Big Sur and Home

On July 2nd we finished packing the car and headed out of Stinson at about 10am. I was so sad to leave, but knew I would be back soon. We headed to Gale's in the city and brought all of our "beach gear" to her house for next time. The girls and I stayed with her for a few hours while John took the car to get an oil change. It was so nice to spend some time with Gale. She is such a special person and she really is part of our family. I also love being at my aunt Helen's house (Gale lives there). She has been got for a while now, but her house still has a special feeling.

Me and Gale

When the car was ready we headed down the coast to Big Sur. It is a spectacular drive. We got to our hotel and checked in and headed to the pool. John took the girls swimming and I got organized - we took a little walk in the river and had some dinner. The girls watched a movie in the room and we relaxed. In the morning we got up and went to Deetjens for breakfast. This place is magical and it looks almost the same as it did when it was built in the 1930's. Not that kid friendly, but we enjoyed our meal.
The beautiful waterfall Deetjens

From there we went to see the waterfall that goes into the ocean at Julia Pfeiffer State Park - the view was amazing!Then we headed back to the hotel and John took the girls to the pool while I packed up. We ended up staying there until 3pm. Anna decided she was done with the pool and we hung out in the river!

At 3 we got in the car and continued South. We stopped along the way to get some fireworks and for dinner. We made it to Santa Maria in time for another dip in the pool - my kids LOVE to swim! We stayed there for the night and in the morning finished our drive home. We arrived home to some neighbors having a 4th of July celebration so we joined in - ALL of the kids (and adults) enjoyed the fireworks!

It was a special 3 weeks and we miss all of our family and friends in Northern California! It means the world to me that my girls get to have all of the special memories of San Francisco and Stinson that I got to have as a child. Thank you Auntie Sophie, Auntie Effie, Auntie Kathleen, Patty, Gale, Uncle John, Great Uncle Johnny, Great Aunt Kay, Rosie, Chrissy, and Annie for making our trip so special! We love you!!!

My Birthday

In Patty's Garden July 1, 2010 - I had a perfect day! I got to sleep in and then relaxed and read. I went to Bolinas for a few things (going there always makes me happy). We played on the beach with the girls and then decided to go on an adventure. When we were driving down our street our friend Annie came driving up and jumped out of her car. She had a gift for me from my mom. It was a gift certificate to her wonderful book store! When we pulled onto the road the plan was to go to point reyes station, but as we drove we decided to go to Point Reyes Light House instead. It is a beautiful drive that takes you through the town of Inverness and some woods and then through a number of farms. The farms on the point all date back to the 1800's and are wonderful to see. The cows come right up to the road and the girls loved that. It is a long, slow, and relaxing drive - I loved it! When we got to the Light House both girls were asleep and it was WINDY. So windy that they closed the stairs going down to the lighthouse. John tried to go and I stayed in the car - I got out to see the view which was breathtaking! The girls woke up on the ride back and we stopped at Drakes Bay. We got back to Stinson at dinner time and tried the new restaurant in town. The food was good and it was very kid friendly - prefect for us. We headed back to the house and Patty took some pictures. Lilly asked that we take our pictures in Patty's garden and not on the beach (Lilly LOVES Patty's garden). She got some great pictures! I felt beyond blessed to get to spend my 34 th birthday in the same place I spent my 1st birthday. I do not think that words can express how much Stinson Beach and the people there mean to me. It truly is my happy place!

Cows with the ocean in the background Point Reyes Light House

A few more days at Stinson – (6/28-6/30)

Monday afternoon we relaxed on the beach and I made dinner at home. Tuesday we had some wonderful visitors. Ann came down from Marshall (about 40 minutes North right on Tomales Bay) to spend time with us at the beach. Ann is my brother Justin’s mom. She is so fun to be with and we had a wonderful time talking and enjoying the beach. My sweet cousin’s also came up a little later in the day. They brought lunch for all of us! I just love Effie and Kathleen so much and so wish we all lived closer. We all enjoyed lunch together at the house and then headed back to the beach. It was a perfect beach day (all week has been perfect weather). Ann headed back to Marshall and Effie and Kathleen left a little after. I went to Parkside to pick-up a pizza for dinner. Wednesday we went on a hike from the Pan Toll station. We hiked about 1.5 miles and Lilly did great! Anna is still refusing to wear shoes so we carried her the whole way! She did love the little “island” we found near a beaver dam and walked around in the rocks and water. We headed home and Anna fell asleep in the car and John, Lilly, and I had lunch. I went to the Annie’s bookstore alone and got a book and a few little things. I just love Stinson Beach Books and it is a treat to go alone and just look and shop. John took Lilly surfing and Anna and I relaxed and played. At 6pm Rosie (she is the mom of a childhood friend of mine Chrissy and I have known her since the 2nd grade – I even went along on family vacations with them as a kid, and she now lives in Stinson and is one of Patty’s closest friends – small world =)) and Patty came over to watch the girls. John and I headed to the Coast Café in Bolinas for a Yummy dinner. We go there every year just the 2 of us – it is a fun tradition. After dinner we headed to The Sand Dollar for a drink. When I was little our friends owned The Sand Dollar and I have fond memories of Sophie, Carlisle, and I eating a big piece of mud pie. We got back to the house and everyone was very happy – they had made cookies and then went to get ice cream and played at the park in town. The girls had such a wonderful time with Patty and Rosie and Anna woke up this morning and asked if Patty was coming back to make more cookies. Good thing Patty is right next door.