4th

We spent the fourth biking across the bridge, although we didn't exactly mean to. We were going to try to get to Golden Gate Park on our rental bikes, but due to construction and bad map-reading, we ended up at the base of the bridge and decided since we were there, we may as well go. Dean had the kids in a trailer that probably weighed as much as they did before we put them in it, but somehow he managed to get across with them past the 30 MPH winds.

I think the kids slept or nearly slept most of the time. It was a little crazy at first, Gavin kept trying to wake up his sister, but after a few stops and runs in the grass, things went pretty smoothly. It was a beautiful day but the bridge was still shrouded in fog, of course!

On the bridge

Under a tower. The winds were especially strong going around these. At one point they stopped me coming around a corner. I'm still not sure how Dean got by with the trailer and kids. Go Dean!

Once we got across it was a little crazy too. We didn't notice the big signs saying that one of the routes to Sausilito was closed so we took off under the bridge and ended up walking the bikes back up so that we could go over and then back down again. Some of the corners were sketchy, especially when the big tour buses went by on a little two lane road with us on the side in the bike lane. But we made it! And took a ferry back to the Pier. Along the way the ferry paused and circled some poor people who had overturned their sailboat in the bay. They were fine and the ferry finally left when another (bigger ;) sailboat approached to help. I couldn't figure out why everybody kept looking at us on the way back to the bike rental but I think it was the two cute tired kids each laying on one side of the trailer...we had a late lunch, took a nap and headed down to the park below Ghirardelli square to watch the fireworks.

You can't really tell in the photo, but the "G" in Ghirardelli had stars and stripes on it. Cute. Aurora dug the live band and danced most of the time.

Gavin was a little more subdued (read: tired) and spent most of the evening snuggled with Daddy waiting for the fireworks to begin. They were amazing of course, and it was nice to watch them at a decent hour, since it got dark at a much more reasonable time...A perfect holiday filled with all kinds of adventures!

Exploratorium

We had fun on Saturday checking out the exploratorium. It was hard to take photographs because it was so dark and badly lit, but Gavin (and Daddy ;) had a great time running around checking things out.





I think the favorite of the day was the miniature steam engine. Both Daddy and Gavin played there for a long time. The place was huge and even tho we spent a couple hours there, we barely saw a portion of their exhibits. Crazy!
We had a picnic lunch outside in the grass and walked around in the park enjoying the sun.

Aquarium

The aquarium was a huge hit, especially with my sweet little animal-lovin' Miss Aurora B.

Jumping

On the Pier. Gavin had so much fun, we actually went back and did it again a few days later. He was very sad when his turns were over...and I can't say as I blame him.

Vaycay!

10 glorious days! We played tourist in San Francisco for a while. After living in a tourist town (and quite a few years in the industry too :) it was our turn for once! Our first day was sunny and hot and we wandered down to the Pier and took a one hour ferry tour.
Pier 39 :D

I had read that many of the sea lions have moved up the coast closer to the Oregon caves, but there were still some there! Gavin loved hearing them bark.

On the boat

Past Alcatraz

Under the Golden Gate Bridge

Aurora wasn't too sure about it all

But she sure was cute!

Then Jennifer and Jon came into the city to watch the kids for us while Dean and I got to enjoy a whole dinner to ourselves without little ones to worry about. Happy early anniversary to us! Four years :)