the piers. Our family loves Clam Chowder and it was super good stuff. Seth is looking sad in the top corner pic because after Kendyl ate her lunch she ate 1/2 of Seth's as well. The bottom corner pic is of the girls on the trolley for the first time. They giggled and squealed all the way down. (Kenzie of course is hamming it up for the photo).
Our first stop was China town where we got t-shirts for a $1.88! and some fun fans. Mostly we walked around and Kendyl begged to get pictures taken next to statues. I laughed so hard when she wanted a picture with the "boob statue" as Seth and I secretly referred to as. She loved the deer and the golfer boy too. Makenzie wanted a picture of them playing in a heart puddle holding their heart balloons a homeless man made for them on the train. Oh the adventures. :)
And here is a pic that the girl's didn't want to get taken. hahaha. I just had to throw it in.

Last of all. Here's a pic that Seth wanted taken and one that I wanted taken of our favorite places from our trip.