Life on vacation... they make us eat fries slathered in cheese,grilled
onions, and sauce... It's really tough

We Heart San Francisco!

We were given a Chevron trip to San Fran (thanks Will & Heather!), so Jon and I dropped Brynne off with a friend, hopped on a plane with the two older rugrats and did some major sightseeing. What a beautiful city! To say we had a great time is putting it mildly. The hotel was beautiful and grand (the kids just wanted to swim in the pool--forget the sightseeing!), the city is easy to navigate (we didn't have to rent a car), and the travelers were troopers (especially since we walked 5+ miles each day).

Can't you see the excitement on his face...?

Arriving in the San Francisco Airport and catching the "Airtrain" (Jonah enjoyed that pun)

What fun is childhood unless you can jump on the bed in a fancy hotel??

Cable Cars?

The kids and I studied the cable cars and the Golden Gate Bridge before we visited and they were very excited to see them in person!

Maybe Ava is having second thoughts...

We made it on the cable car without a hitch!

While Jon went on a tour of Alcatraz the kids and I did some exploring on our own. The Golden Gate is in the background (click on photo to enlarge)

Ghiradelli Square

I'm thinking Ava is anticipating all the chocolate she thinks she is going to eat...

Jonah and Ava dreaming of Willie Wonka

Fisherman's Wharf

Exploring the pier

and the pirates.

Turtles and Crabs

We watched them make the turtles outside Bourin...

Ava got a little friend to play with...

And then she ate him...not very nice!

I just wanted a picture of some fresh crabs...

The cable car on the turntable--you can see the Golden Gate bridge in the background.

We hopped off at Lombard Street

To make the trek down the Crookedest Street. I have a vague memory from childhood of going down this street with my family. I am pretty sure my dad was driving the big van and pulling the trailer...

We made it to the bottom and decided not to climb back up, but to go on to the Coit Tower from there.

Coit Tower

There she is!

The inside was covered in beautiful murals all about California

The plaque inside the tower--it was the first Western telegraph station in 1858.

The view of Alcatraz and part of the Wharf from the tower.

Coit Tower

You can kinda see the city behind me!

Another picture by Ava

This was on the corner of the sidewalk--kinda funny in today's world.

Golden Gate Park

Outside the museum of natural history by a strange looking sphinx. I am sure there is some significance to the strange-head on this Sphinx that perhaps we ought to know, but heh, we're Americans.

A monument that looked really important so we took a picture in front of it.

Here Jon is highlighting the beauty of the lilies

The beautiful flower garden building. It would be nice if I could remember the official name of it.

Ava posing by the poppies

Ava took this picture!

Two Oregonians enjoying the sunshine!