Cathi has inherited a gene from her paternal relatives that causes her to drive from Aldergrove, BC to Moss Beach, California, straight through - about 18 hours! Fortunately, her kids are great travelers and Sean was able to share the driving duties. They left home at 4:00 am on Friday morning, and rolled in here about 9:30 pm Friday night! Patience was convinced that they had spent a night in the car, and had been driving for TWO days. I'm sure it felt like that!
They were all happy to get to Grandma and Grandpa's house, and be OUT of the van. We had a great time planned for them during their short visit with us. We had a leisurely Saturday morning, breakfast, playing, etc., then we threw together some clothes, swim suits and sleep-wear, a picnic lunch and headed over the hill.
Our first stop was at Coyote Point, where they have a phenomenal playground, with a three-story castle. The kids loved it! They were able to run and play and slide and swing, and Sean was fantastic about keeping an eye on them, playing tag, pushing the swings, etc. We had a picnic lunch, and the kids fueled up and then just kept going. When they had played till they dropped, we took them to the Coyote Point museum, where they saw animals and did lots of interactive, hands-on stuff.
Then, it was on to the Embassy Suites, where we had a room for the night. The kids enjoyed swimming while Grandma and Grandpa picked up pizza for dinner. It was an early night for some very exhausted kids, but, after breakfast on Sunday morning, it was back in the pool for more fun. Sean again took point and swam with them and kept an eye on everyone.
After checking out, we went to Central Park in San Mateo, which has a great playground, although not as nice at the one in Coyote Point. But, it DOES have a train that the kids were able to ride! We had a picnic lunch there and lots of fun. Then we loaded everyone up and went to Old Navy!! The kids were not nearly as impressed with this activity. But the girls got some new flip-flops and swim suits, and they all got candy at check-out, so everyone was happy in the end.
Sunday evening was quiet - dinner, dessert and videos, till bedtime. Again, pretty exhausted kids!
On Monday we had a leisurely morning, breakfast, playing and videos. Grandpa and Sean took the bikes out for a trip down the Coastal Trail. Cathi and I met them with the kids at the beach by the harbor. The weather wasn't great, but it wasn't raining, and we all had a great time. The kids loved the beach, and since we were inside the breakwater, the waves were small and fun, not large and dangerous! Patience and Sean built a great castle, as did Jordyn. Nick had great fun running to and away from the waves. He discovered that when he threw a stick into the water, the waves brought it back. That was good for lots of entertainment. We had the requisite picnic lunch, which everyone enjoyed.
As we were having lunch, we saw a gopher, coming up out of his hole and pulling grass down into it. He was not at all afraid of us, and continued to come way out even when we were close. We all got a kick out of that. Then it was time to gather up and head home. Lee and Sean pedaled home, and Cathi and I marshaled the kids and stuff into the van. Home and into the shower, since we had very sandy kids.
We had another quiet evening - the kids played and watched videos, Cathi and I did some laundry, and Cathi began the daunting task of organizing to pack and leave on Tuesday.
Tuesday morning we woke up to RAIN! But it didn't matter, as we had no outside plans. Cathi miraculously got all packed up and we got everything stuffed into the van. After lunch they loaded up and headed off to Milpitas to visit with John and Edith. Then on Wednesday, they were off to Long Beach to spend a week with Nathan, and have a TON of fun!!
Thanks for driving all that way to come and visit us! We loved having you and look forward to your visit next year!
Nick and Jordyn, coming down the big slide
Nick climbing the rigging, with some pointers from Sean
Patience, on top of a big, purple dinosaur!
Jordyn sliding down the pole
Nick, climbing up the bars
Patience, Nick and Sean, on top of the purple dinosaur
Nick and Patience
Nick, charging his batteries, with a little flower that Jordyn picked
At the Coyote Point museum with the wind tunnels
Nick watching Sean launch objects!
On the train at Central Park. Val and Cathi used to ride this train when they were little.
Mother and daughter! Notice the necklace that Patience made for me! And Jordyn made me a bracelet to match!
Nick up a tree!
Nick and Sean - note the scrape on Nick's nose - he fell out of bed on Saturday night and his nose met the night stand on the way down. Poor little guy!
Nick thought being up a tree was a blast!
Last picture, and then we let them down
And put the girls up in the tree!!
Jordyn was not at all convinced that this was a good idea, but she humored us! I'm behind the tree holding onto her so she felt more secure.
Grandma, Patience, Sean and Nick
Jordyn, posing for Grandpa
This is a great shot of Jordyn!
The beach!!
Patience prepares for construction!
Sean and the girls, building a wall to keep the ocean out
Jordyn, filling the bucket with sand
Nick preferred walking through the ice plant to the trail - yuck!
Did I mention that it wasn't particularly warm?
Lunch!
A very bold gopher!
Cathi and the kids picked grasses for him and watched him take them down into his den
Grandpa and Sean prepare to pedal home
It was a really short, but really good visit. We're looking forward to their next visit.
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