Not all so sad

So the time we spent in California wasn't all sad all the time. Yes it was hard and sad to think that Dad is not with us anymore but I really know that I will see him again and am so thankful for the wonderful memories that I have of him and the strength he is in my life. His example will always influence my family.

We did do some really fun things while in California. We tried at times tto distract Nana from feeling sad and I think we helped some. The kids had so much fun at Mom's house. I know they weren't used to all the extra space and the weather (we froze our butts off most of the time, you have to remember we came from 90+ degrees and we were lucky if it got to the low eighties while there) So here are some great fun pictures of us while there.

The kids had so much fun playing in Nana's backyard. Brady (betsy's son) and Thomas sure like playing in the dirt. and the weather was perfect not like here.

We went into Oakland to the temple one day it was really cold and windy but the kids were amazed with the temple and that you could walk around on top of the temple. Thomas didn't want to get his picture taken that day but Nana held him still. One of my most favorite pictures. That day we also went to try and find this park in berkeley and got totally lost and driving around. Dad really would have been laughing at us that day.

Of course being home we had to go to Jelly Belly. Aaron and Amanda and I went while Nana and Thomas took a nap.

One of the days we took the ferry from Vallejo through the bay into San Francisco. We had so much fun that day and thankfully it wasn't too cold. It actually was the perfect weather. The kids were amazed by the ferry and the ocean and everything. We walked around through the farmers market and just had a good time. The kids really were good and kept going even by the end when they were so tired. I think these pictures are so post card pictures. Thats the bay bridge behind the kids. great shot.

Nana helped us make strawberry jam one day and this is Amanda enjoying the fruits of our labors. We had so much fun and now we have yummy jam.

Thomas is the closet in age to any of his cousins. First picture is of the three two year olds. Roxy (roxanne Barbara's youngest) is the oldest by nine days. Then Thomas , Then Brady (Betsy's son) who is about six months younger than Roxy and Thomas. Now who is the smallest of the three of them of course Thomas. Boy my children got the small genes in the family. Brady could pull Thomas around in the wagon but there was no way that Thomas could pull Brady.

We went to the beach one day. Well actually we went to a marine mammel rescue center first but you had to be really quite and the kids weren't so much into it so we stumbled on to this beach. It was so foggy but really beautiful and I love these shots of the kids and of Mom.

Brady and Thomas go to spend alot of time together since Betsy lives close and had time off work. They really loved playing together and Thomas is still asking to play with Brady. Why do we live so far away again? Oh yeah we are suppose to.

Then a couple days before we left almost all of us went to the San Francisco Zoo. It was cold in the morning but turned out to be a lovely day. So starting from the front of the hippo to the back. Aaron age 8, Thomas age 2, Brady age 2, Amanda age 5, Cadence age 3(my great neice, my oldest sister is a grandma and this is her oldest grandchild), Roxy age 2, and in the back of the second picture is Katie (cheryl's daughter) age 13. It was a great day at the zoo and I really love this picture too.

well after leaving Nana's house we drove to Southern California and met up with Dave and went to Disneyland for a day. I don't have time to upload all those pictures so I will save that for another day. Hope you enjoyed our family time we sure did.