We're Outta Here!

No joke.

San Francisco is this families favorite place to go. 

Whether it's for a romantic getaway

or for a family affair,

everyone,

and I mean,

EVERYONE

always has the

time of their lives!

So what better way to celebrate

the end-of-the-school year,

than a

pick-you-up-on-the-last-day-throw-you-in-the-car-and-away-we-go trip?

I tell you,

there is no better way!

That, my friend, is the way to go!

We love day trips,
but nothing compares to an ol' fashioned overnighter!

The funky decor  met with Gabriel's approval.

We practiced taking some steps but it was a no-go for a solo.

First stop:  Chinatown.

Isabella was all smiles until we saw three police cars zoom by, sirens blaring.  Then she, and we, were anxious to get off the street!

What better place to take refuge than a chinese restaurant? 

We were on the hunt for someplace good,

asking people on the street for recommendations,

when this woman and her son beckoned us into her restuarant. 

She told us we would't be disappointed and she proved right!

The kids fell in love with the giant aquarium,

and though we stayed away from ordering the seafood,

it was fun to look at.

What a feast!

With full tummies we changed into jammies and snuggled in for the night.

What peace!

If only for the crazies who went nuts jumping on the bed!

No, Ava didn't knock a tooth out jumping on the bed,

but a tooth she did lose and to her astonishment the tooth fairy came the very next day!

That fairy is amazing finding us even though we were so far from home!

Congrats Ava!

If our hotel doesn't include a continental breakfast

I always bring something along that's quick, easy, and delicious! 

In this case, buttery crossaints, powdered donuts, and hot chocolate. 

Yum!

Though the weather was brisk,

since the sun was out,

the hotel pool was fair game. 

The kids would have been terribly disappointed if we said no,

and since we're all a family of fish,

into the water we went!

Well, all with the exception of Gabriel,

who made it pretty clear he was going nowhere near the water.

Samuel and the girls. 

They can't get enough of him launching them into the water. 

Now that they're more comfortable swimming,

there's alot more horsing around in the pool!

Gabriel in his L.A. close-up.

Despite his father's pleas, Owen was also reluctant.

He's more a less a crabby lizard

who prefers to scowl as he bathes under the warmth of the son.

I love you, Owen!

There goes my boy!

Back in the hotel I stole a kiss...

And Samuel readied us for the day ahead.

We had some stragglers though,

we will NOT name names,

who took their sweet time and hindered us from getting as early a start as we would like...

It's okay,

we're all familiar with the saying:

"When you've got to go..."

Finally we hit the Ferry Market Building,

where for only $5.00 you can valet park your car for an hour.

That's a steal when you consider how many places you can visit in such a short time!

We love the sculptural water piece across from the Ferry Market Building.

It is a magical playground for the whole family to explore.

Now that we've worked up an appetite,

it's time to visit the Ferry Market Building.

So back across the street we go, "looking" both ways before we cross the street!

This is the home for all of our picnic lunch fixin's. 

I bring fruit, crackers, and cookies from home,

but we always buy our bread fresh from Acme... 

{Always a minimum of two loaves: 
One for immediate snacking; the other for lunch!}

...and indulge in a new-to-us cheese from the Cowgirl Creamery. 

This time I fell in love with the

Pimento Olive loaf and Niloufer's Creamy Panir. 

Sooo good!

What's more iconic than a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge?

I admit, I had ulterior motives steering the family here.

Samuel's terrified of the bridge,

and I thought it was high-time he got over it!

Omnimous, isn't it? 

I can't believe it: 

He is genuinely freaked out!

Owen held on to this rock for hours, and as much as we pestered him to throw it off the bridge, he refused.  Finally, as we turned to leave, the rascal threw it as hard as he could and away it went!

A magical, mystical tunnel from the old Fort days.

Next up: 

Golden Gate Park,

The Children's Playground

Water and sand features rock!

Owen's shorts would NOT stay up after they got wet. 

The poor boy has a hopeless plumbers crack!

This slide never, ever gets old.

Owen's favorite:

The Carousel

We love it too because it's dirt-cheap!

My boys are utterly exhausted.

Must mean it's time to hit the beach!

I love those baby toes!

Iris:

Sheer happiness!

Gabriel cozy-ing up a bit.

Only in S.F.



And to top it all off, over the bridge we saw a what happens when you make a S.F. Police Officer really, really MAD!  This uncooperative vehicle got an earful-and so did we!-courtesy of a very effecive loudspeaker.   Lets just say we wouldn't trade shoes with those guys for the world!

Happy Summer Traveling!