Last Visitors

Well, we've had our last visitors here in Northern California. Yep, we're moving! Jordan will be working on a project in San Diego so we will be moving south in the fall. We are all excited for a new place to explore. We will still be about 13 hours from Jordan's parents (go figure) but we will only be 9 hours from my parents instead of 13, which is perfect timing for our drive home for Christmas this year with a 7 month old baby!

We really enjoyed having my parents and Dustin & Chantelle visit us for Max's blessing. This was Dustin's first time visiting us and they were here for a full week. We did some sight seeing (of course), relaxed a couple of days, blessed Max, and celebrated McKay's birthday. As has happened whenever anyone leaves, McKay goes through withdrawals and asks me to play with him all day every day. And no prayer is complete without saying 'please bless Nanna, Papa, Dustin Chantelle to come back soon.'

Uncle Dustin and Max

Grandpa and McKay reading 'The Gruffalo'. I think my Dad spent the first hour of each day reading books to McKay. And everyone got the opportunity to read 'The Gruffalo' to him!

McKay decided to lay on Grandpa instead of next to him to watch a show. He seemed to think on Grandpa was also the best place to be when he was helping him get ready for bed. Silly boy!

We went to Monterey/Carmel on Wednesday and did the 17 mile drive with them. The weather was much better than when we went in November!

Cannery Row in Monterey.

We are sitting on a bench made of rocks.

Chantelle, McKay & Nanna 'by' the Lone Cypress

Thursday we went to Big Basin. Dustin & Chantelle had not seen the majestic redwoods, which is a definite must when visiting Northern California!

We did a beautiful 3 mile hike to see some waterfalls. McKay is a good little hiker.

Exactly 6 weeks after Max was born. I was glad McKay was setting the pace. :)

On Saturday we went to the city. Because it was the 4th of July weekend, it was more crowded than we've ever seen it - people everywhere! We still managed to see everything and ended up at Ghiradelli Square. Man, thats good chocolate!

Sunday was the 4th of July. That evening we walked 1/2 mile to Central park for a fireworks show. McKay is still talking about it and asking for Nanna Papa, Dustin Chantelle to come back and take him to see more fireworks.

Monday was supposed to be a perfect beach day so we headed out to Santa Cruz. Well, we never did actually see the sun. The waves were enormous and the water was frigid, as usual. The ocean really is calming and Max slept the whole time, minus the few minutes he woke up to eat.

We just got this lovely sports-brella and I am a fan! I wanted it to protect us from the sun but this time it was the wind. Love it!

The rest tried out a skim board and found it is MUCH harder than it looks. They've got the bruises to prove it!

I think his eyelashes grow every day!

McKay loved flying the Buzz Lightyear kite he got for his birthday. The wind was perfect! He didn't quite understand that it isn't something you fly and then come back to later and often left Grandpa or Daddy holding it while he played with something else.

McKay sang the whole way to the beach. He gets his song making-up skills from his Daddy. He was SO excited and still talks about everyone coming back to go to the beach with him. In fact, when we leave to go somewhere, he points the opposite way and says that is the way to the beach.

Another Visit

This past weekend, Jordan's parents came from Idaho to visit us. They got here Friday February 27 and left Tuesday morning, March 3. Sounds like a long visit, but it was only 3 1/2 days. ;) Unfortunately, McKay woke up Saturday morning with a fever of 102 and a rash. We just thought we'd be healthy! Maybe next time.

Lucky for them, they came during another storm! So, we went to San Francisco the day there was the least chance of rain and it was a beautiful day. We didn't even wear jackets part of the day, and that is saying something for San Francisco. We started out at the huge farmers market they have every Saturday morning. Lots to see, smell, hear (street musicians) and taste. The atmosphere was quite enjoyable.

I think I enjoy Pier 39 more each time we visit. McKay loved watching the sea lions, who were very entertaining this time. They were barking and making a lot of noise. McKay was pretty good at mimicking their barks. Of course I was too slow to catch him on video doing it. :( When we were home looking at the pictures on the computer, one of the sea lions came up he started barking again. The tulips & daffodils were so beautiful!

Here we are at Ghirardelli Square. Man that chocolate is good! Each time we went through the door into the store, where they give out the samples, the person with McKay got 2 squares. He didn't want his but it didn't get wasted!

We parked the car in cheap parking (only $8 for the day!) by the farmers market and bought bus tickets for the day, which also worked on the street cars. After we got our chocolate fix, we found the bus that took us to Chinatown. Ever since we moved here we've been hearing from Jordan's parents about this wonderful restaurant in San Francisco called Cathay's House. We were all tired from walking up and down those streets and ready to eat. Unfortunately, all of us were disappointed; the food wasn't as good as remembered. So, we are still in search of a good chinese restaurant. I think it is safe to say we ALL slept well that night!

Monday, we went to Big Basin. Gotta see the old-growth redwoods! Those trees are amazing! McKay and I stayed in the car since it was a cold and rainy day... believe me, I had to fight to get to stay in with him! :) He enjoyed going from one door to the other in the back seat, trying out the locks and rolling down the window.

No visit would be complete without a trip to the Mystery Spot. As Kathy said, 'the pictures don't do it justice.'

Try as he might, Kent couldn't explain it!

Poor McKay is rubbing his head from when I adjusted him on my hip and he didn't go straight up... he went straight into my chin! I tried to set him down to give my arms a rest but he couldn't stand up and was anxious to get out of there. Poor kid. He is such a good sport.

Kent & Kathy are standing on a tee. According to the level our guide happen to have in her pocket, Kathy's side is slightly higher than the side Kent is standing on.

Explain that one!

We really enjoyed having visitors again. Our calendars are free again... no more scheduled visits. Yes, that is an invitation!

What a Weekend!

While we were waiting for Mom, Dad & Chris to get here, McKay enjoyed climbing on the Blu-Ray/DVD player box (our TV is too old...) and kicking his legs against the box. Simple, pure enjoyment.

We enjoyed a delicious Chocolate Lush birthday cake. Thanks to my brothers leaving and coming home from their missions in February, I have gotten to have my family here for my birthday quite a bit the last few years. Jordan's first day back to work was my birthday so it wasn't until everyone got here that it really felt like my birthday. I received several phone calls, e-mails and cards that helped make my day more special. Thank you everyone!

I got spoiled!

McKay enjoyed singing songs with everyone and made sure everyone was doing all the actions. 'Can't Caatch Meee!'

My Dad's sister Nancy happened to be in town on Thursday with her husband Jim for his work. She was able to come visit us and then we all met Jordan for lunch at Sweet Tomatoes. It was so nice to visit with her and we all enjoyed lunch. Afterward we decided we needed to go show Mom, Dad, and Chris (Elder McCleve technically) the redwoods. It was dark by the time we got to Big Basin but we decided to stop anyway, especially since we accidentally went the back way getting there and all NEEDED to get out of the van, if you know what I mean. Even in the dark those trees are amazing!

We went to the Mystery Spot in Santa Cruz on Friday while Jordan stayed home with sick little McKay. We got a little wet but it was well worth the visit. The board we are standing on is level (they happen to have a level there so you can check it). Chris is 6', Dad is 5' 10" (when he isn't cold) and Mom & I are the same height.

Jordan surprised me with a dozen red roses for Valentines day from 'my boys'. They are so fragrant and I am thoroughly enjoying them. I really do have the best husband!

Saturday was our Day in San Francisco. We had a lot of fun showing them around. Of course we only scratched the surface, but they got a good taste of the city. We started out by going to Alcatraz.

Here we are going into the 'Cellhouse' to listen to the audio tour. The wind from the bay was cold (and we picked the best possible day to visit San Francisco... the driest anyway!) so it was nice that most of what we saw was inside and out of the cold air.

We all enjoyed learning about what happened at Alcatraz and wonder if the current system is making men 'honest'. Just looking at those cells makes you appreciate your freedom! Love the blue eyes!

Dad measured the van before we left so we would not get stuck somewhere trying to park. 6'6" would clear. Clearance for this garage was 6'8" but we were all ducking until we parked.
For Christmas Mom & Dad got a GPS, affectionately named Judy. On a lot of our other trips, we used Mapquest or our own knowledge instead of Judy. But she sure came in handy in San Francisco, especially after dark. Judy Judy Judy!

Chris took this picture (pay him if you want to make a copy) when we stopped at the intersection of Green & Montgomery. Yes, we had to take them to the opening shot on Monk. :) This isn't the shot of course but what a view!

McKay loves when we watch the Andy Griffith show so of course we had to watch one Sunday night while my family was here. He 'whistles' right along with us and even dances to the music. Of course everything was toned down with such an audience but I think they got the idea. Here he is mimicking Barney Fife practicing his karate chops in one of the episodes where he is learning Judo.

After McKay's prayers he made the rounds and everyone got hugs and kisses. Good thing they got some love that night because the next morning when he got up, he was not feeling well and I think they might have gotten knuckles or a 'five' but definitely no kisses!

It was a bummer that we were all feeling sick and even passed some of it on to my Mom. Of all weeks to be sick! Oh well. Between that and all the rain we got, we still had a wonderful time. Dad made us lots of homemade yogurt (we're going to have to get a yogurt maker I think) and we found out homemade frozen yogurt is delicious. Mom did all my dishes for me while they were here and we didn't make half the meals for them I wanted to. The time just flew and I was not ready for them to go when the time came. Elder McCleve needed to get home to be released and get on with life though and I feel lucky to have gotten to see him & my parents. Hopefully the next visit will be during the summer and we will all be healthy!

Big Basin

On Saturday we decided to go and check out Big Basin Redwoods State Park. It is about 30 minutes southwest of us. We didn't have a lot of time but now we know we definitely want to go back and spend a day there hiking. There are trails everywhere; a map is a must. We didn't have a map or a lot of time so we did the Redwood Trail and part of another trail. The Redwood Trail takes you past the Mother of the Forest and the Father of the Forest. The Mother of the Forest is the tallest in the park at 329 ft and the Father of the Forest has the largest circumference of 66 ft 9 inches. Talk about big trees! We saw a Stellar Jay and a doe that looked like it had just lost its spots. We took the scenic way home and decided it is the only way home - absolutely beautiful. We all enjoyed our first time seeing the majestic redwood trees.

The Father of the Forest

Jordan and McKay in the Mother of the Forest.

This redwood tree was cut down when the park was opened and they have labeled the rings for what happened during certain years of the trees life, such as when Columbus discovered America. The tree was about 1500 years old!

No matter how much or how little time you have to spend among God's beautiful creations, you will leave feeling refreshed and at peace.