Squeezing in the fun

Only a week & 1/2 left of vacation - we are trying to make the best of it!  We went camping for a couple of nights at Lake Berryessa.  When Eddie & I first met we would go camping at this lake practically every weekend - sometimes even leaving early Monday morning going straight to drop Billy at school at get to work-damn we were young & motivated;-).  Well within the past 5ish years for some reasons really confusing, the Bureau of Rec has come along an removed all the resorts along the lake.  There used to be restaurants, ice cream shops, bars & a ton of full hook-up camping.  Now it's a ghost town up there.  We love the lake but really hadn't been up there in a couple of years - it was time.

Lake time - 

Cooper is always finding new places to jump & do flips off the boat

 Roxy the trooper

 Tubing fun

 Cooper

 Cameron

 Frisbee time

 Beautiful @ night too

It was nice being in our old stomping grounds - we gotta do it more often!

A visit at the lake

We were leaving Donner Lake on Saturday and got a text from my sister that she & her family were coming up to hang out.  What an awesome surprise!

We met for dinner on Saturday night at a little brewery we eat at when we come up in the winter. Here is the boys with their cousin Ethan.

 Group shot (thanks Cameron).  Normally this walkway is covered in snow, it was so strange seeing it this way.

 Back at Donner Lake on Sunday.  Ethan, Mike, Cameron & Cooper got busy paddle boarding.

 Becky & I needed a turn

 Eddie helping Cooper get started the previous day

 Cameron had a knack for this sport

 Sisters enjoying the lake

It was fun for our families to hang out.  We don't see them often and it was great being somewhere so relaxing! Yay Tahoe!

Where is all the snow?

Tahoe in the summer!  Who knew?  It is absolutely gorgeous.  Our friends have a "cabin" up in Truckee and since they were going to Lake Shasta they offered it to us to stay in.  Lucky us!

This place is so fun in the summer.  There was so much we wanted to do,  just not enough time to squeeze it all in.  The lake is so incredibly blue - no wonder everywhere you go around the lake has stickers & t-shirts to "Keep Tahoe Blue".  It's freezing cold water but so beautiful to boat around.  There are several restaurants & beaches you can boat up to and just simply amazing views all around the lake including some housing that is unbelievable.

This is an area called Emerald Bay.  There is this stone structure on top of this island that you can hike up to.  The tourist boats go there and let everyone hike up.

Cooper & I enjoying the boat ride

This shot is actually at Donner Lake.  We spent an afternoon there at our friends private (well private for the HOA they belong to) paddle boarding and swimming.  We had always wanted to try paddle boarding we see people doing it all the time.  We love it!  We were all pretty darn good at it and went for a nice ride into this lagoon on this lake.  Uh Oh - a new sport we love!

More time at Donner Lake.  The kids played on these things forever -  I think we need to invest in some.

Enjoying Lake Tahoe

Eddie's amazement at the beauty of this lake

A shot of our friends "cabin" - so awesome they let us use it.

We hope to go back next summer.  We have a list of things to do up there.  There are so many hiking trails, river rafting, mountain biking  - and even hanging out at the ski resorts which open for swimming, hiking, biking and ropes courses.  We love Tahoe in the summer!

A Day in San Francisco

San Francisco!

You can't come here and not spend a day (or more if you have time) in the city.  There was so much to see and do we couldn't fit it all in.  

We started on Lombard Street - said to be the crookedest and steepest street in the world (actually untrue -but so fun to drive down and amaze people with)

 From there we headed over to AT&T Park - Home of the San Francisco Giants

 the Giants are #1

 a little stroll along the outside of the stadium

then over to lunch at Red's Java House - yum great burgers & beer

then we were off to Pier 39 - wow is that place crowded - fun to walk around and snack & shop

a nice view of Alcatraz from the pier

a little action on the street

and a stop near the Golden Gate Bridge

It was such a fun day but so hard to end it.  After dinner (Teresa finally got her steak and potato's) we had to say bye.  The tears were flowing but we hope to make it out there soon to see everyone so we just have to look forward to that.
We had such a great time over the week and are still using our Southern accents from time to time y'all!

Fun at 6 Flags

We decided to check out 6 Flags Discovery Kingdom - for some reason still unknown it happened to be the busiest day of the season.  Despite the crowds, we had a great day checking out all the animals and even going on a few rides.  

Here is Cooper ready to feed the elephant after the elephant show

She took that snack right out of Sumer's hand!

 Cooper & Sumer checking out the dolphins after the show

 Grandma Sylvia, Teresa & all the kids hoping to touch a sting ray

 A little rest while Sumer & Grandma Sylva are on a roller coaster

 Sisters

 Cooper (Sumer, even though you can't see her in the picture) & I getting wet on the log ride.  Thank you for the rain jacket Sylvia!

It was a long day with alot of walking but everyone had a great time. Sumer even talked the boys into doing some rides which normally doesn't happen.  I'm sure the kids have some great memories of this day.
OK...post 2 of the "California Vacation"