We were so lucky to have visitors in San Francisco again. My brother's family accompanied Sarah, William and me home on Wednesday and left last night. It was a 12-hour drive here, but the kids did great. Kathy and I listened to Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire (#4) on the way while the kids watched movies, slept and played in the back. Kathy and I switched off driving quite a bit - I had been up the last few nights with my homesick kids and was EXHAUSTED. I couldn't have got us home safely without her!
The first item of business on the agenda once we hit the bay area was to pick up Roger from work and go to Fentons for dinner and ice cream. YUM!
The next morning we headed out early to the Academy of Sciences to play with the butterflies, fish and turtles.
We visited the Japanese Tea Gardens
Golden Gate Park - Children's Quarter. We had a blast sliding down the cement slides on concrete & going around on the carousal. But when we ventured onto other apparatuses, poor Nathan had the unfortunate experience of getting stung by a bee. I wish I would have taken a picture of Kathy carrying Nathan on her shoulders back to the car. It was a priceless moment.
Thursday night - Wicked for Kathy & Kathryn
The rest of us took Nathan to see the Yoda statue at Lucas Arts and then drive up and down some of San Francisco's awesome hills.
On Friday we went to the Exploratorium science center. It was so much fun to see how things work and try new things.
We also fed the ducks during our lunch break.
We did have a sadness at the Exploratorium - some not-so-kind-soul stole my camera. :( We did go back and retake some of the pictures we were missing so if you were wondering if Kathy & her kids brought changes of clothes - they did.
Friday night I left the kids with Rog after dinner and took Kathryn, Nathan & Kathy to China Town and Union Square. We ended up at Cheesecake Factory and the kids loved going up and down the escalator in Macys.
Saturday morning we headed out to do more touristy things. We drove down Lombard Street. Note to self, Saturday is not the best day to go down Lombard Street. But it was still as crooked as ever.
Coit Tower
Walking the Golden Gate Bridge
Fort Point - While I hung out with my sleeping William in the car, Roger took Kathy, Kathryn, Nathan & Sarah to Fort Point. They had a blast. I am excited to go back and check it out.
Afterward, we headed to Baker Beach to catch some ... er ... rays? We had a blast making sand castles and playing in the water anyway. I think it might have been 60 degrees :)
Saturday night we made stirred lasagna and relaxed and watched Disney's "Summer Magic" - it's a Hayley Mills classic, if you are wondering.
Sunday, we attended church, had leftovers for lunch and then headed to the Oakland Temple. We had fun taking pictures - Sarah fell asleep on the way over there so Rog stayed in the car with her. While Kathy took Kathryn to the bathroom, William (who slept during Sacrament Meeting on Kathy's lap) and Nathan had fun with the cement parking bars in the parking lot.
We then took some nicer pictures in front of the temple. Aren't Kathy, Nathan and Kathryn so photogenic!
Painted Ladies
Monday morning I dropped Sarah, Kathryn, Nathan and Kathy off at the Cable Car for a ride. I dropped off Roger at BART and then picked up the riders at the end of California Street. The reports were "FUN, but COLD!"
We then headed to The Wharf and Ghirardelli Square.
Ghirardelli Square - the Mermaids
Ghirardelli Square - the store.
The Wharf
Boudin Bread
Boudin Turtles
Strong Women
The Sea Lions
We then drove across the Golden Gate Bridge.
And stopped by the Yoda Statue so our warriors could pose with the little guy.
And of course we made it to the beach again!
We stopped back at the apartment to grab some clean & dry clothes and then made one last stop in the city before the tour was over - Giants Stadium.
All -n- all it was FANTASTIC having Kathy, Nathan & Kathryn here visiting. We can't wait for them to come again!
