San Fran Girl Trip!

Last June at a Girls Dinner, upon her impending 30th birthday, my good friend suggested that the three of us take a Girls Trip to San Francisco.  We were all for it!  So the first week of September, that is exactly what we did.

I've been to San Francisco several times now, but I would say that this trip provided a very authentic San Francisco experience in just three short days.

First off we went to the Winchester Mystery House.  I did the tour back in high school when our choir toured the Bay Area.  I probably got more out of the tour this time!  Plus, we took the garden tour which took us to some areas I hadn't seen before (including the basement--hence the hard hats.)

After that we visited Stanford in sweltering heat.  It was a relief to finally reach the Bay.  Our first stop, naturally, was the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was Labor Day so there were a lot of people, but we were still able to see a lot of the bridge.  We even walked out across it, which is something I hadn't done before.

The next day (L's birthday) we headed to Golden Gate Park and visited the California Academy of Sciences.  I wasn't sure what to expect, but this ended up being my absolute favorite part of the trip.  I think we spent a good 5 hours there!  They have everything, including a rainforest, a planetarium, and a huge aquarium.  If you are ever in San Francisco, I highly suggest making this part of your visit.

That afternoon we took a trip to Alcatraz--another new experience for me.  The closest I had been to it was a bay cruise.  Even decades after its closing, the place is still so ominous.

There was a self-guided tour which the birthday girl may or may not have gotten lost on.  (Can you imagine being lost on Alcatraz?  shudder)

Afterwards I was able to meet William Baker, the only living ex-con who spent time on Alcatraz.  He recently wrote a book about his experiences as a prisoner on the infamous island.  I felt like it was such an historic moment that I had to buy a signed copy for myself and get a picture taken with this seemingly sweet old man.  The more I read the book the more I realize he was in prison for a reason!

That night was dinner and a late night visit to Ghirardelli Square for a chocolate fix.

The next morning we headed straight to the Painted Ladies for some awesome photo ops and Full House reenactment.

We were kind of rushed at Fisherman's Wharf the previous afternoon so we spent more time there later that morning, including breakfast/lunch at Boudin's sourdough bakery.  Oh. My. Goodness.

We paid a second visit to the sea lions.  S always gives me such a hard time because I like nothing better than doing my best sea lion impression to impress my web-footed friends.  They are just so cute.

That afternoon was another new experience for me.  I actually got to ride on a cable car.  Like, hanging off the side and everything.  It was awesome.

We got off the Cable Car at Grant Street and visited China Town.  I'd driven through it before but this was my first experience actually wandering through the shops.  I love this place!  L found a fortune cookie factory on what had to be the shadiest part of town, but we survived the trek and scored bags of freshly made fortune cookies.

It was such a fun, fast trip.  Just enough to get away from the mommy world!  And my travel companions were the best.  After all, who else would do a group selfie with you as you are flying down California Street on a Cable Car?!

12 years!

I love our anniversary.  Like, I look forward to it more than I do Christmas.  It's the one day each year that I get guaranteed time with S.  And I kind of like him--a lot!!  This year with trips approaching we decided to stay home.  

My mom watched our kids and S and I enjoyed a quiet, yummy dinner at a local wood-fire-pizza place.  We went bowling afterwards (our favorite) where I once again nearly bowled 100--twice.  I don't know if you're like me or not but I start of the game so well and by the end its gutter ball after gutter ball.  One of these times...

The next morning we hiked Stewart Falls.  I've never been there before, but they are located kind of at the northern top of Sundance.  The leaves were really starting to change--it was breathtaking.  By far my favorite hike I've done in awhile!

Rounding Out Summer

For the first time in a long time, we finally maxed out our summer plans this year.  Every year I feel sort of sad as fall comes and realize that I didn't spend a whole lot of time outside.  But this year was totally different, largely due to me being home most of the time and Boy being old enough to really get out and do things.

The day after Bean's birthday we decided to go up Big Cottonwood Canyon for one more overnight camping trip.  It was a beautiful day.  We decided to take the kids up to Silver Lake.  It had been a long time since I'd been up to Brighton and a lot had changed.  

When we got back to our camp at the Spruces, it had clouded over quite a bit.  Bean was finally able to play with her new toys she had received for her birthday the night before.

By the time we were cooking dinner it had started to rain and continued to rain off and on during the night.  In fact, it got really cold--which made for great sleeping for those of us in sleeping bags and not such great sleeping for little Boy who is still in a crib.

We had wanted to hike Donut Falls the next day but were unable to so the first week of September we headed back up the canyon to do the hike.  The leaves were changing colors and it was beautiful!

Bean was fascinated by all of the squirrels, who were very tame.  Boy, however, did not like the squirrels.  He dropped the rest of his sandwich and a squirrel came and snatched it right from under him.  Poor kid.

The falls are COMPLETELY different than they were when I was a kid, which was disappointing.  In order to see the 'donut' you have to climb the boulders which just wasn't going to happen with these kids.  But they were perfectly content playing in the stream.

Bean turns 5!

I had fun throwing two birthday parties last year, but when our friends did one combined 'half-birthday' party for their two kids, whose birthdays were only a few weeks apart in the dead of winter, we declared that it was a genius idea.  So this year instead of inviting the same people out to two different parties, we had one big barbecue party for Bean and Boy.  

Initially the idea was to have the party exactly between their two birthdays, but as it turns out the weekend that worked best was the weekend right before Bean's birthday.  Luckily Boy is still too young to care and as long as there were cake and balloons, he was happy.

I kept the guest list short and the food simple, making this my favorite party to date.

When Bean was adamant that she have a "Frozen" cake (and I knew that my capacity to make such a cake was highly limited) I turned to the lovely bakery at Harmon's.  Really, for the quality of cake you get, you can't beat the prices.  They are beautiful AND delicious!

Bean, of course, picked Frozen:

And Boy 'picked' Thomas (really it was probably more Bean's choice again...even though she claims she heard him say "Thomas"):

My favorite part of parties is as the guests start to leave, we release birthday balloons into the air.  The kids love it.

I love the aftermath of parties.  Bean saved 'a few' special balloons and played tea party with her brother for hours the next day.

The following Tuesday was Bean's birthday.  Her real present is coming up in just a week, but for the time being we decided to go to the zoo.  It was overcast and rainy and we considered cancelling our plans but I am SO glad we didn't because it was BY FAR the best trip to the zoo we have ever had!

Anyone who grew up going to Hogle Zoo remembers this drinking fountain.  Now my kids are big enough to enjoy it!

I love the new lion encounter that the have.  Everything is just so much nicer since they have redone it.  The kids also love all the new animal statues they have throughout the zoo.

The splash park was practically deserted since it was rainy and cool, but Boy didn't even hesitate further drenching himself.  Pretty sure he would have stayed here the rest of the day if we had let him!

Bean playing in one of the tunnels near (I think) the bear exhibits.

Besides it being more pleasant for us, the animals really liked the cooler weather as well.  Most times I go to the zoo the animals are all sleeping but this time they were really active.  I've never seen a tiger play as much as this one did:

 
The kids had a really great time, which made it a great experience for S and I as well.  Their highlight I'm sure was the carousel.  Boy loved it so much that he refused to let go when the ride was all over!

After the kids were rested up, we took Bean and Boy out to dinner.  We were kind of mean in that, when we got home, we made her get her jammies on and room cleaned up before she could open presents.  But it was finally time for the best part of any birthday.

Bean got plenty of Frozen things for her birthday.  She was a happy kid!