Four Days in San Fran

 First Day: car, plane, shuttle, taxi, ferry, bus, BART, tram and feet. Feet that logged miles strolling, walking and yes occasionally running up and down the streets of the San Francisco. It was an adventure to navigate the city and let me tell you Jer can read a map and run down a bus like no other. Authentic Italian on the wharf cafeteria style, sharing a shuttle with a former Raven's player, Walgreen's stops, attack of the bush man that made both Jer and I jump (and no dollar cuz he made us holler) and Alcatraz, maybe our favorite stop!

 100 mph winds almost knocked us over.

 Second Day: Knowing the city so well that we only needed shuttle, train, bus, double decker bus and feet today. We loved the Double Decker bus tour that started off with 'welcome to my nightmare and your vacation', Jer's favorite white-haired row-boat ladies, angry $7 man at the Japanese Gardens, tour bus guide/live music video crasher, playing it safe at HardRock, and jumping the night tour early, "it's only 6 blocks" (and there might be a small stretch of the ghetto in there).

 And there were tons of older Asian people out doing exercise in the park.  I thought this was pretty amazing.  Jer said he could show me something even more amazing.

 Giving it his all.  I think it was the back pack that was keeping him from looking like the yellow lady.

 Our crazy tour bus driver getting in our Full House shot.

 Third Day: Shuttle, Double Decker bus and feet only - oh yeah. Golden Gate bridge, Besty from Escondido, stories of mayorial corruption and her husband Jack Sprat, 4 minute photo-op and Jer's quick thinking to hustle back to the bus to secure our warm seats, sugar high, Chinatown and Jer's question and the witty, "Thank you, No Thank you" response, my question and the obvious zero-response, Jer miraculously finding the fortune cookie factory, the food dealer waiting for us outside in the dark alley, Jer's fateful hesitation which blew my cover and led to 20 questions about our lunch plans because you know that clam chowder down at the wharf is 50-50 from a can.  Jer you may own the map skills on this vacation but let me handle the back-alley dwellers.  Securing seats on the sardine packed shuttle home (actually Jer gave up his seat, he's so sweet), our Canadian friends and their thirst for happy hour, and finally getting back to the hotel in time for the manager's night-time freebies.

 You are looking at the entire fortune cookie factory. And you will get more than fortune cookies here.  I may have gotten a kiss and some hand-holding as well..  We loved this jolly, cute little man.

 We hiked several blocks literally straight up to Lombard street. 

 It was such a workout even I broke out in a sweat and had to peel the coat off.

Fourth Day: Taxi, shuttle, plane, car.  No pics of this day.  We relaxed at the hotel,  then went to the mall and the movies before catching the plane home.  It was the perfect ending to a jam-packed, fun-filled vacation.

Loved every second of this trip with you Jer!

Thanks mom for taking such great care of the kids (and Sarah and Jamie too:)!!

A Quick Trip to Utah

 And we were lucky enough to stay with Jer's Grandma and Grandpa Jensen and play with the kids' favorite toy!

Oh if this porch swing could talk...the stories it would tell!

 They were so good to put up with all of our noisy late nights. We loved sitting out on their porch enjoying the amazing Utah weather, the view from their backyard and playing catch on their soft, green grass! 

And yes, we worked some magic with our rain dance.  The kids had a blast getting soaked running up and down the grassy hill in the pouring rain. 

 We got to see Barry and Emily who made us a delish pancake, bacon and hashbrown breakfast yum! 

Emily and I go waay back to our first year of teaching. We taught first grade for 3 years together and were practically inseparable during that time. She was an amazing friend during my fight with cancer. Some people don't know what to do or say in those situations, but she would always come visit anyway and she always had something up her sleeve for us to do if ever I felt up to it (oh the Christmas tree garland!). 

She was just there bringing happiness to me! Boy do I love her!

And she just promised me that she and her friend are coming to visit me this winter:) Yahoo!

 And here we are, 15 years later with 3 kids each. Beth and Jake are the same age, Ethan and Bree are the same age and Ellie and Luke are just a few years apart.  They all played together like they've been friends forever.

 And they gave Bree a cool pool bag and towel because they know where we live in the summer!
Thanks guys!

 And we zoomed up to Heber to see Uncle Mike, Jessi and Trudy.  
We got all caught up on their family and how big it's grown. 

 And we got to see my sister Deidre and her hubby Quentin. 
And their dogs who I think my kids might love more than their aunt and uncle. And Deidre took care of our kids all day while we went to the wedding, and she tooks some family pics of us too.  Basically took a whole day off  for us! Love her! 

After several failed attempts, we finally got a pic with everyone's eyes open (you know who you are:).
 And then we hit Zach's basketball game.

 There he is with the ball.  He's often mistaken for Justin Bieber.  He's a chick magnet.  He did awesome in his game, it went into overtime, and the Hawks pulled it off!

And we had to stop off and get some of Jake's new found favorite ice cream at the BYU creamery.  It's now everyone's new favorite.  We got to see some of the Mehlers and the Farleys but for some reason I didn't get any pics of those visits! I wish we would have had more time to see my old roomies and our friends from NY, but the time just got away from us!

Snow, Sweet Snow!

We found some on Monday and had a BALL!

Jer was not too happy when I pulled out the coat and mittens I had borrowed for Luke.  

 I think he looks pretty cute myself. 

(Thanks Sarah!) 

 

Need style tips for the snow?  Look no further.

Sledding, building forts and castles, snow sprays, watching the wipe outs of so many people coming down the hill, watching the hot-shots get soaked in the slush, the bull-horn lady and her Spanish speaking skills, getting into the park free, lessons on air pressure from Jake & Doritos, and perfect weather, such good times!!! It was a delightful day! 
Thanks Mumfords for the tip on the park and to you and the Vallerys thanks for delivering on the snow clothes and sleds they worked out perfect! And I'm gonna do a snow dance for you next weekend!