California Trip

 Shanna drove 3 hours to pick us up at the airport (where they had lost one of my carseats) and on the drive back to Redding where she and David are going to the Bethel School of Worship we stopped at the coolest place.  It was in Calistoga, CA and it was an olive oil and balsamic tasting.  They put lemon infused olive oil over vanilla ice cream and topped it with strawberry balsamic--seriously rocked our taste buds! 

 We had so much fun in Redding with our cousins Eva and Mia!! 

 Probably my most favorite memory of northern California as a kid was picking blackberries...We picked some all over the place.  The babies tried them too--blackberries=YUM.

 We drove over the mountains one day and visited the coast and this cool black sand beach

 Tried to go for a hike that got a little to gnarly.

 And walked through a grove of redwoods

 Nothing can really capture how massive these trees are. 

 We love our Grammy.  What an amazing woman she is.  She probably re-tore her meniscus or some tendons in her knee while we were there but she was always there jumping in to help.  She is such a loving, warm, caring, fun loving mom and grammy and we couldn't have made it with out her!! Thank you doesn't even cover it--you put up with more poo, vomit, crying, tea spilling, diaper leaking, meltdowns than anyone and still remained calm and caring--you are amazing.  

 It was really great to see where the Franceschini's live and the journey that they are on in their lives right now.  Keep chasing your dreams--you guys have never been happier and looked more fulfilled than you do now.  Thank you so much for inviting us in, entertaining us, showing us your art and music, and putting up with my chaos...I love you more than words could say.  I am sad that we are apart but I am so thankful that you are happy. 

 We got to go to Turtle Bay Adventure Park in Redding another day and Mia LOVED the fish in the aquarium!  She is so cute!!

 We walked across the sundial bridge and checked out the orb spider habitats-yuck!  Eva was a good little climber playing on the bridge!  It was almost 111 degrees this day!

 Feeding the Lorakeets was so cool!! The babies were fascinated with them! 

 Mia and Eva were the experts showing their cousins how its done!!

 Oh In and Out--a California Classic

 Lots of fun swimming too!!  Eva was doing so good swimming all by her self all over the pool! She was like a little fish.  She kept the babies so entertained too.  Mia and I liked the hot tub. 

 Out to dinner our last night...it went by too fast!

 Shanna and I having a drink at the coolest bar called view 202 overlooking the Sacramento River. 

 We were so sad to leave our Franceschini's but we were soooo excited to see GG.  We drove to GG's house and the babies got to meet my Grandma Arleen Smith for the first time!!  They also got to meet all her crazy pups--Jeb, Enzo, and Posie--they were great with the kiddos!! 

 WE LOVE OUR GG!!! 

 Shan and I went for some walks and met a friendly horse. 

 My Uncle Shad, Aunt Stephanie, and Cousin Brennan drove up from Sacramento to GG's house in Jackson to visit and meet the kiddos too! It was so sweet getting to see them as well. 

 Brennan is the coolest cousin!! He was so awesome with the babies even though he said he had never held babies!!

 In the background is GG's ant hill.  She has made an artistic landscape with 100 wrought iron and stone ants amongst volcanic rock and other scenes.  Each one of us in the family have an ant--even James and Ellie. 

Thank you GG for letting us come and play!! We love you bunches and bunches!!  It was so special getting to visit.  I hope we can come again soon!  Lots of love...