Home Again

John had to work in the Bay Area last week and since the kids were on spring break we decided to go with him.  I have made only a few short visits since I left home 14 years ago.  It was fun to go but it was not nearly enough time to visit old friends or to show my kids all the fun things that are out there.  During the day while John was at work the kids and I did day trips.

We got to ride BART into San Francisco, and that was a favorite part of the trip.  When it was crowded on our way back a sweet lady offered her seat to Hyrum.  Hyrum refused because he thought it was so cool that he could stand up.  We did the touristy stuff and went to pier 39 and saw the sea lions there, went on a boat ride around the bay, watched street performers and had a lot of fun.  What the kids really liked was being able to be little boys.

We also got to enjoy going to some of San Francisco's great museums and the Jelly Belly Factory in Fairfield. I wish I had the camera with me when the boys tried the booger flavored one's.  Aparently they don't taste as good as the real thing. The kids were thrilled when we brought bags of Belly Flops home. I got to see some old friends but not nearly enough. I will have to take multiple trips back to be able to see everyone.

                                   

John was able to join us for a few outings.  We went to see the elephant seals in Ano Nuevo.  Most of the adults had left already but there were a lot of weaned pups still there.  We saw one of them make it's way out to the water and swim away.  It's so funny to watch them on land because they look like giant slugs moving around.

 

We also got to see the Oakland temple,

 

and of course we had to take a trip to Fentons

A Two Sport Family

Hyrum caught the first hit and immediately threw it to first base.

We told Hyrum that he had to wait until he was seven to start playing a sport.  He talked all the time about taking taekwondo lessons like Alan.  He would  even practice TKD while watching Alan take his classes.  However when it got close to his seventh birthday and we asked him what sport he wanted to play he didn't hesitate when he said he wanted to play baseball.

So Hyrum is signed up for little league and had his first practice this week.  Aside from being embarassed that he wasn't wearing baseball pants (he wasn't the only one) he loved it.  He hit every ball the coach threw at him and when throwing the ball he actually got the ball in the near vacinity of the person he was throwing to.  Most of all though he loved that it was his turn in the spotlight.

We experienced our first Saturday of being a two sport family yesterday.  Hyrum had his first "game" (a one inning scrimige) and opening day of little league.    I noticed a running theme with the pictures I took of Hyrum.

Then we had to rush to taekwondo where Alan had a tournament.  Alan has gotten a lot better in sparing and took second place, as well as a third place in his weapons competition.  It was a long day that had us going for eight hours but the kids really felt special.