First up was the Dickens Fair! We've gone once before when the kids were smaller, so wanted to make sure to go again with them being older and knowing we wouldn't be able to go again.
We had a great time! Ate some yummy treats (I ate a steak pie!), drank some yummy drinks, perused the shops, bought some trinkets, watched some shows, watched a play, listened to music, wandered the streets and took in all the sights! We even had an old-timey photo taken! (Though my computer doesn't seem to want to download them to the computer....so I guess you don't get to see unless I can get it to work, ugh!)
Every year while we are in CA, Sam and I take a day trip, just ourselves, to San Francisco. Being it our last year going, we wanted the whole family to come and experience the fun!
The kids really loved the BART ride there.
We visited the parking garage of the Palace Hotel where Grandpa Chris works, and he took us up to the top floor of the parking garage in the car elevator. The kids thought that was awesome! We also walked into the Palace Hotel so the kids could see how grande it was.
It was a MUST to go to lunch at Yank Sing, the place Sam and I have been going to eat on our yearly trip to San Fran for the past 9 years! Ohhh my word it is so tasty!! I wish I had some right now!! I will never forget how yummy their steamed pork buns and fried veggie spring rolls are. Mmmmm.
We thought it would be a fun experience to bring everyone to China Town. We walked the streets, checked out the wall murals, and shopped in the shops! I wish I could have taken home every cute tea cup set I found, but alas! One can only have so many tea cups! I settled for a little plate for my tea bag instead.
We promised the kids we would take them to the Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop for a splurge treat. The look on their faces when we walked in was priceless! I swear the treats they ordered were bigger than their heads! I settled on a caramel hot chocolate, and it was delicious! Definitely glad we took them there.
Day 3 of adventures consisted of some long awaited beach time. In years past, we have gotten lucky with sunshine and warm weather. This go-around, however, it was overcast and we even got rained on. But that's ok! We were just so happy to get to the beach. On our way, we made a stop in at the Golden Gate Bridge so the kids could see it and we could get a photo in front of it.
The first beach we visited was Muir Beach. I truly love watching the kids run up and down the beach, chasing waves. Because it was so cold, there was no getting feet wet, much to the kids' disappointment. Funny though, I was the one who came close to getting wet! A wave snuck up on me as I was taking a photo....but I escaped just in time, haha! There was a big rock there that Anthony climbed up on, and then pretty soon all the kids were up on that rock, taking turns jumping off. Eekk, no one broke a leg, thank goodness.
After visiting Muir beach, we headed to Stinson Beach, since it wasn't too much further down the way. On our way there we saw a coyote and of course had to pull over to watch it and get some photos! Pretty cool how close we could get to it before it decided it had had enough of us and walked off.
It was sprinkling by the time we reached Stinson Beach, but the kids didn't mind. We got out anyway and let them run around for a while...chasing waves, chasing birds, drawing in the sand with big sticks. There's nothing better. By the time we left, it was full on raining and we were all pretty wet when we finally reached the car, lol. Oh well. We had fun, and only got a little bit of sand in the car!
Oh my word. The best day ever. Six Flags! I don't know who was more excited, the kids or Sam and I! The last time I went on any sort of ride was years ago when Timothy wasn't even 1 yet. I LOVE roller coasters, so I was over the moon to be able to go to Six Flags! The weather was iffy the whole time....full sun, cloudy, sprinkles, downpour, back to full sun....lol! The park wasn't busy at all, and I think the most we waited to get on a ride was 5 minutes. It was awesome!! At one point in time it did pour on us, so we had to wait for the rain to let up and rides to open back up, but that was no more than 30 minutes. It was chilly, but not freezing. And when the sun was out, it did feel pretty dang nice.
The kids had a blast! Turns out Molly is our roller coaster buddy! SWEET! Anthony rode a few, but decided it wasn't his thing. He's not a fan of the stomach turning drops like I am, haha. And poor Timothy, he wanted to, but was too little still to go on all but one roller coaster. So we made sure to go on that one, The Cobra, many times for him! By far my favorite ride was The Batman roller coaster. Oh boy, that one was scary awesome! So was The Dare Devil. Totally makes you think you're going to die, lol. Even Grandma went on a roller coaster, Molly's favorite, The Joker.
It was nice that Sam and I were able to take some time to ourselves to hit up some roller coasters while the other kiddos went with Grandma and Grandpa for a bit. Of course we met up with them and spent some time in the ride section more suited for Timothy. Anthony and Molly were good sports about that....giving Tim his time on rides and joining in. It's odd that there are a lot of adult rides, and little baby rides, but not much for the in-between stage. amusement parks should work on that.
Truly a fun time!! I only wish we could have stayed longer!
I was excited we were able to take the kids to see the new Mr. Rogers movie, It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. The movie was amazing! Definitely one to watch again. Gosh golly does Tom Hanks play a great Mr. Rogers.
Every Thanksgiving we love to snuggle down on the couch with a treat in one hand and a tea in the other and watch the parade while taking turns being busy in the kitchen. This year was no different....except we did our Thanksgiving on Friday instead of Thursday! So instead of the parade, we watched holiday baking shows, lol. We just had too many leftovers to eat and wanted some down time after Six Flags....we didn't want to spend all day in the kitchen cooking! So on Thursday we relaxed and went to see Mr. Rogers, and Friday we got in some Black Friday shopping and cooked us up a delicious Thanksgiving meal!
We had prime rib, biscuits, stuffing with apples, cranberries, and our home made sausage, honey glazed carrots, green beans, and roasted yams with apples and cranberries. For dessert, we had apple pie, berry pie, chocolate cream pie, coconut clusters, and coconut cookies. A delicious meal that everyone had a hand in creating.
The kids also had a great time opening up their Thanksgiving goody bags and making wishes with their wishbones!
Knowing it to be our last time in CA at Grandma and Grandpa's, we wanted to be sure to get a few photos of the house and us by all the cactus's. Grandpa Chris had already left for work though, so it was just the rest of us. Lots of fun has been had here over the years.
Goodbye California!
By the time we reached our hotel at our halfway mark, the one we stay at every year, The Cimarron Hotel in Klamath Falls, the roads were covered in snow and slick. In all the years past, we would stop in to Elmers, the restaurant next door, to eat dinner after arriving. This year, however, it was closed and a game shop had taken it's place. DAMN IT!! Seriously, just one more year in businesses would have been nice. The kids were heartbroken to not be able to fulfill this part of our tradition. *sigh*
With more snow in the forecast for the area, we knew we had to get up at the crack of dawn so we could hit the road early. We had to get Molly to her first volleyball practice by 2! That meant no eating out and no fun shopping on the way home, darn it! We hit up the hotel breakfast and got on the road.
We made it to Molly's practice with 5 minutes to spare, and then made it home all in one piece. It feels so good to be home.
I wonder what we'll do for future Thanksgivings now? I'm sure we'll think of something fun.
With love,
Mama Hauck
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