San Fran

We wrapped up our trip with three days in San Francisco. Since we still had the rental car we stopped at the John Muir woods on our way into town.

The trees here were beautiful as well.  With their towering height, not much sunlight makes it down to the ground and it almost feels like you're in some storybook forest. 

Once we made it into the city, we made sure to hit up all the regular tourist sites - Chinatown, Ghirardelli square, Fisherman's wharf, Sausalito, and Union Square. Probably our three most favorite things though were:

Alcatraz 

You get a great view of the Golden Gate bridge as you take the ferry across and the included audio tour given by former guards and prisoners really makes the old prison come to life.

 

The Cable Cars

After the uphill trek from the subway to our hotel we decided that the cable car pass was worth it especially since there was a stop just outside our hotel. We had a lot of fun riding the different routes and it got us just about everywhere we wanted to go. All in all, it was a great way to see the city and avoid having to hike up all of those hills.

Beach Blanket Babylon

No photos for this one as it is a theater production with the distinguished title of “World’s Longest Running Musical Revue.” It's a constantly updated musical spoof known for its extravagant costumes, outrageously large hats, hilarious puns of pop culture and political character. I'm not sure when we've laughed so hard and would highly recommend it for anyone heading to San Fran.

After all of that it was Thanksgiving day and after one last minute mishap by not realizing the subway system doesn't run on holidays until 8am (which didn't help us and our 7:15am flight) we were glad to leave California behind and head back to what we were most thankful for. As expected, Josh had a great time with Nana and Grandad and we were amazed at what a "big kid" he became in the week we were gone. I guess absence is good for giving you perspective.

Life is a highway

For the second phase of our northern California vacation, we drove from wine country to the coast and spent two days cruising up and down Highway One.  The drive was beautiful but we were glad that we didn't drop the extra moola for the convertible because it was quite chilly and intermittently rainy. 

Our first stop was for a picnic and some hiking at Point Reyes National Seashore and Lighthouse

And yes the hike back up from the lighthouse was a little painful

The fresh air (and lack of a baby monitor) added up to a great nights sleep with the ocean crashing in the background from our room at the Bodega Bay inn. The next morning after probably the best breakfast I've ever eaten (Salmon eggs benedict in the old logging town now turned hippe hot spot Occidental) we set out to marvel at the redwoods in the Armstrong Grove.  It was raining so we pretty much had the place to ourselves but unfortunately it meant the pictures also didn't come out great.  Given their size though I think it would be hard to capture in a photo how amazing these trees are in person. 

We spent the rest of that day and all of the next driving up and down Highway One chatting, singing to the radio and stopping wherever looked interesting. 

For the way back to the inn, we opted to drive back in over the mountains and despite another slow and curvy drive, we were treated to some amazing views. 

We topped off the this part of our vacation with the best meal of the entire trip at Barn Diva, a farm to table restaurant in Healdsburg.  Scott and I still talk about this place and how amazing his steak and my lobster risotto were and the cucumber martini is definitely worth a return trip.  

By this point we were definitely missing the munchkin but thankfully Nana kept us updated with daily pictures so it was on to San Francisco. 

Vacation time

The week before Thanksgiving we set out for some vacation time - Scott and I were off for some baby-free time in California and Josh was excited to spend time with Nana and Grandad. 

We had an extra seat on our flight to Texas and Josh thought he was such a big boy in his own seat. 

Early the next day, Scott and I set off for San Francisco and we kept feeling like we were missing something at the airport.  It's amazing how leaving the toddler behind makes you travel lighter.  Once we made it to California we set off for a few days in Napa. 

The views were beautiful and we spent the afternoon checking out a few wineries.  The jet lag from our east coast time zone coupled with a few glasses of wine made us feel a little like senior citizens with a 5pm dinner and bedtime before 8 but we figured it was one of the benefits of a baby free vacation.  Unfortunately, it also resulted in a 4am wakeup time, but luckily as we had learned in our newborn days, you can always find an episode of Law and Order on TV to watch. 

We sampled several more vineyards both large and small but for us the best thing about wine country was the food.  I even got to meet my favorite Food Network chef - Michael Chiarello at his store next to his restaurant so he could autograph my cookbook. 

Relaxed and with our vacation budget already blown by our wine purchases, we set off for a few days exploring the California coast.

Fall fun

The weekend after Halloween we had a great time hanging out at the house enjoying the crisp fall air.

Josh loved the baby pumpkins.  He spent a lot of time rearranging my fall decorations and banging them together which always prompted lots of clapping.

We practiced blowing kisses

And went on some great walks (while looking super cute in the dragon hoody and puffy vest)

There was time to roll around in the leaves 

Then when the sun went down, it was time to break out the pom-pom hat and pick up some sticks.

And we capped off the day by "hanging" out with Dad.

Just a little off the top

After several off-kilter and finger-risking attempts at a home trim from me, we decided it was time for Josh's first real haircut.  While feeling the wind in your hair is a good thing, when it starts to curl over your ears and collar it starts to be a little too much.

Josh wasn't too sure what was about to happen



Luckily his first sucker made for a great distraction



Hey, watch the ear.

Are you done yet?

Thanks Miss Kim.  Even though it made him look like such a big boy we loved his new "do".

Blessed are the pure of heart...

When we moved to Ohio it took us a while to find a church that fit with Scott's Catholic background and my Methodist upbringing.  Evidently we just needed to become Lutherans and it all seemed to fit.  Now that we had a church home, we had Josh baptized in early November. 

Right now all Josh thinks about church is that it's the neat place with the different toys and the nursery ladies that fawn over him but hopefully with time it will start to mean something more.

The Gospel lesson that day was the reading of the beatitudes from the book of Matthew which I think has wonderful attributes to instruct Josh in for his Christian life.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


The line about those who are pure of heart holds so many meanings for us.  Even while his heart was (and now I guess still is) broken, the innocence and joy that he approaches life with are really I think the true lesson for us.  We'll try to keep paying attention.