Utah

Dan had a week off from school so we went to Utah for the week. We hadn't been back since Christmas so we were anxious to see our friends and families. Danielle had already started school so she missed the entire third week! I felt bad about that, but I guess not bad enough to not go. Here's what we did:


On our way up. Dan thinks Avie's pigtails make her look like an Ewok!


The kids picked strawberries and tomatoes out of Grandpa's garden everyday


The kids at The Childrens Museum


Rayce in the Helicopter, this is what he calls his "tough face"!


A slightly less tough Rayce as a turtle...maybe it's a tough turtle?


Cousin Clara and Rayce


Danielle and cousin Atticus


Dinner up Millcreek Canyon
Rayce, Nicholas, Danielle and Emalee


Avie and her friend Bentley


Pool party at the Boyden's


Rayce never actually put the goggles on his eyes, he just wanted to wear them on his head.

Dan and I had our vacation a couple weekends back. We had fun in Utah, but this trip was definitely about the kids, and they had fun! We were all glad to see our wonderful friends and family who we miss so much!

A Few More

Union Square


Gate into China Town


Our Hotel, The Villa Florence


Sea Cliffs neighborhood


View from Land's End in The Presidio


More Sea Cliffs


More Palace of Fine Arts

10 Crazy, Lovely Years

Usually anniversaries are not a huge deal to us. We'll go out to dinner and maybe a movie if we feel the kids will be nice. This year was different, we celebrated ten years of marriage. We both wanted to do something special and were also in need of some serious r and r. Dan has been in the clinic the past couple of months and being a stay at home mom, I can always use a little break. So in June I booked us a weekend getaway to San Fransisco, and San Fran did not disappoint! I can only speak for myself here, but it was one of the best times I've ever had! A whole weekend of talking, not counting calories, exploring the city, and hanging out with some great friends. My parents were able to come down and watch the kids, so Dan took Friday off from the clinic and we were there by one. The first day we were there we walked from our Hotel in Union Square to the piers and pretty much ate the whole time. Dan loved sampling a lot of food in China Town, I was a little leery not quite knowing what I was eating, but Dan is a pretty adventurous eater, so if there happened to be a line somewhere he figured it must be because the food was good.


Fisherman's Warf was okay, not nearly as great as I remember it being as a kid, so we moved on to Coit Tower. Five dollars to the top and the views were worth every penny.


View of Coit Tower


View of the top of Coit Tower


View from the top of Coit Tower


View of Transamerica Pyramid from China Town


The Tanner's, The Freedman's and The Nelson's. It was a Harvard Ave. reunion. We all lived on the same street in Salt Lake. So glad we could hang out! Thanks JT for driving us all over.

Some of my favorite pics of the Golden Gate Bridge:




My Best Friend and I.




Averly, Sarah, Me and Leanne.


Palace of Fine Arts and view of the Bay


Sunday, before our flight we caught the ferry over to Sausalito, it was incredible.


San Fran from the ferry.


Sausalito


More Sausalito


More Sausalito


More Sausalito

What a city, so glad we could go!

3rd Grader Alert

Danielle has been ready for school to start for weeks now. She's been a little bored with summer, we all have! So, I wasn't surprised when I woke up this morning at 6:15 to find her dressed with her lunch already packed...her school doesn't start until 9:00, but she was ready to go!


What an amazing little girl I have, although that's just it, she's not so little anymore. I love you Sissy, I hope you have a great third grade experience!

Yay for Monsoons!

More rain came our way, and a little hail too! Rayce was a bit unsettled by the "hard rain", especially since we were laying out on our grass when it first started hailing. I haven't seen hail since I was very young so I was a little surprised as well.


Danielle ran out to grab a sample, and then ate it.
We probably sat there for twenty minutes and just watched it out the back door. I remember being absolutely terrified of lightening and thunder as a kid but now I love to hear the rumbling and see the flashes in the sky.

Of course when it stopped hailing the kids felt they needed to go play in the rain, and it took a solid thirty seconds for them to looked like little drowned rats!



Drying off just before she ran back outside!