Roadtrip Part 4 of 4

Muir Beach is located just north of the San Francisco Bridge. We stayed for the sunset and did a little hike. I think the kids are hiked out.  :-)

It was a beautiful trip and well worth the drive. It will be fun to do it again when the kids are in their teen years.

Roadtrip Part 3 of 4

San Francisco was fun and exciting! Our hotel was a couple of blocks from Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. We were able to walk to many of the places. We all slept really well after all that walking.

Lombard Street known as "the crookedest street in the world".

Alcatraz in the background. We all thought the island was further away from land. It was actually pretty close.

Taken from Fisherman's Wharf.

Golden Gate Bridge behind us.

JT shooting Alcatraz.  Why is it that boys make everything into a gun?

The pictures above were at a stand up show. This man needed four men from the audience and Mark got picked. Ha Ha! Something he would have never volunteered for. At the end of the trick the men were intertwined and leaning on each other without the stools. It was pretty funny!

The view as you cross over the Golden Gate Bridge. Isn't it pretty?

"I thought the Golden Gate Bridge was golden not red!" - Brandon

Roadtrip Part 2 of 4

Our next stop was Big Basin Redwoods, near Santa Cruz. These trees were amazing, they can grow to be over 350 ft tall and live more than 2000 years.

Sitting inside of the tree called Mother of the Forest.

Standing inside "Chimney Tree"

Furry hoodies and hats a must! It was a bit chilly in the forest, once we were out in a clearing and in the sun we were fine.

Roadtrip Part One

We decided it was about time we took a road trip to the famous California Coast. We drove on US1 and made several stops until we reached Monterey - our final destination for that day. The kids did well and enjoyed it! Ten minutes into the trip Alexa asked the dreaded question: "Are we there yet?".

Just south of Big Sur

Boys throwing rocks - trying to hit the water.

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park

Pheiffer Beach was just north of of the waterfalls.

JT trying to pull a buried kelp plant.

The beaches were about 10 minutes on a windy road down the mountain. They seemed pretty secluded - at this time of year. It was stinkin' cold!

 Starfish

 "I don't want to wear this fuzzy hoddie!"

"A's" New Look

"A" got bangs and loves them. The first thing she said was that she now looks like her cousin "K" Chmieleski.  She's asked me not to tell Mark, she wants him to be surprised when he comes home from his trip.

Halloween

Halloween was extra fun this year. The kids are older and got really into it. I think they actually might finish their candy. "A" is still a bit scared of certain costumes and houses. We had Hulk, a Clone Trooper and a beautiful Barbie Mermaid. The carving was easier, the boys are old enough to carve their own pumpkin!

J's Birthday

We had fun celebrating J! He is such a happy kid and I love his big smile.

He had lots of fun bowling, although he came in last place.  Our neighbor friends came over for some cake and to wish him a happy birthday.

Mark actually had his own cake this year, no leftover from J.

His cake was on FIRE!