San Francisco and more boat shopping

Alex casually mentioned we should go to San Francisco this past weekend. I love SF and haven't been in a long time so I took the bait. Turns out it was a sail boat shopping trip. Everyone won in the end - we all had a grand time sight seeing, visited with Alex's family, and saw four boats around the Bay area.

Day 1: We by chance visited on the weekend Louis threw his mom a surprise birthday party. So we got to visit with Alex's uncle, aunt, and cousins and eat delightful chocolate birthday cake too! Happy Birthday Rachel! Louis by the way was cheerful and having fun directing the proceedings.

We went to see the Golden Gate Bridge at night and sang "When the lights go down on the city, and the sun shines on the baaayy."

Day 2: Sight seeing at Fisherman's Wharf.


Toured USS Pampanito.






We spent the rest of the day at the Exploratorium.

Fun with magnetism.




Dad and Audrey got some quality time together on this trip.




Everyone was thoroughly worn out after a couple hours so we got into the car and drove over the bridge to Marin Co to see a sailboat. Sadly, a wooden boat in need of a lot of maintenance. The drive back induced much needed naps in both Cole and Audrey so we drove around seeing more of the city.

We ate tasty Tandoori Chicken, Palak Paneer, and Naan with cousin Judy at a restaurant a couple blocks from her apartment. We then walked across the street to enjoy the tastiest latte I've had in recent memory.

Day 3: The kids and I went to the California Academy of Sciences while Alex went to see another boat. This interactive museum was recently renovated and is phenomenal.

We dined in the grooviest cafeteria I've ever seen. No canned green beans or mashed potatoes here. We chose brown rice and a broccoli/cauliflower stir fry (and chocolate milk).


We went upstairs to check out the living roof. The tallest mound is the top of the rain forest exhibit.



Cole got upset when he saw the elevator was leaving us behind. I was trying to convince them to stand still for a sibling picture.


The aquarium was a nice cool and calming place to visit after the steaming heat of the rain forest dome.


We then headed out of town to visit the Golden Gate Bridge and see another boat.






Day 4: Almost everything about the Bay Area was enchanting; the architecture, parks, water, beaches, bridges.

Of the four boats we went down to see only one looked promising.


Cole was in denial about going home and kept trying to convince us we weren't leaving California yet.

But here we are ... and it's snowing.