California Adventure

We left for our adventure on Tuesday morning. We made a stop in San Jose for lunch at the Prune Yard--a relic from my childhood. It wasn't exaclty how I remembered it from 32 years ago, but still enjoyable! After lunch, we drove through Campbell to the house I grew up in (a real dump now), the grammer school I attended (now a private school of some kind) and the second site of Kenco Engineering (also kind of a dump). It was fun and strange to walk through memory lane with Brian and Ivy. After our stop for vittles, we headed over 17 to Santa Cruz and Capitola. When I was a kid, I remember making that drive to the beach pretty often. I would have sworn to you that it took HOURS to get there== we were in Capitola in like 25 minutes! We met my friend Tracy for coffee at a cafe with a great view of the water! It was nice to get Ivy out of her seat for an hour! She was a pretty good traveller that first day, but didn't sleep as good as we hoped she would. I took this picture through the back window of the car... we packed the Mini Cooper to the top with all of our stuff, including the Giant Stroller!

We drove to Monterey where we would spend our first night- Brian had a business meeting nearby first thing in the morning. We checked Urban Spoon and Tripadvisor to find a good place to eat dinner and it took us to the downtown area of Monterey- not far from the Aquarium. There was a farmer's market in progress- and kind of a street fair with lots of food vendors and localy made gift items. If it hadn't been so cold and windy- we would have just chosen something to eat there.... and probably should have..... :( Ivy had a rough time with the restaurant we chose. It was small and full of hard surfaces that her voice travelled over! She was overtired and over hungry and we ended up getting our delicious food to go.

Back at the hotel room, she was a much happier camper after some food and lounging on the bed with daddy. Do you notice how they are lounging in exactly the same way?

The next morning, Ivy and I went for a long walk on a nature trail near the hotel. She slept for most of it, but I enjoyed the wildflowers, songbirds and duck and goose families!

After Brian's great meeting with Granite, we checked out of the hotel and went to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Neither one of us had been there since we were dating in the early 90's! Ivy really enjoyed looking at the sealife-- I wish we could have spent more time there.

We all really liked the jellyfish- deadly but cool!

We enjoyed a delightful lunch at the restaurant inside the aquarium-- Ivy had her first restaurant crayon experience.

I got the fish and chips-- totally delicious! We shared them!

Ivy was a good sport and gave the tidepool a try-- I'm sure she'll be more into it next time!

My favorite critter exhibit was the seahorses-- I think Ivy enjoyed the big kelp forest the most- and Brian liked the seahorses too!

We left Monterey in the afternoon and started driving down the coast towards San Simeon. I was totally speechless by the beauty of Highway 1. Every Californian should make this drive! We amused ourselves by trying to decide which house we thought Clint Eastwood would live in! We got to Paso Robles around dinner time and enjoyed sushi at a restaurant Brian visits when he travels there for business. The sushi chef loved Ivy and kept sending over tidbits for her- which she gobbled up. She ate more that night at the sushi restaurant than she had ever eaten! The next morning, we raced back to the coast in time for our 9:00 Hearst Castle tour!

The tour was largely just like it was when I was there the last time (age 12)- and just as breathtaking. We started out with the tiny tot in the carrier-- but I think that she might be done with that now. She squirmed to get out and wanted to walk and be held by each of us... back and forth! She also reached out to other members of the tour... so friendly! She was a great baby on the tour- no crying- just squirming!

We couldn't have had better weather to enjoy the gardens and the views!

A rare picture of Ivy and I!

Apparently, the statue in the background predates Moses!

After a snack in the car, we drove a couple of miles back up the road to a beach full of Elephant Seals! They were super cool!

We checked Urban Spoon again for a sandwich place in San Luis Obispo for lunch, and it took us to Gus's Grocerry. It was a great sandwich! We found a park a couple of blocks away so Ivy could walk around and stretch her legs a little bit!

More driving down the coast and on 101 towards Santa Barbara. We drove through Solvang too- because I'd never been there- but we didn't stop because Ivy was power napping during the drive. Santa Barbara was beautiful, bright and warm. We walked to a brew pub for dinner and Ivy ate her weight in French Fries.

Friday morning we drove down 1 through Malibu towards Los Angeles. We visited the foundry that Kenco does business with so I could have a tour and had lunch with the foundry fellas. After that, we made our way towards Disneyland! Our hotel was about 1.5 miles from the park, but on the same street. It didn't seem like a long walk in the car......

We headed to downtown Disney to meet up with some of our Dosokai group for dinner at the Rainforest cafe. So fun to see all of our adorable tots together! I took this picture of Ivy and her daddy....

After dinner, we walked over to Disneyland for a quick spin around the park. I hadn't been there since I was 4! It was beautiful and breathtaking! I can finally understand what all the fuss is about!

Saturday morning we got all rigged up for a full day at the park! Big stroller packed full of everything wet thought we might need for the day! We had a "character breakfast" at Goofy's Kitchen with like 15 other families! It was great to meet so many people that I'd only known on facebook!

After breakfast, Disneyland!

Here's Ivy and Daddy standing in line for "baby's first ride".

"Baby's first ride"! It was the Pooh ride... and Ivy did better than I did! It was kind of scary!

We all enjoyed "It's a Small World"!

We walked over to the California Adventure and Ivy had "baby's first juice box"!

We let Ivy pick out her mouse ears hat... she chose classic black with velvety ears! Of course she wouldn't keep it on her head!

Sunday morning we enjoyed a great visit with the Pattersons! I love little Camden so much! He is a real charmer! How do I look with 2 babies?

Time to go home! We drove to Visalia and spent the night there before heading home on Tuesday morning. As fun as it is to go... its always wonderful to be home again! Can't wait for Dosokai next year!

Happy Derby Day!

This was outfit #1 that I chose for Derby Day.... I bought it for her last summer, and it was beyond the scope of my imagination that she'd be big enough to fit in it... ever!

It was such a pretty day- We got a chance to hang out with Leah and Parsley- who live around the corner. Parsley is just a few weeks older than Ivy.

Lots of guests wore hats!! We served Louisville Hot Browns, Derby Pie and Kentucky Fried Chicken! Oh, and mint juleps and Ale 8 ginger ale.

Cute hats, ladies!

You can count on Becky to get into the spirit of a theme!

Sporting outfit #2... Ivy is flirting with Tripp!

Some of our Japanese cutie friends, posed for a group picture!

I want Daddy!

She had her own hat... but I forgot to get it out for her.

One of Ivy's many boyfriends... Bowman!

Ivy loves Auntie Jess!

This is "Derby" the baby squirrel who has been hanging out in the yard lately.

Baby's first picnic! We enjoyed a gorgeous day up at Madrona and Placerville- where Ivy totally fell in love with a new baby and a shopping cart and a ball. We brough home the ball.

I bought her this dress for Easter- but it was way not warm enough for it! I do love how her toys match her outfit!

Ivy loves pushing her baby around in the stroller. Actually, she'll push anything... a box, her own stroller, her highchair, a stool.... anything becomes a walker at some point!

Ivy's been eating what we are eating lately... and has transitioned nicely over to milk from formula- no more formula after today! I'm really excited not to be taking all the bottles, formula and jars of baby food on the trip to Southern Ca next week! Yay!! We've been eating dinner outside lately, and she has been roaming the patio freely-- climbing the stairs to the porch... over and over and over. In the last day or two-- in the midst of a crawl, Ivy has positioned her feet as if to stand up... walking seems so close!! We really enjoyed the Derby party with our neighbors- it was a gorgeous day!