San Francisco 2012

So last week we went to California for a quick family trip.

Ry's brother Chris (&Geniel) live in Stockton

and Taylor was playing a few games in the bay area.

So we killed a few birds with one stone and set out.

Stone #3.  

Seeing how Jack did on a quick plane ride.  Verdict.  Fail. 

There are for sure no trips to Hawaii or Florida in our future.

Darn.

So, my pictures don't do much justice to our fun trip, but here's the run down of what we captured.

Wednesday

We flew into the Oakland airport so once there we did some wandering.

Ash and Ben's darling apartment

A quick drive through of Cal U. where our niece is attending optometry school.

Oakland Temple.

So pretty!

Baby J and uncle Chris

Love this picture of JJ. 

Sorry Ry.

Thursday

We headed down (up? over?) to San Francisco to watch Taylor's first game.

Rainy day at Pier 39.  

Tatum's first interaction immediately out of the car:

A large (large! weird!) Asian lady with a holey eye patch, and no teefers following us around oogling our JackJack.

She wanted to go back to Stockton.

It was a super rainy day, and we DO NOT know how to work umbrellas. 

Both Tate and I had to apologize one bajillion times for poking and pushing people.

Who would have thought that?  You would think umbrella using would be easy.

It's not.  That's so weird.

Those New Yorkers are even MORE cool to me now.  

This is my annoyed face.  Ive never actually seen it before.

When this face is on Ryan says.. "You look like you are ready to kill me."
Sometimes I am.  

And look at Tates VVEERRRY concerned face.  

I'm going to have to agree with them.  

I'm very scary when I'm agitated.

Ill work on that for sure.

Checkin out Alcatraz, and the seals.

Okay.  So here, Tatum made me tear up.  I realized what kindred spirits we are.

It hit me like a refreshing ocean wave that makes you giggle like a kid, and feel so alive and valid!

Now. 

I'm not talking about her giving this street performer money.

Oh no.  Ive seen this before.

A solicitor cannot knock on our door without Tatum immediately running to her room to give them all of the money in her piggy bank.  Whether we purchase something or not.

And when we are down at The Gateway shopping, 

 her favorite part of the day is to hand some green to the homeless man standing on the corner of the parking garage.
 She is such a giving little thing.  It really does make me swell with pride.

This.  This is what made me cry.

She offered the man a warm doughnut.

We had just purchased a bucket BUCKET of hot mini doughnuts.

And when he accepted, she reached her hand into the bag, picked him a couple out, and handed them back to him.

As we walked away,
 Ryan said
"Tate!  If you offer someone something, you should let them pick out the one(s) that they want."

And Tatum responded

(cue angels)

"Well, I thought about that, but I just kept thinking how if he stuck his wet, dirty, drum playing hand into my doughnuts, I just wouldn't be able to eat anymore."

She doesn't even know about man scratching problems yet and she is still so wise!

Tatum! I LOVE YOU!!

You are my daughter!!  You listen!! Germs!! No GERMS!!

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO YOUR MAMA!

(i have problems.  i know)

Walking up Lombard Street.

Seriously.  I need to hit the gym.

*Thanks for buying me that membership babe!  I'm gonna get goin so soon!*

Driving down Lombard Street

Jack fell asleep in the car our or way to Tay's game.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!!

Even as an INFANT!  Only hours old!
This kid much prefers to cry and scream in the car than to sleep.

"No thanks" he says.

Tay warming up 

Me (and my blasted double chin) trying to entertain my wiggly baby

Ry entertaining our wiggly baby

Tate entertaining our wiggly baby.

"SOOO BIG"

JJ was dressed VVEERRY warmly for our rainy day out, and it was HOT in that gym.

That's why he is only wearing a onesie and socks.

Even though this is my very favorite look on him, I am a slightly better ma than that.

(usually)

Some of Taylor's team (BYU Hawaii)

The Seasiders won!

the middle gal Shayla (with the happiest smile ever) had 39 points that game!  It was awesome!

I wish I could report that Taylor had 39 points.  But it is a historic FACT that Taylor CHOKES when I attend her games. 

 *hi tay*  

She generally averages 12 points a game, and lots of rebounds and blocks and steals and stuff.  Steals? 

Anyways.  She is a great player!  :)

Jack LOVED Shayla.  She is his girlfriend.  I could not wrestle him away from her.  It was cute.

Back in Stockton

"Hold on mom.  Ive gotta jump on this (flipvid) call"

Magical Aunt Geniel playing memory with Jack.

I think she let him win.

Uncle Chris feeding JJ lemons. 

He likes sour stuff.  Its bizarre.

Friday

We went out to dinner at a place called BJ's.  

It was such a fun atmosphere, and the food was awesome.

Tate was in charge of the pics.

Ben and Ash

Not bad eh?

On Saturday

Tate and I headed back down (up? over?) to San Fran for another Taylor Game.

My Dad, Delynn, Devyn, and Jace were also in San Francisco to support Taylor.

But can I just say!

!!Thank goodness for navigation systems!! What did people do before them!!!

Ryan and Jack stayed in Stockton to attend a basketball game at University of Pacific

where Chris is the athletic trainer.  

As we were leaving, Ry and Jack saddled up, and went for a nice little stroll around the neighborhood.

I cant wait for stroller season here.

*although I don't know why!  Jack wont stay in his stroller.  

He much prefers to be held while HE pushes it.

You should have SEEN the absolute horrifying spectacle he made out of himself as we were going through the airport security. We had to pull him off of the stroller so it could be folded up, and put through the xray thingy.

It was bad.

You would have thought we folded up his finger in the stroller.

It was bad.

Anyways.

Ry Jack walked

Me Tate travelled. (up? down? over?)

Right.

So.
Fun time with the Jaceter

Dad and Delynn

I saw my first TRADER JOES!  

I wanted to go inside sooo bad!

What IS inside of there!!?

Why do so many bloggers love the Trader Joes?

WHAT IS INSIDE OF THERE!

It looked like a dumpy liquor store to me.

Maybe next time.

Dinner at Pier 39

stupid chin

Trying to take a neat pic.

I'm clueless.

Trying so hard to take a cool jumping picture!

Sweet hops babyjace!

Devyn!  Get off the ground!

My dad and jace were "planking" everything they could plank.

I know it doesn't look funny.

But it was sooo funny.

What a cute little papa we have.

Sayin Aloha to Tay with their secret handshake!

Aloha Tay!

See ya next month! 

Bay bridge on our way back to Stockton

Sunday

Churchies and Piano

 I have got to say

Chris and Geniel were the best hosts ever.

They treated us to several lunches, and made killer dinners!

They humored our kids to the max. 

 They both went out of their way to make Tatum feel so special.

Geniel let her help cook every meal, and treat she made.

She is so kind and patient.

Spending time in their home made me realize that kind of mother I really want to be.

Patient patient patient and  more patient.

I am always so all over Tatum about having good manners, or not bugging people, or being obnoxious, or to "just let me do it" or being in a hurry,

 or 

just being super busy having a giant stick in ma keester!

that I never just let her be a kid.

She's 9!  

She's experiencing things for the first time! Shes learning new things every day! 

And she's developing her own (very intelligent) thoughts and opinions.

And I need to refreakinlax and let her be her.

Both Chris and Geniel were so good to show us that.

And oddly enough

 Jack is in a very similar stage in his sweet little life too.

Life is good.