Cramers Day Two: Old Town Sacramento & RailRoad Museum

We headed to one of our favorite Sacramento stops the next morning. We always kickstart the Train Museum by picking up freshly made mini-donuts and making our way to catch a train ride. Unfortunately, the train rides are only on the weekends, but there was still plenty of fun to be had at the museum and cruising Old Town.

How did these two rambunctious babies grow to be such big, goofy kids???

Miss Sass-a-fras. 

This little dude is so sweet, smart and spunky. Loved getting to see more of his personality.

Our attempt at a picture with all four kids.

Elizabeth spoiled the kids (and me) and let everyone pick out quite the selection of salt water taffy. I'm still thinking about the pina colada flavor and thinking I might need to make another trip down there this week.

Later that night, Bryan watched all four monkeys so we could escape for pedicures and dinner. It was one of those nights that just recharged my batteries. In one minute, I was laughing like a little school girl and in the next minute crying like a baby! I guess I could blame prego hormones, but there is something to be said about the friend that just "gets you."

Cramers Day One: Cement Slides

We were soooo spoiled last week and had our "best buddies" visit us from Colorado. Of all the things you miss when you move to a new place, the people are at the top of the list. I cannot begin to describe how wonderful it felt to be with the Cramer family. We missed Steven, especially Emma-I promised her we would see him another time. We had a great time putting a few more drops in our "Cramer-Nielson memory bucket."

After the airport pick up, we swung through In-N-Out and headed to the Cement Slide park. We had a slip-sliding,  filthy clothes making and an all around great time.

San Fran

We hit up the pumpkin patch in the morning, came home for lunch, packed the car and headed off for San Francisco. It was quite the turn around. We visited Golden Gate Park, Ghirardelli Square, took the trolley, strolled the pier and Fisherman's Wharf, saw sea lions, watched the parade of boats for Fleet Week come into the bay (felt very patriotic-and protected), toured the aquarium, ate clam chowder (and tomato soup-I wasn't feeling the clam, even in San Fran) in the traditional sourdough bread bowl and caught the air show, including a few passovers from the Blue Angels! Wowzer! It was a busy, but awesome 26 hours! :) The kids did great, which always helps to make a trip even that much more enjoyable.

After a fun evening at Golden Gate Park and the beach we topped it off with a delicious and iconic stop.

It really was that good.

The next morning we headed down the street to catch our trolley. Well, with four of us and a stroller it turned out that there wasn't much room for us at that particular stop. We walked down the few blocks to where the trolley started its route and waited for our turn. 

Luke directing the trolley on the turntable.

We scored the best seats on the trolley.

Someone enjoyed her time on the trolley.

Luke almost had me convinced to let him ride like this.

Not exactly our family's "Christmas card picture" but proof that all of us were there!

Luke decided to play our tour guide.

It was a "little tricky to find the boats and fish."

The start of the parade of boats for Fleet Week with Alcatraz in the background.

They will only let you tour the boats/ships/submarines if you are 8-years-old or older. While Luke generally looks older than his age, we knew we might be pushing it to pass him off as an 8-year-old.

Instead, we toured the Aquarium. The kids LOVED it…up until this moment when Emma thought this fish was going to swallow her whole. 

My favorite part was walking through the tunnels (and watching Emma's reaction to the giant fish that, in Emma's words, "almost ate me up."

The kids favorite part, hands down, was touching the sting rays.

Emma and Luke got out whatever remaining energy they had by dancing and popping bubbles on our way to watch the air show.

Calling it a wrap.

Literally 2-3 minutes after we were in the car. I did prop him back up-looks so painful! But I'm still envious and wish I could sleep like that.