Happy Birthday in San Francisco

We have to start off this post with another cute picture of my boy. He helped Matt decorate for my birthday. Sweet boy!

And this is not a great picture but my flaming birthday cake! YUM!
My birthday is October 12 and my dear friend Lauren has a birthday on October 13th! Since we have known each other we have spent our birthdays together and just because we don't live in the same state anymore is no excuse! So, Thursday afternoon we drove up to meet the Brutsch's in San Francisco. It was a joyful reunion and action packed! This is a really long post so get ready....

Friday morning we got up and took a cable car down to Fisherman's Wharf where we rented bikes for the day. A pic on the trolley, which Crew of course loved!

I think this is such a cute picture of the Brutsch's

So, we rented bikes for the day and began our trek through the Wharf, where we made a little pit stop, shown soon, and then rode through the Presidio, across the bridge and down into Sausalito where we hopped on a ferry and then rode along the piers back to the Wharf. Sounds like a long trip? It was! But it was awesome!

Our first pit stop was at Ghiridelle Square where we got some cupcakes and the famous Ghiridelle hot fudge Sunday to give us some calories to burn for our trip. Yes, it was only 10 in the morning but when it is this good you can eat it any time of day!
Crew liked the icing on the cupcakes, I thought everything was amazing!

We ate our treats down by the water where the boys could play a little. It was such a perfect day!

One of many memorable moments on the ride is when Cason fell asleep in his seat. Lauren felt bad about his head drooping over so much so she fashioned a harness for his head. It was hillarious! With a little bit of Lauren's creative magic and Cason's head straped to his seat by his jacket, we continued on our way.

Crew was way too into everything to fall asleep. He was shouting from his seat all the things that he saw! It was really cute!
The boys, and yes, Cason is still asleep

The whole gang in front of our bridge

Laren and I did not plan to match but it worked out well that we were in red, our helmets were red and the bridge in the background is red!

Going across the bridge
I took this while riding so it is a little shaky
After crossing the bridge we rode into one of my favorite little towns, Sausalito. The sugar rush from our earlier treats was completely gone after some monster hills so we got some really amazing smoothies before catching the ferry.

Crew was starting to slow done, but he perked up a little on the ferry with all the "wind" It is so fun to hear him tell you what he is feeling and experiencing.

Great view of the city
The Golden Gate Bridge






Alcatraz witht he bridge in the background

One of my favorite parts about this trip was how well Crew and Cason played together. They were so funny to watch and Crew loved having Cason around. After we got home we thought they would crash since it was after 5 pm but nope! They were all wound up and loving free time!


Now it is catching up!

That night we walked down to China Town and around Union Square before turning in a little early and totally spent!
The next morning we went to a fantastic farmer's market on Pier 1 and ate lunch there before catching a bus to the other end of town for the Red Bull Soap Box Racing!

Crew was not quite as good this morning and totally zonked on the bus. He didn't sleep too long once we got to Delores Park and joined the thousands of people watching the races. It was crowded but fun. We stayed about an hour then tried to catch a bus home but it was too full so we walked the whole way back!!!!! We are talking at least 20 blocks!
Once we got back to the hotel we had to say goodbye. Ben and Matt figured our way out of the city.
We hated to leave the Brutsch's but truly enjoyed every minute with them this weekend! We parted and our family headed to some friends for the night in Dansville (seriously amazing place) before heading home this morning. Crew is completely exhausted from such a fun week. I tried waking him up when we were getting close to home and he opened one eye to look at me then pulled his blanket over his head! He is already acting like a teenager!
Thank you so much Ben and Lauren for such a wonderful trip! We love you and miss you already but hope we can see you again soon!



Quick tribute to Lauren for her birthday...

Lauren is one of those people who really can do anything! She is so creative and so talented that she really does put Martha Stewart, Rachel Ray and Paige (from HGTV) all to shame! Whether she is remodling a room or creating a meal, she does it perfectly! Not only is she totally capable, but she is also totally beautiful! She is also so considerate and thoughtful, always thinking of little ways to brighten people's day. She is an amazing mother, wife and espeically friend and I feel so blessed to have moved next door to her five years ago! Happy 26th Lauren! I love ya!
Yes, Lauren is pregnant in this picture but she was smart to wear black so she doesn't look gigantic like I do!

Grandpa Richter

My Grandpa Richter left this life this afternoon. I am so grateful for the memories and love I shared with him. He was truly unique and lived a life full of love, laughter and good hard work. I know he is happy and holding hands with my grandma again. I love him and look forward to the day we get to meet again. Roy Fred Richter
October 4, 1922- October 13, 2008

It's Always Fun When Grandma Comes...

We have really been able to have fun with grandmas and grandpas but the grandmas where able to spend a little more one-on-one time and were in all the pictures! So, conference weekend we were so happy to have the Allens come up and see us! We had a great time and the weather was perfect. Friday morning the men went surfing and Crew came with girls to the zoo. It was so fun to have Becky there to enjoy all the animals with us!

Crew loves his grandmas and really loved being able to be the center of all the attention

The giraffs were so friendly! Crew is a big fan of them too.

Unfortunately I only took pictures at the zoo but we had a great Saturday with them too. It was a cool and damp day perfect for conference and a walk to show off our area. We finished off the night with a monster ice cream sunday from the Fair Oaks Pharmacy which I wish we had a picture of! It was literally a half gallon of ice cream with all the works! It took five of us to finish it off and yes, Crew is the fifth person! He loves ice cream. Thanks grandma and grandpa Allen for a fun visit!

Sunday morning, Crew and I caught a flight down to Phoenix to visit my sweet grandpa. He has been at my parents for about the last month and at the age of 86, he quickly approaching the end of his time here on earth. After 5 years without his sweetheart, he is close to going home so my sister and I went home to spend a little time with him while we still could. It was a good trip. I loved being able to see my family and really make the most of my visit with my grandpa. His mind is still so sharp so it was great to hear old stories and let him see my Crew!Of course Crew didn't sleep or eat either day we were there. It is all PLAY!!!! He can't resist tickling the ivory!
Look at that face and all those trucks!
This is the first time my parents have had all their grand children together since Parker was born. I think this picture is hillarious! It was fun.

Crew is in a mimicking stage and all week since our trip he has been copying my dad's classic phrase "oh boy!" then saying "papa" after it.

My parents were planning a trip up here this weekend but with my grandpa's health, only my mom could get away for a day. But we gladly took her! She got in Friday afternoon and we went to the Glendale Americana. It is a fun shopping area with a trolley that Crew loves!

Haha, mom couldn't resist taking this picture!
Saturday morning we drove down to Long Beach to the Aquarium of the Pacific. It was a blast and Long Beach is such a fun area. Crew decided quickly that eels were "scarey" but other than that he was pretty into it.

Matt petting a sting ray

They had an area full of tropical birds and you could give them a drink of this necter and they would just fly over and walk all over you! It was so fun!

This bird and I coordinated our outfits the night before!

Grandma and Crew with their hair blowing in the wind (yes, my son finally has enough hair to blow in the wind!)

After the aqaurium we hit up Islands for lunch where Crew enjoyed a delicious chocolate shake (he told me you would be proud Sarah!)
Mom left that afternoon. It has been a good two weeks and next week we are so thrilled to be meeting up with our long lost friends the Brutschs in San Francisco so we will have lots to report!