A drizzly day in San Francisco does not stop us from hitting the streets

Here are the last few photos from Sedona, with Sarah & Miles, Bonnie & Dave engaged in their never ending game of Spades. Susan was already in bed--she who states she is "not much of a game-player."


Ally loved running and playing outside when we stopped at an outlet mall on the way to Phoenix.


Aidan demonstrated his skills on the monkey bars.


We've walked and walked and caught a few rides on the trolleys in San Francisco. Who can beat a $1.50 fare?


Anyone for a delicious cupcake on the Wharf?


Look at all this junk for sale!


There was a little play going on, complete with an older woman walking across a pole. I only wish I had such great balance!


Part of the Fisherman's Wharf area as the sun was going down.


Our dinner was delicious at Boulevard last night. The place was packed and we had to wait a little while but it was definitely worth it. Our server was very friendly and wrote down some other restaurant suggestions for us, plus she comped our dessert!

This morning we actually slept in a little bit. It was colder, foggy and rainy, but we decided to walk back to the Ferry Market to have lunch at The Slanted Door. Another fabulous meal (Vietnamese) that did not disappoint. Good thing we are doing some walking, though we are probably gaining weight anyway with all of the eating we are doing! I was pretty cold and wet by the time we got there so we did take the trolley back to the general vicinity of the hotel after eating, and stopped in at Walgreen's to get a few items, including a zip-up tote bag to carry our extra stuff that's making us over the limit for baggage!

Rich was researching restaurants for dinner tonight but got frustrated with the whole thing and we've about decided that we will walk to Trader Joe's and buy some fresh food to eat in our room. It's one of those lazy days and I think we will just take it easy since the weather isn't great and we are a little tired from all of our traveling. Staying in the room has also helped me with my 100 book goal as I finished my first one this afternoon, The Female Brain, by Louann Brizendine, MD. Very interesting (and fairly quick) read about the role of hormones in female thinking, emotion and behavior over the lifespan. Not only good for women to read but maybe also the men who love them. :)

Speaking of reading, we stopped in a local bookstore, Book Passage, and bought a few more (hence the increased need for an extra bag). Although we do love the big bookstores for all of their variety and the sheer numbers of possibilities, we think it's important to support smaller independent bookstores, too. It's sad that so many of them cannot compete any more and have trouble staying in business. I picked up their newsletter and we were really impressed with all that's going on in the area--lots of authors giving readings and making appearances, lots of book clubs and writer's groups and classes. Dave Eggers, former President Jimmy Carter, Isabel Allende, and Rabbi Sherre Hirsch are just four of many who will be speaking over the next few months. It would be fun to live somewhere with so many opportunities (some day!) I would gladly work in a bookstore in my retirement.

Phoenix and on to San Francisco

Just a quick note to catch everyone up and I will try to post some photos later or tomorrow. We have dinner reservations at Boulevard, a renowned San Francisco restaurant (yes, we continue to eat our way through vacation!) so I can't tarry too long on the blog.

Yesterday we were up early to get everyone ready and straighten up the house before we had to check out at 11 AM. We had a little bit of excitement when the house alarm started screeching very loudly and we could not turn it off. No telling what the neighbors thought! Several nights before, we had taken down one of the smoke detectors because it was beeping incessantly to let us know the battery was low. I asked Miles to put it back in place before we left so we would not get in any trouble for dismantling it, and apparently when he tried to replace it, it set off the house alarm somehow. We were frantically searching for directions for the alarm and for the emergency number for the house rental company when the alarm company finally called us. However, they refused to turn off the alarm until they got in touch with the owners. We were joking about saying, "yes, we are robbing the house, but would you please turn off the alarm?!" Eventually, the alarm stopped and the owner called to make sure everything was all right, was very nice to Miles and commented that he hoped we had enjoyed our stay. I imagine he was grateful we hadn't burned his house down. The funniest thing was that Elle was napping and slept through the whole ordeal. We'd been shushing the kids and sometimes the adults through the week so they wouldn't wake up napping babies. When we realized Elle hadn't even stirred, Rich quipped "and you were telling me MY VOICE was TOO LOUD??!"

We loaded our gear into the two cars and headed back toward Phoenix, stopping at an outlet mall to kill about an hour before we had to return the rental vehicles. Did a little shopping and let the grandkids run around on the playground and burn off some energy. We helped the kids check in at the airport and said our goodbyes, always hard to do since we are never sure when we will see them next. We do have our summer trip to the Jersey shore planned in June, though, so we can look forward to that. The week seemed to fly by, as always, and we never seem to be able to squeeze in everything we thought about doing. But it was still wonderful to have our family time (missed you, Corey!) The grandkids are precious and growing fast. I miss everyone already!

Rich and I spent the night in downtown Phoenix, walked around, browsed some shops and had a great Mexican dinner at a place called mi amigos. We were stuffed but we had to split some flan. Can't go to a Mexican restaurant and NOT try the flan! Up early this morning (I can't think of a day on this vacation that I have actually slept very late, darn it!) and off to the airport, had a smooth flight to San Francisco and arrived around noon time here. We pricelined rooms in Phoenix and San Francisco so we are feeling pretty cocky about good prices at nice hotels. LOL We are near Fisherman's Wharf; went out right away and had some lunch, walked around for a couple of hours, rode the cable car down to the Ferry Market and strolled through the shops there. On the way back to the hotel, we spied a Barnes and Noble where I used a Christmas gift card (and, of course, I had to add money of my own because I can't set limits on myself when it comes to books) to get started on my 100 book challenge for 2009. (Okay, I was just going to do 50, but I see that Alaska Steve is going to strive for 100, so I am IN!)

We will be here till Thursday and then to Rich's sister Vesta's in Kingsburg. Rich's stepdaughter Hannah is being dropped off with us on Tuesday and we will take her home to Mariposa on Saturday when we go to see some more of Rich's ex-family. (Yes, it's a modern world!)

Happy New Year from Sedona

The past couple of days have been busy! Yesterday, we took a drive to Montezuma's Castle, misnamed when those who discovered the remains made the assumption that Montezuma had been to this area. It was interesting to imagine what it was like to live in a dwelling on the hillside hundreds of years ago.

Susan and Ally in the car

Elle enjoys her stroller ride.

Ally prefers climbing.

On the way to the ruins.

The remains of a Native American cliff dwelling.

We are loving the warm weather!





Rich and I took a little side trip to see some shops in town.


Today we went to see the Holy Cross Chapel, built on the red rocks outside Sedona.
Lovely cactus flowers

More stunning red rocks

The Holy Cross Chapel




Back at home, we enjoyed some time out on the deck.
This is the stream running by the back of the house.



The boys love the hot tub.




Miles, David and Bonnie went to see the ruins of Tuzigoot. Poor Bonnie has been sick; we think she got food poisoning from our New Year's Eve dinner. She spent most of yesterday in bed but was feeling a little better today.




We were trying to get photos of the grandkids for late Christmas/New Year's cards to send out to family and friends. It's pretty hard to get three active little ones to sit together for long. But they are awfully darned cute, aren't they?

Aidan and Elle. Ally did not want to sit with them and pose.

Elle, Aidan and Ally. They were having fun looking at books but not really posing for the photographer.

Ally was happy as long as we weren't trying to contain her in one spot.


Big brother Aidan and little sister Ally


Aidan is the sweetest boy ever.

Elle is just starting to walk and is so proud of herself.

Tonight is our last night in Sedona. After we went to the chapel, we walked around downtown and had some lunch on an outdoor patio in the sunshine. Bonnie made us some spaghetti for supper and the kids have been playing their never-ending game of Spades all night. Aidan was bored and built a fort in the dining room; now he is asking if he can sleep there. We still have to clean the kitchen and finish laundry before bedtime. The house has to be vacated by 11 AM and then we are driving back to Phoenix where all of the kids have evening flights out and Rich and I are spending the night before flying to San Francisco on Sunday. We have loved our time in Sedona with blue skies, warm breezes, and lots of family fun.

Here's hoping 2009 will be the best ever!

New Year's Eve

Elle loves her cousin Aidan.

Another beautiful sunny day brought the little kids outside to play

while the big kids took another hike




We all went out for a nice New Year's Eve dinner


What could be better than a crazy game of charades to top off the evening?!











Happy New Year, everyone! We wish for peace in the world and happiness for each of you.