California baby!

We made our family trip to California this year and visited my family in Sacramento and some good friends who now live in San Francisco.  We got up before God woke up at 2am to get to the airport and on the plane.  Here's Dane and Drake in our rental car before we even were able to stop and get lunch.

Drake

Dane

We BBQ'd and played cards with my family every night.  This evening was at my Uncle Dale and Aunt Pauline's place.  My Aunt Pauline made a home-made slip-n-slide for the boys...

Almost every day Drake would ask for a fly swatter.  Occasionally he would kill one too.

Andy relaxing (trying to) with the boys after a big meal and before losing to cards again:)

Another BBQ at my cousin Terry's.  We had bought a little pool for our boys when we were out there 2 years ago and my cousin Terry saved it and put it up for them again for this evening. 

 Uncle Kennth, Terry and Aunt Pauline

We did a lot of relaxing...

Uncle Dale

We took off for 3 days and went to San Francisco to go to Pier 39 and their Six Flags out their (our season passes work at all the parks).  Drake had taken a liking to Uncle Kenneth's stuffed puppy so we brought it with us and returned it once we went back to his house.

The Six Flags was quite a bit smaller than ours here in St. Louis and didn't have a water park, but was okay to us because it had a Sea World in it.  Here we are before the Dolphin Show.  We spent more time watching the shows than anything else.  That also allowed us time to visit with Rob and Julie since they met us there.

I let Dane chauffeur me around in the bumper cars....Oh My Gosh!  I had a raw mark on my neck from the seat belt.  This is before the thing even got turned on and I'm giving Andy the regret look.

 Right afterwards Andy went on this water ride with the boys. Here's my turn to practice with the zoom on his new camera.

No only did this Six Flags have dolphins, but it had land animals as well.  Of course we watched the tiger show.  That's a big animal.  I was looking for the place where the sharp-shooters would be hiding; out of sight, but close enough to help if necessary.

 Dane rode an elephant

Drake would not, but here he is petting his ear. 

Rob and his youngest (Mary Helen) rode with him.

 Drake opted for something a little more tame...

He rode it several times, so Dane joined in too.

The lines were surprisingly small, so they got to ride a lot of the kids rides a few times each.  Rob and Julie watched the boys for a few minutes so Andy and I could ride a big roller coaster.  

Towards the end of the day we watched the whale show.  We were close (Drake's request) and we got soaked.  Then he cried, said he was cold and wanted to move back.  By this time it had been a long day for all of us.  I was cold, hungry and tired too.  The wonderful thing about going to our Six Flags is we live close and we can spend a couple hours there and go home.  This one we stayed at from open to almost closing time.

We went to a Mexican restaurant and hung out with Rob and Julie before saying good bye for another year. Here's Andy and Rob...buds from college.

Our last day in San Francisco we spent swimming...another long day.  On the way back to Sacramento Drake fell asleep in the car with the puppy.  Upon arrival, he didn't want to get up.  So we put him to bed...with the puppy.  I love sleeping pictures:)

Another night of cards:

Cousin Susie and Uncle Kenneth

Uncle Kenneth and Aunt Pauline

Andy and Susie

Uncle Kenneth and Uncle Dale

 Our flight out of California wasn't until 4pm.  I planned it that way so we could sight-see downtown and visit the train museum again.  But what I didn't plan for was the delay in Vegas getting us home at 3am instead of 1:30am...which was bad enough.  THAT was our longest day.  But before that we did have fun at the museum and downtown area.

Drake in front of the train

Dane in the train

Just when I think I'm caught up, we take more pictures!  We installed an above ground pool this week and have spent our time in that.  Since all of our fireworks in the area were cancelled we hung around home and celebrated in our own way.  Andy has another 1/2 IronMan competition Saturday in which we'll likely have another couple victory pictures from that.  Other than that we've got a pretty low-key rest of the summer planned...except for August when the birthdays start...mine the 11th, Drake's the 14th, Andy's the 27th and Dane's Sept 2nd...and then our 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY on the 14th!

Til the next time, stay cool:)