Wednesday, February 29, 2012

California Visit - Part Two

Wow, I'm failing at this blogging thing.  Sorry.


The Rest Of Our California Visit


The time that we weren't in Monterey, we were in Sacramento visiting friends and family.

We took an overnight flight, with the thinking that Perri would sleep during the layover.  Hindsight, I realize how lame that thought was.  Of course she didn't sleep, and a rough night was had.  I worked all day and then we went straight to the airport and headed to Seattle, where we had a 5 hours layover.  Perri spent a large portion of the time running in circles being glared at by others who were trying to sleep.  The times when she wasn't running, or yelling, she was watching the trucks on the tarmac.

Watching the tarmac.



Once we finally made it to my mom's house Perri had a great time playing in her old room.
Her horse from Freddie.



After playing for a few at my moms, I needed Mexican food.  (Yes, NEEDED.  Alaska has quite a few amazing things.  Good Mexican food is not among those things.)  So we decided to run to Adalberto's and then go to Nana's on the way home.

Perri and Nana (and good rolled tacos).

That evening we celebrated Mel's birthday with even more food and an epic cake.  


Epic Cake.

On Sunday we had The Christensen's (Amanda, KC, J, Kayla, and Ty) come over for a playdate.  The kids played in the backyard while the adults (I still don't know how I feel about being an adult...) stayed inside and caught up.

Sidenote:  I adore them.  Seriously a phenomenal family.
Swinging at Gamma's.

Perri and Kayla.

We had dinner at Nana's again and Perri had Rick and Preston wrapped around her finger.  It was pretty cute.

Perri and her boys.



Then we went to Monterey for a few days!  (See the last post...)


Once back I got a haircut.  My bangs were getting out of control so I went and saw Ashley and fixed them!

New bangs!







































We went to Nana's for some more hanging out time.  This time with Judy. 
Perri and Judy.



Just a nice California sky.  (I've been in awe of the skies in Alaska, so this was my reminder that the California one's are nice too.)




We had dinner with the Christensen's at some point and through many attempts to get a group picture, the only one who would smile was Kayla.  So here is the adorable Kayla.  The rest are kind of crazy.
The Hooligans.

We also had dinner with Beth at her new house.  My mom and I (the Pyro's) convinced her to fire up her new fireplace. So here is the first (and probably last) fire she ever had!

Perri coloring by the fire.

I had a Groupon left from before we moved for a place called Icing on the Cupcake.  So we had to use it. It was a good choice.  Perri was thrilled she got to pick out her own cupcake.  (The Blue One, of course.)
The Blue Cupcake.  With "Medicine" on top (according to Perri).

We were also able to get another dinner in with the Tuttle's.  Not the best picture, but it works.  I miss those guys...  Also they're growing up to fast.

Perri, Siobhan, Rick, and Preston.

Eventually we had to leave California, but the state gave us an amazing sunset as a goodbye.  Also we didn't have any crazy layovers, so that helped.

Perri dancing before the flight left.

The Sunset to Portland.










































Our trip was amazing, just way to quick for our liking.  Two weeks went by entirely to fast.  Hopefully we'll make it again this summer!!

(PS: Thanks for getting through that.  I know it was kind of all over the place!)

Thursday, February 9, 2012

California Visit - Part One

It seems like we just got back from our 2 week trip to California, in reality we've been back for almost 2 weeks.  I'm apparently incapable of updating regularly though.

It was a whirlwind 2 weeks; breakfast here, lunch there, dinner elsewhere, repeat the next day.  We had a fabulous time, but it definitely went by very very quickly.

Of course I took pictures the entire time (about 600 in total), and I just started cutting them down.  I've got it down to 86...  I'm thinking that's still to much.  So I'm going to try to cut them down more and break them up in multiple posts.

We spent the first few days in Sacramento area, visiting family and friends quickly but then headed to Monterey and the Bay Area for 5 days.

This is going to be the Monterey & Bay Area pictures.



We started with going to the Aquarium with Troy, Sara, Landon, and Aunt Lindsey.

Watching the otters with Linz.

Perri and I.

Perri with Troy (her Dad). 
The typical jellyfish shot.

Playing with her brother.

They were both to focused to smile.

Mommy and Perri

Landon and Perri (they finally held still long enough)!

Landon, Troy, and Perri.

My baby girl.


After the aquarium we had ice cream and then stayed the night with my old roommate, Kristin.
The next day we went to First Awakenings with Kristin, then played at Lover's Point.  After she became soaked to the bone, we went and spent the afternoon with Troy, Sarah, and Landon.

She was drawing rainbows in the sand.

As much as I love Alaska, I do miss this kind of view.

She fell in.  While being watched by a Harbor Seal.

Yeah, Lover's Point is an amazing view.

Landon and Perri playing on a tractor during our walk.

Perri and Landon crossing the "bridge".

Swinging with her Dad.

Perri and Sara.





Stef and Perri with their snake.




We then spent the evening with Stef, where Perri was able to play with Stef and Randy's kids Noah and Annika.  

In the morning we went to my favorite Bakery, The Buttery, then walked thru Santa Cruz.


Perri and her chosen cookie.
Santa Cruz, another favorite place.

On our Santa Cruz walk.  Perri kept talking about how she wanted to learn to surf.

After Santa Cruz we went back to Moss Landing and visited the Lab.  Perri was in a pill of a mood so we didn't stay that long; we just went to lunch and did a quick tour to say hi to the sea lions.  After that I was able to see Gina and Jackie (while Perri napped in the car) before heading to Portola Valley to see Pete and Colette. 

Aunt Colette and Perri.





The next day my mom took Perri and I was able to stop by 1 Infinite Loop and have coffee with some great people.  I also was able to have dinner with Meg and Alex that evening.


Phew, that's the sum of Monterey and the Bay Area.