Sunday Walk

My niece, Anna, made the suggestion to take a walk to the elementary (MY elementary) last night. It was a gorgeous night. I couldn't refuse. In the end everyone but Nana decided to come along. So after cake and ice cream to celebrate the April birthdays, we took the much familiar walk up the street and down the old walkway. It hasn't changed much yet in some ways it has. It's a much shorter walk and the fence doesn't tower the way it once did.

Noah was very excited to see where I went to school and said my school was "so cool!".
The playground has totally changed. It has a lot more to play on and the kids (aaaand adults) loved climbing and swinging. I love my playful family.
It was fun to take a walk down memory lane last night.

"We are Westland! We are a team! 

We like to do things that turn out supreme. 

Try to compare what we are sharing.

 Learning to work our problems is quite daring

. Catch us. We'll take you on. 

We like to find out where we belong. 

We will reach our destiny. 

We are Westland Elementary!"

Must have walked this path a thousand times or more.

Even Papa came and played.

Robert and Ella enjoying the swings.

Swingin'...

After seeing so many pictures posted on Facebook, Instagram and the like with trips up the canyon and the beautiful leaves, I had to get in on the action.  So we took our family up Millcreek canyon to see the beauty that is Fall.

I love everything about this leafy season. I love that flowering pear tree in my front yard that turns into a flaming pear. I love the soft, golden lighting of the sun.  I love the reprieve of the perfectly warm temps.  I just love the cozy feeling of Fall. Hot chocolate. Halloween. My birthday. Thanksgiving. What is not too love?

  Wait. There is one thing...

Winter. Winter looms near. Blah.

Anyhoo, enjoy the pics from our trip up the canyon.

Oh that crooked smile.

Adam and I had our engagement pics taken in this area and specifically on the bridge over 10 years ago. Kyle was the camera man this time...

My family and I did a fun little art class with the Anderson family and Nana probably about 6 months ago.  I am so NOT an artist but it was still fun to see we were able to come up with.  We all had the same instruction on what specifically to draw so its fun to see the differences and interpretations of all our pics.

Noah- age 4

Kyle- age 6

Adam- age 32

Erin- age 34

San Fran {Part II}

We decided to break up our San Francisco days because there is so much to do there and plus it was on our way to our next condo/destination. Personally, I was excited to get back there. Big cities are so great. Our plans were to see the Golden Gate Bridge and go to the Exploratorium.

We finally got to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and true to SF style it was super foggy.

 We couldn't even see the top of the bridge.

That's us in the van ahead.

For being the end of July it was pretty chilly.

The bridge is there in the background but you can't really see it.

 Darn.

What a gorgeous piece of engineering. 

The fog and mist gave it kind of an eerie feel.

Come on. Get it together men!

 Much better.

The Exploratorium
This place was chalk full of science exhibits.
My boys (particularly Kyle) were in heaven.

Megan and Lyndsee enjoying a nice rest...

...until Megan exploded and squashed Lyndsee. Hee hee.

Bunch a potty drinkers.

Sick.

And they heard from up on high...

Bubbles!

 Awwwww, our eternal family.

 Bobble head boys.

Rock on!

More bubbles! I really enjoyed myself as well :)

Outside the Exploratorium.

We also went to Golden Gate park which is kind of a Central park type of HUGE park. For some weird reason we didn't take any pictures while there.

We had a nice picnic lunch and took a walk around one of many ponds to a children's playground.  I wish we could have spent more time there.

We decided it would be fun to head to our next destination via the coastal highway a.k.a Highway 1.  It was windey and long but there was lots to see. 

Next stop: MONTEREY!

Redwoods and Ross

After a big day in San Fran we thought we'd relax a little (only a little mind you) and take in some natural beauty by going to the Armstrong Redwoods State Reserve. We went on an easy hike through some very tall trees and were even able to play on a few of them.  My boys love hiking and totally dig this kind of atmosphere. 

Megan didn't tolerate the pack for long. She loved walking around like one of the big kids and we loved watching her.  She's only been walking for a month by this trip.

The kids and Vanna White enjoying some TALL trees.

 Four bumps on a log.

The roots of a great Redwood.

Angel baby.

Be carefee!

A natural playground with a slide and everything.

 Megan had a great time exploring.

We didn't spend too much time in the reserve because, of course, we had other places that had to be seen!
After lunch we headed over to Fort Ross out on the coast.
This was a gorgeous (twisty....uggg) drive as well. I  had a bit of a head cold and all the twisting and winding of the coastal road was doing a number on me.
So really I didn't participate much in the second half of this day.

Stopping for lunch at a local cafe.  

Finding places to eat can be a challenge when 

there are 11 of you and 7 of them are 

obnoxious, rowdy kids. 

Trail to Fort Ross

Fort Ross-
a Russian settlement on the coast

The chapel and the kids defending the fort.

Eric squeezing in some down time. There was very little to be had.

Let's go fly a kite! 

We bought these kites in San Fran knowing that there would be some kite flying opportunities while we were on the coast. 

The Shiflett kite, however, had a hard time remaining air born.

The Schroeder kite had a hard time becoming air born but for different reasons... :)

I love these pictures. 

The contrast of the bright blue sky and yellow grass is so photogenic.