California, here we come!

We wanted to go somewhere for Christmas vacation. Somewhere not too far, cold, or expensive. We decided to go visit my old friends in California. Wyoming and Utah were out. We'd like to visit family there this summer.

We left my mom's house on Christmas night and drove all night (while Parker slept peacefully) to Sacramento. We went to my friend Elizabeth's house. Her daughter is only 2 months younger. They were so cute together.


We went to Old Town Sacramento to the Train Museum. Perfect museum for Parker. He LOVES trains!

Love this picture with his reflection!

He was so cute to push around Brianna as they ate their snack. Anything with wheels!

Me and Elizabeth.

California friends

Whenever I come into town, Karin throws a party and invites some of my favorite people over. It's a good time!

Karen, Karin, Karen's mom from Bend, Oregon, and Janice.

Me and Angela. We worked together at Space Camp. She came to our wedding and I had only seen her once since then. It was great to catch up.

Mike and Sandy. Sandy works at Curtner Elementary, where I taught for 5 years. They were also our neighbors. They are great. They rescued us whenever we needed it. Mike set mouse traps and fixed things we couldn't do on our own. They are moving up to Oregon this summer, but to Southern Oregon. :(

Some of my former students... the teacher's kids. Ixchel, Carissa, Cassi, Ammon, and Ishmael. It was so fun to see them. They are 17-21 years old. Great young adults!

Janice was Curtner's secretary. She was mom away from home. When I tore ligaments in my ankle, she drove me to the emergency room and sat with me for 3 hours. She's the best!

Karen and Ixchel. Karen taught 4th grade when I was at Curtner and I taught Ixchel for 5th and 6th grade.

Nicole and Joey. Nicole is Karin's long time friend. I'm happy to call her a friend too. She is such a sweet person. We had a good time playing poker. I was the first to go out. :(

Carissa and Carrie. Carrie taught 4th grade when I started at Curtner. I had Carissa as my student in 5th and 6th grade. I also had her brother, Cameron. When I saw a picture of him, I couldn't believe how the little boy I had once taught turned into a man!

Very fun evening! These people + some that could not make it, are what I miss most about California!

San Jose Children's Museum

I remembered the Children's Museum from Space Camp days. The Tech museum was closed for awhile, so our field trip was here. Very fun. Grant and I took him in the morning for a couple of hours and then Karin and I took him again that afternoon after his nap for another 1 1/2 hours.

He played with this maze wall for at least 20 minutes.
We need to get one of those marble mazes. He loved it!

He loves stacking things as high as possible.

Bubbles!

Grant got his hands wet and put his fingers through the bubble.

Bubbles fell from a machine in the ceiling. Parker caught a few.

This hurricane would suck the balls down. Awesome! He got pretty wet here.

At the right, you would put a ball in the tube and it would shoot it up into the big hurricane tank.

Karin and Parker drive the fire truck.

We have a family pass to the Portland Children's Discovery Museum, but it's not nearly as cool as San Jose's.

San Francisco

I love this picture of my boys and the diggers in front of the most recognized bridge in the world.

Me and Karin

Running free

My handsome boys

My second favorite place in San Francisco... The Palace of Fine Arts. Beautiful!

Parker looks like he is explaining the history behind this structure.

My #1 favorite spot in San Francisco... Coit Tower. I love going there at night to see the city lit up. It is on Telegraph Hill. Grant proposed there, so it is a very special place.

This is the grassy spot we were sitting at when Grant proposed on January 25, 2003. We were married less than 6 months later. It was a clear night and the city was glowing... very romantic!

We left San Francisco and headed north on 101, since we heard there was 8-10 inches of snow predicted in the Mt. Shasta area of I-5. It was a long, windy road, but GORGEOUS and I'm glad we went.