We're Bringing AWESOME Back!

So Nathan decided that this year was going to be the "Year of Awesome" in the Crum family. He wants to do awesome things and take awesome trips and really put some major deposits in the family memory and bonding bank. We are of course very on board and ready for the adventures. So, our first awesome outing was to San Francisco a couple of Saturdays ago. We started with a short stop at the Jelly Belly Factory and let the kids pick whatever treat they wanted from the candy shop-a great start! They thought it was so fun to pick whatever flavor of jelly beans they wanted. Then we drove almost to the top of Mt. Tamalpais, then hiked the last mile. It was just the right kind of trail for our 4 kids. Carter was able to make it all the way all by himself-we were so proud! It was a perfectly beautiful day and at the top we could see for quite a ways-almost back to Lodi. We could see the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco city skyline. There were fun rocks to climb, it was green and luscious and we got in some good photos:

Zach basking in the sun and his own "awesomeness" :)
Can you see SF in the background?

The beautiful view hiking back down the mountain.



Then we drove to the Golden Gate Bridge-it was a little tricky figuring out how to get there and park so we could walk across it, but we were determined to do so, especially since the day was so warm and clear. It was a little too long for us to walk all the way across and back, so we walked about half way.

Morgan taking her turn with Carter on the bridge.



On the Golden Gate Bridge


Nathan really wanted to show the kids Fort Point-a Civil War fort that's right below the bridge. He got to go there on a field trip as a kid and wanted us to see it. It was even tricker figuring out how to get there! We couldn't find the trail. We tried to scale our way down the mountain once, but it was muddy and too steep for our gang, so we hiked back up, went back to the car, drove to the fort and hurry and took a gander. Didn't get pictures there-probably because we were in a hurry to get it all in before it closed.
Morgan and Zach wanted to eat in Chinatown, because they'd done it before with G and G Crum, so we drove up and down the streets of the city and walked down the main street until we found a restaurant. It was quick service, but I'd give the food about 2 stars. :( BUT, while we were eating, there was a band playing in the streets outside and we could see lots of kids with dragon costumes. We thought it might be something for Chinese New Year, but it turned out it was a grand opening of another restaurant and they were putting on a big show! So, we had to stay! There were apparently some very important people there for it, so that's who's in this picture. And THEN, after much anticipation and engineering, they let off a 3 story string of firecrackers right there in this narrow street! It was so loud, went on for almost 4 minutes straight, smoke everywhere, dragons dancing...it was very exciting. Carter was scared silly, I was laughing, the kids wanted to go home, but Nathan and I were intent on living this day to the very fullest! :)


There were a few moments during the day that I totally had flashbacks of family trips when I was a kid and mom and dad being excited to show us something and we were impatient, underimpressed, and whiny. So, I guess it's payback time. Thanks for putting up with us Mom and Dad and providing memories! Overall, it was a fabulous day and we look forward to the next awesome trip Nathan has planned for us. Stay tuned....