Cali part 1: Visiting Modesto

Matthew and I have went on a big adventure.  July 3rd we took off for California to visit Phil's family for a week, and then we visited my side.  12 days (4 planes and 1 train) later we arrived back home.

  Day 1:  We got up at 3 am and left for the airport at 3:30.  The sun is coming up and we are waiting on the shuttle.

 Ready for take off!

Two planes later, we surprise Phil's family by Phil being at the airport.  He pretended he couldn't make it.

 We drove over to see Phil's parents and look at his dad's semi.  

 

 Day 2: Happy 4th of July!  

We played darts.

 *photo by Tara

 (Phil complained I was killing his darts.)   *photo by Tara

 Aunti Tara looked quite festive!

 There was a ton of pool action.

 And cousinly silliness.   *photo by Tara

 *photo by Tara

 Phil and I with his Uncle's Mickey and Dan.    *photo by Tara

 Get ready...    *photo by Tara

 ...JUMP!

 Finally Fireworks!

 Nicole wrote her and Matthew's names on road.

 Riley and Matthew tried badmitton.   *photo by Tara

 Hands down the best photo we've taken since our wedding.   *photo by Tara

 *photo by Tara

Day 3:  Hung out, visited with family, and went shopping for Matthew's birthday presents.  Here is a blurry photo of Matthew shooting Uncle Dan with his Captain America shield.  As you can see, Dan was too quick for him, but they had fun.

 Day 4:  Found us at the Oakland Zoo.  With Aunti Shelly.    *photo by Tara

 Boys in an observatory tunnel.

 On a spiderweb at the insect park.

 Matthew in front of a fossilized sea turtle.

 In the petting zoo section a cat stalked a mouse/chipmink type animal.

 Matthew was enchanted with the boy sized door.

 Hummingbirds were all over sunny California.  This is probably the best photo I ever took.

 Huge tortoise.

 Riley and Matthew up a tree.

 The boys spotted the zoos little train.  We had to ride it.

 *photo by Nicole

 *photo by Tara

 *photo by Dan

 *photo by Tara

*photo by Tara

 After the zoo, we drove into San Fransisco.  Here is the bay and city, with the Golden Gate peeping out behind the skyline.

 We went to Pier 39.  And my cameras battery died.  Didn't bring the charger.  It was a very sad moment.

 Something famous in the background.   *photo by Dan

*photo by Tara

 

 At the arcade.

 There was such awesome old games there.  If I'd had my camera useable, oh the photos I'd have now!  Nicole was sweet enough to let me borrow hers and transfer her and her mom's photos to my card.  Thanks so much Nicole!

 Eating a crab sandwich at the Fisherman's Wharf.  Of course, Phil is the only one who got beef.    *photo by Tara

 Alcatraz and us.   *photo by Tara

Another at the arcade.  What a fun day!

Day 5:  We hung out with Phil's parents, Aunt Donita, brother Jeffrey, significant other, and their baby.  Matthew had fun playing with her.  Later that night he had his first ever sleepover at Riley's house.  He was so excited.

 Day 6:  We got to eat lunch with Alex, Phil's best man, and met his wife.  We hadn't seen him since our wedding 8 years ago.  We also spent some more time with Phil's parents and Riley spent the night with Matthew.

 Day 7:  We ate at the taco trucks and got ready to leave.    *photo by Tara

Only photo with Garrett.   *photo by Dan

It was also the day we took Matthew to Build a Bear and let him get a Hot Lights bear, with shoes to match his.  He was so pumped he made up a song that's chorus was, "Build a Bear Bear, Build a Bear Bear."  Best lyric, "We looked a whole bunch of sounds and decided we didn't need any."  Matthew had the whole car in stitches.

It was the best trip back we've made.  We had a blast.  Next time I will remember my charger, so I don't miss a thing.