California Fun

Well, we have been back from California for a week now and I am finally blogging about it. It took me that long to get back into the swing of things and catch up on all the laundry. We had a blast. We went for my niece's blessing and to visit Brandy and fam. We left at 3 am on the Thursday before Easter and yes we drove all the way to Fairfield, California. It took about 11 hours total. I have to say the kids really did do pretty good. We only stopped to eat twice and had one bathroom break. When we were in Reno, Gage did say, "I want to live in California forever." I asked him why because we weren't even there yet. He replied, "Because it is too long of a drive to go back home."

The kids were happy to finally being going to Ava's house. We had been talking about it for weeks.



Tanner had no clue that he would be spending the next 11 hours stuck in his carseat. He did awesome! It's amazing how entertained a straw can keep a 7 1/2 month old.



On Friday, we went to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom. They had an entire section in kiddieland devoted to Thomas the Train. Landen was in heaven. I was so proud of Gage because he walked the entire time. I wasn't able to bring my double stroller and Gage was forced to walk. He did great. The first half of the day wasn't one I really want to remember. The guys dropped the women and kids off at the gate and headed off to park the cars. We kept calling the guys but apparently the parking was awful. It is like Disneyland where you have to park far away and it took them 2 hours to meet up with us. Well, I had two kids in two strollers and Gage. Luckily Ava's other cousins came and one of them pushed Tanner around. While most of the kids were on one of the rides, Landen had to go to the bathroom and Tanner was crying to be taken out of his stroller. My sister Brandy was busy with her own baby so she agreed to watch Gage while I headed off to the bathrooms with Landen and Tanner. Well, Landen hasn't quite learned how to go to the bathroom standing up or sitting down unless he sits backwards (he has to strip down to sit backwards). So I helped him sit on the toilet sideways while holding Tanner like a football underneath my arm. Well, Landen couldn't wait for me to give him the go ahead and he started peeing only the stream wasn't pointed anywhere near the toilet. It shot on the stall wall and then all over his pants as I shoved it down into the toilet. Not fun. I wasn't very happy when Mike showed up only to find out later the guys made a run on a rollercoaster near the entrance on their way into the park.

On Saturday, we toured the Jelly Belly Factory where they make gourmet jelly beans. We thought the Easter Bunny was going to be there, but he didn't show up until after we had left.

After the Jelly Belly Factory, it was off to the Muir Woods which is a smaller version of the Redwood Forest. It was beautiful. It was so fun to hike and enjoy the fresh air. Gage and Landen struggled with all the walking. I told Gage that he needed to appreciate the Muir Woods because we would probably never make it there again. Gage said, "Oh, thank you. I don't ever want to come here again."

Later Saturday night, we dyed Easter Eggs by the pool. It lasted maybe 5 minutes and then it was back to swimming. Brandy's place has an indoor pool that we pretty much swam in every night. This picture makes me realize how skinny my kids are. I promise I do feed them!

On Easter morning, the Easter bunny left a note saying he left a jellybean trail for all the kids to follow in order to find their baskets. He also said that their eggs were hidden at a park for them to find later. Adyson's blessing was at 9am so there wasn't much time for an Easter celebration before church.

The trail of jellybeans led the kids to the tennis courts where the baskets were found!

On Monday, we took a ferry into San Fransisco. This is a picture of us at Pier 39. Apparently it is a famous pier but I had never heard of it before. We also went to Ghiredelli's for some yummy ice cream and chocolate. On the ferry ride home, Landen wasn't sitting in his seat very well. A nice ferry worker came over to Landen to just give him a hard time for fun. He asked Landen how old he was. Landen replied, "I'm 3, but I'll be 4 next." The ferry worker asked, "When will you be 4?" Landen said confidently, "After 3."

We also took a ferry out to Alcatraz island where the infamous prison is and Al Capone was once held. It was really interesting, but is not a place for kids. Every 15-20 seconds Gage or Landen would inform Mike and I how bored they were, how hungry they were, and how ready they were to go home.

Now it wouldn't be a family vacation without some bad luck now would it? On our long drive home Mike was pulled over twice. Yes, twice within an hour of each other. The first was just outside of Reno and the speed limit is 70mph where 3 miles later it turns to 75mph. Mike was going 80mph and the great state of Nevada has plane patrol. We received a nice fine for this. Well, an hour later we were pulled over by a sheriff because we were going 81mph (speed limit is now 75mph) and he only lets people go 5mph over. He also noticed my mom get out of her seatbelt to help my kids with something so he thought one of our children were unrestrained in the vehicle. He let us go with a warning.

I took so many pictures that I had to do a slideshow to show some other fun moments.