Summer Trip Part 2: Northern California

After leaving Oregon, we drove into Northern California to spend a weekend with Matt's brother and family.  It's been at least 7 years since we've seen Keith, and in those 7 years, we had only spent a couple of hours with his wife Sara.  So we were happy to get some decent time with them & their boys at their beautiful home.



The girls love love loved the chickens that roamed around the backyard and spent, literally, HOURS chasing them, feeding them, collecting their eggs, holding & terrorizing them.  Alexis could not get enough of them.  If we ever live in a single family home, we might just have to get ourselves some chickens.  We got to eat some of their eggs, too. Delicious.










We spent some time at a nearby lake:






And playing around at home:








After a few days with them, we drove down to the Bay Area and spent a night in a hotel (thanks to Keith & Sara!)  We swam in the pool and the girls were beside themselves with glee to sleep in such an amazing place.  We tore the blankets off the bed and let them sleep sideways so they each had a little more room between them.


The next morning we stopped by the Jelly Belly Factory for a tour and to be with some friends- my former mission companion Katie and her family- Mark & Isabella.  So wonderful to see them again.  (They lived underneath us here in NYC when they were first married before moving to California).  The tour was actually really interesting- and kind of moved a little too fast for me!  We got several tastes throughout the tour as well, and a free packet of Jelly Bellies at the end. And you are required to wear those paper hats in the factory at all times.







After the JB factory, we drove over to Muir Woods where we spent a couple of hours enjoying the amazing redwoods.  This park was so much more busy than any of us anticipated.  We had planned to meet up with my college roommate Natalyn and her kids, but parking was crazy and our cell phones didn't work in the area.  We actually did end up crossing paths, but could only spend about 30 minutes together since we needed to get on the road to Los Angeles.  But still wonderful to see her!
















On the way out of town, we made sure to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge.  So beautiful!  San Francisco deserves its own trip for sure.  We went there on our honeymoon and I am itching to go back. 




Then it took us until after midnight to get into Los Angeles, thanks in large part to the rush hour traffic we met going through San Francisco.  Long day, but quite enjoyable.  I'm glad we did it.  The kids were super in the car.  They really are great & cooperative little travelers.

Summer Trip Part 1: Our First Taste of Oregon

We started our summer trip by heading out to Oregon to visit our very close friends Lisa & Scott.  They have 2 girls who got along wonderfully with our girls.  And it was a week of fun!  This was the first time I've been to Oregon and it was really wonderful.  We hope & plan to be back!



We played at the park:




We played on the front porch:




We played in Portland:








I was amazed by how beautiful and clean the streets & sidewalks were!


We visited the Oregon coast and had absolutely gorgeous weather (although a little chillier than we'd been used to this summer).














We played in more fountains:




And we enjoyed the amazingly beautiful drive through the state:



What a handsome driver!  Especially with that goatee he's growing...