Monday, September 13, 2010

Our San Fransisco Treat!

Darren and I had the opportunity - Last Minute - to go with some friends to San Fransisco. The Egans were there for a week, half the time for vacation and the other half for a conference. So we tagged along, and when possible we won't pass up a trip to San Fran... we love it! Darren gave me the Sisco bug about 4 years ago when we took me there for my birthday, I fell in love with it immediately.

We left at 6:00 to get o the airport and hope we make our standby flight - we did Yeah! - got the last row on the plane which was VERY loud with the jet right outside out window. But we were on the plane and that is all that matters. We go ths SFO and navigated till we found how to get to BART to get to our hotel. Got on the airport AirTran which malfunctioned and stopped working - luckily we were at a stop when it did so we were able to pry the doors open and leave - when then walked up and down parking lot stairs and around their parking structure - in and out of terminals to try to find BART - we ended up crossing a "no pedestrian" overpass (for cars) and made it to the right side of the airport to get on BART - this took us about 30 minutes of walking with our bags and all... not fun but we settled in for a 35 minute ride to POWELL ST.

Our room - we finally go there around 10:45 - I love Kimpton Hotels, I always seem to end up there without noticing it.

Since out flight left right around dinner time we were STARVED by the time we got to our hotel - so what is better to go eat at 11:00 then pizza! San Fran has the best pizza ever... i was super excited for dinner.

The next morning we woke the Egans up at 7:30 - apparently they sleep in :) opps. So we went to breakfast and bought our transportation passport and met up around 10 to go down to the warf. We went into this old building which had old arcade games - it was really fun to look at how much they have changed - I don't know anyone in this pic :)

Why take a picture of a crab? Well, Darren and I don't like seafood and we have always thought how good they look and how much fun it would be to eat one down at the warf - so with our friends support :) we got one and while we both at it... it's not something I would buy again or really liked that much. I will admit it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

Fries - now that was something we had to get to make sure to help the crab go down easier

I love old boats - this one is super pretty, my camera has been played with a bit too much with my boys - it's a little one we bought to fit in my purse, but it's become grainy with it's pics :(

After walking around we jumped on a bay cruise and went for an hour ride to see the sites... you have to do this each time you go - nothing changes but it still fun to do

My sweet hubby on the boat - that isn't a tourist shirt, he got it from work and packed it without noticing what the print said... so he looked like a tourist, it was pretty funny.

Okay - so I am not zooming on this photo - this sail boat was within 50 feet of the side of our boat and seemingly out of control. You'll notice it isn't sailing upright... all the men (about 5 of them) raced from one side of the boat to the other as it shifted and all but capsized. I would have been scared to death to be one it... we keep joking around about how we hope that there 'local' sailors and that they didn't pay to go on this boat.

The backside view when the wide shift and the men scampered to this side


The amazing bridge - not too much fog when we were there.


Tried to get pics of both couples - a bit hard with the wind and rocking boat

Alcatraz - I think its sad that we don't use this facility anymore and that it died off. I think it's super cool - never gone on the island, just seen it from the boat.

A view looking back and how much fog came in within the hour we were on the boat

The city - seriously what's not to fall in love with here!

Not sure if you can see, but this Navy ship is PACKED with people, we found out it was for a beer fest that was going on. Not sure but drunks and water and heights have never mixed.

Waiting for the Trolley - we quickly found that summer is not fun to come to Sisco. Last time we came was January and we could jump on and off the Trolley's at anytime. During the summer the wait is about an hour. We went to the one that isn't popular and waited about 15 minutes.

Self pictures - I love how you never look relaxed in these. But we did okay...

Day 2 - We went over to the bridge - neither Darren or I had actually walked the bridge so we left our sleeping beauty friends and went over. There wasn't any fog - but it was super pretty and I loved seeing it this up close

Darren looks like he is storing nuts for the winter - he bought a tub of big Lemon Heads at Walgreen's and had them in his mouth all the time. Not ideal for pictures :)


Way way way up there... Why a picture of the footings? I couldn't help but think as I looked down about the number of people who have taken their final jump from this point and are never heard of again. I got sick to my stomach.



I saw this at our bus stop and had to snap a shot! So pretty, I wish I had my good camera with me
The painted ladies -
Lombard Street - this is crazy - steep and tight curves. We walked down it

The number of tourists driving down it was funny - they just kept coming and coming and coming... the houses and yards are pristine and beautiful

My goofy husband - I really cannot complain up till now he was very good about taking pictures correctly - it wouldn't be a trip if I don't get his cheese grin in at least one photo

We ate some lunch and then ended up back on the warf that we walked the other side for a bit before Darren and I flew out home.


We were waiting for a break dancing show to start on the street and this little guy was dancing like he was the show - it was so very cute and made em excited to go home to my boys.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Bryson's new room

We moved around the boy's bedrooms Labor Day weekend. At some point we will need Bryson to go downstairs, but he is terrified of that so we thought putting him in his own room upstairs would help him adjust - he was terrified of that as well. It took alot of convincing. I asked him what theme he wanted and he said he will just keep the fishing stuff for now. He is such a great kid and easy going.


Needless to say - he loves it now and is very protective over "his" room. The little boys are getting along great in their bunk beds too. Change is always a good thing!

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Bee's Baseball

We were able to hit only 1 baseball game this year :( I love watching baseball, I love playing it as well. The boys did okay - Preston was done by the 4th inning and Weston had his moments. But it was a very enjoyable game. A perfect way to spend a fall evening over Labor Day weekend.

My baseball boys!

Daddy and Bryson - I think next year they will have baseball outing nights without me :( Bryson had a great time watching the game and seeing that the outfield - which is where he plays - is an important position

I love the view of a baseball diamond - I could totally pull a "Field of Dreams" just to look at it


Westie and me - he sat on my lap most of the time - oh and drank my drink.

Daddy, Bryson and Weston

Preston and me - he settled in for a bit

Thursday, September 2, 2010

Preston turns 6!

My Preston bug turned 6 today! It's so hard to believe that he is now 6 - but he is going on 20! Seriously some of the things he says just blows me away. He is such a cute boy - challenging and cute :) he has been asking about his birthday all year long and has been very consistent with wanting a Superhero party. It's funny how different each of my boys are, Bryson has never gotten into any of the superhero stuff and Preston is into it to the 10th degree... he loves superheros and anything about them.
Preston's door is now the entrance to spider mans room

Preston's room from the balloon fairy...

The floor....
The ceiling...

I am not sure what he is doing with his arms - some superhero thing I am sure - you'll see it in a few of the pics from the day. But he loved his room

Enjoying his room...
We invited his neighborhood friends over for a party, Darren hadn't started his job yet so we kept it simple and it worked out perfectly. Each boy came dressed as their superhero and they went in the back yard and I had each child complete a Super hero training course. It was fun and the boys were way into it. However they ran through the course so quickly that I ran out of activities - so free play time it was.... I went back out to give them a Popsicle and they were playing Heros vs. Villains and the villains had the "virus" that they were trying to kill people with - oh the imagination of 6 little boys.
His gift bags for his Friends
He could hard wait for his party to begin - he kept asking me when he could put on his costume.

Stockton - Batman

Zach - Power Ranger

Fisher - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle

Daniel - Batman

Preston - Spide-man

Briggs - Batman
All the boys from his party

Opening his gifts from his fellow super heros

More gifts
I don't know if Preston or the other boys were more excited for Preston (looks like I need to do some repair work on Spider-man, don't worry he's wearing shorts)

SuperMan cake

This is Green Lantern - who I had no idea who he was until Preston educated me.

Both Cakes.... a mediocre job - I need to take classes

Blowing out his candles

Opening his favorite present....

Da-da-daaaa... it's a Spiderman Web Shooter

Grandpa Paul and Grandma Hydee getting sprayed by spiderman

The dogs didn't stand a chance...
Grandma Hydee - just trying to help and gets webbed

What it looks like from a camera mom's angle - I thought I would be "safe" ... nope
Preston also got this Iron Man that shoots bullets - needless to say he was running and shooting something all night long.
Happy Birthday Preston - I love you so much.... On your 6th birthday here are my favorite things about you...
1. I love how you introduce yourself as - Preston Dolphin (Dawson) Steck
2. I love how much you love Super Heros and not villains
3. You love school and seem to be exceeding my expectations - Thank you!
4. Your energy is who you are
5. There is never a dull moment
6. You think through things and process them till you find a way around it.
7. You are finding ways to show love to your brothers
8. You stand up for others
9. You are sensitive to other and can read feelings
10. I love that people stop us in any public place to compliment your red hair!