The Expolratorium Rocks!!

We had a blast at the exploratorium once we found it. It is really easy get there once you've been there, so I thought we could find it fine since we went less than two years ago. After driving around for thirty minutes, we went to Round Table to regroup and refuel - yummy and cheap (for San Fransisco). And we bought a map. And asked someone for directions. But not knowing how to get there meant I got to drive down Ocean Beach like I wanted to - yes, we REALLY missed the turn.

Weston could have stayed at each exhibit for a full day. This stuff is right up his alley. Unfortunately I didn't get any great pictures of him, seeing as it was a triumph just to exit the building with the same number of children with which we entered!!

Lydia made her own piano, uncoached, and played at least one or two sonatas.

Till we Blog Again . . .

First of all, Michael Phelps is totally awesome!!!!!! He saved us in the relay tonight (yesterday). I love to be an American. And I am so amazed by Dara Torres. Go USA!

And how would it be to be the fastest man ever recorded in the world?????? And it looked like he saved something for next time. Maybe he is trying to set a record for breaking a record.

I've been taking advantage of the last few minutes I have with the blogging machine. I love it enough that I hope I will keep doing it after I don't have it in my own home. It could happen. We did so much more on this trip that I haven't had time to post, and this is a great way to look back. We hope to get a picture with Great Grandma Petty tomorrow. And the Exploratorium pictures turned out well, so maybe I will post some more . . . but not tonight (I mean this morning.) I will miss California.

Marine World Is Fun!

Where is that train???

Oh, here it is!

Every good train ride includes a prayer.

Wave to the pretty people.


Riding a train with my dad is the best!

Time for bed!

Lydia and Uncle Mike.

Garrett and Uncle Mike

Way too late for more cute comments now. The big boys had a blast. Weston cannot stop talking about the Boomerang. He of course suggested, "We should come here tomorrow." We got a video of him on Tony Hawk's Big Spin. Found amusement park food that actually felt like a good deal. Saw dolphin shows, one with Shouka, the killer whale. Got really wet on Monsoon. Long fun day. Grandma and I were the only ones snapping photos, which is why they are all of the little kids.

Garrett's Favorite Ride at Marine World

Buckle Up!

I think I'm going to like this.

Oh yes, I definitely like this!

How many rides can I take before they kick me off of this thing?

Lydia finds something fun to do at Marine World

This is one of those times I was so so grateful to have a camera. Garrett had fun in the water too, but he moves like lightening and I can barely get a single shot.

A's Game

A's won!! This game didn't go quite as smoothly as the last one for our family, but I think the kids had fun.

Just for Grandma

I couldn't get this video to send in an email to Garrett's Grandma. The rest of you can skip this one - only a grandma would love this three-minute peek into my three-year-old's world.

More fun in the California Sun

Today was swimming and the A's Game. I'll post more pics tomorrow.

If you are going to San Fransisco . . .

Be sure to stay out of jail.

(That is Alcatraz in the background.)

Be sure to wear a nice hat

- flowers optional.

Be sure to get some

awesome pictures.

Be sure not to fall in.

Be sure to get crab.

Be sure to go to the beach

when the fog has not rolled

in and the temperature is

above 50 degrees.

Be sure to go to

Ghiradelli square.

Be sure to wear sunscreen.

Be sure to hang on to your booty.

Be sure to say hi to the locals.

Be sure to take your family.

The Dance

The music is too loud to hear Garrett say, "I kissed her. It was gross."

Poor Garrett

Caifornia is beautiful. Life is good. But Garrett isn't really noticing.

Sunday before church:

"Mommy, Daddy tied my shoes too tight."

"Okay, I will fix them in just a minute."

Sunday after church:

"Ow! Ow! Ow! My foot hurts."

. . . Mommy forgot to fix the shoes that are too small. He got a blister that looks worse than what I captured here.

Then today in San Fransisco, he jumped over Lydia on a downhill and landed wrong on his knee. He can't really walk on it so I think we will be taking a trip to the doctor tomorrow. He is really hurting. Unfortunately I took the family to the beach for our perfect family portrait at the end of our San Fransisco day. Lydia was done posing for pictures. Garrett was in a lot of pain. Weston was freezing. The only shot of the whole family smiling has people in the background. I will post it later . . .

Caden's Baseball Season

Our summer finally started mid-July when Caden's All-star team, after winning district, came in third place in the state tournament. I think I was a bit baseball-ed out by All-stars because I did not take one picture! Whoops. I will have Caden get his uniform on and go stand by the sign at the field or something later. For now, here are a bunch of shots of the regular season, which was

AWESOME!!!!

Our great coaches:

One of the moms made shirts for everyone . . .

Having fun at the party (Here are your nine-year-old all-stars folks):

The team/The cake:

We are the champions!

I promise they played baseball. I guess all we got were celebratory pictures. Maybe next year . . .

Caden was truly sad to see the season end.

And SO SO excited to make All-stars!