More San Francisco...

 

 The streets of San Francisco.

 Cable cars at the top of Lombard Street.

 Half way down Lombard Street...the crookedest street.

 And...from the bottom of Lombard.

 View of Alcatraz in the back ground.

 Fisherman's Wharf...

 ...and Pier 39 (stinky Pier 39).

 Another view of Alcatraz from Pier 39.  It was a little bit windy.

 Alcatraz

 After our tour of the city we went to dinner and then headed to the San Francisco Giants game.

 Us in front of the Willie Mays statue.

 AT&T Park...and a sold out crowd.  We're not really used to that being Mariner fans!

 Darran is always in heaven at a baseball game!

And we even got to ride a cable car...sort of!  There was one that people were sitting in watching the game.  I'd say Sarah is a little more enthusiastic than me!

San Francisco!

This past week Darran and I got to go to San Francisco for a few days!  The girls got to spend some time with Grandpa and Grandma while we were gone.

 We left early Tuesday morning and after we arrived we went straight to the Owens Corning Insulation plant.  They gave us a tour of the plant which was much more fascinating than I had anticipated!  (This picture is Darran with a cable car behind him...we didn't take any pictures at the plant.)

 Then we drove through Stanford's campus and had lunch nearby.  After that we headed to San Francisco and our hotel.  Our hotel was a block away from Union Square where we found these hearts with different pictures of San Francisco.

 We did some browsing and a little shopping before heading to dinner and then back to the hotel for the night.

 Unfortunately, it wasn't the best night for Darran since he spent half of it throwing up.  But he was a trooper the next day and headed out to sight see with us. 

 We decided to do a double decker bus tour of the city in hopes of seeing a lot of sights quickly.  And we did!  Yet still managed to walk about 15 miles that day too!

 Dean and Sarah on top of the bus waiting to go!

 The capital building.  We also drove right past the church that feeds and houses hundreds of homeless...it is where the movie Pursuit of Happiness was filmed.

 When we headed over to the Golden Gate Bridge we could not believe what a drastic change the weather took!

 It was FREEZING!

 Sarah, Dean, and me...smiling but trying to stay warm!

Camping time!

 Darran took the girls camping...in the backyard!

 Eliza and Talia helped daddy set up the tent.  When I looked out in the backyard and saw that Darran even had his camping back pack out there I had to laugh.  Later I learned that Eliza insisted he bring it out there!

 Eliza had been so excited to sleep in a tent with daddy.  I have to admit that I had my doubts but she impressed me!

We roasted smores...on the bbq!

 

 

Daddy read books with the girls...

...and then it was time for bed!  Talia and I headed back inside while Daddy and Eliza told stories and looked at the stars.  Happy camping!

Happy Birthday Talia!

Talia turned 2 on September 13th!

 We made a crown cake for her special day! 

 She had been patiently waiting to celebrate her big day!  And big sister even helped her learn to hold those two fingers up to tell everyone she's 2.

 The princess theme continued with Talia's birthday too (I know...shocking).  But she just worships her big sister...and loves princesses just as much!

Here's our big 2 year old!  She might have those tantrums perfected as only a two year old can but we still love her to pieces!  She's a caring, loving, energetic little girl!  And we could snuggle with her till there was no tomorrow!  We love you "short round!"

Mighty Keith

I love this beautiful family...my amazing cousin Darcee and her incredible husband and children have a special place in our hearts. 

They said goodbye to their sweet boy Keith as he returned to his Heavenly Father on September 2nd, 2012. 

He battled a brain tumor as only a super hero could.  And he is the bravest, mightiest super hero we have ever known.  It's hard to not ask why something like this could happen.  These are the times when we can only rely on our Heavenly Father and know that He has a plan for all of us.  

We were blessed to be able to attend his sweet funeral.  His twin brother Cole and little sister Ally brought a sense of joy to a hard day that only little children could.

We will miss you mighty Keith.

Two little fish...

Once preschool started we began to say goodbye to summer.  So sad...we had A LOT of fun in the pool!  These two girls could not get enough of it!

Doesn't this picture just scream 'summer break?'  Love it!

Eliza loves to jump into the pool.  By the end of the summer she was jumping off the diving board and swimming to the side by herself.



Talia loved jumping in too.  She discovered that she really liked water wings because of the freedom she has with them.  

My two little fish...it already makes me excited for next summer!

Preschool begins!

Eliza started Preschool on September 4th.  She was very excited and ready to start school.  She attends preschool at her teacher's house with a few of her friends and some new ones.  She's really been paying more attention to letters and sounds so we're excited to see what this year will bring.  Talia misses her sister while she's gone but we have fun running errands or hanging out at home together.

Labor Day weekend...

We spent Labor Day weekend at Cocolalla.  It was extra special because Grandpa and Grandma Great Hague joined us.

 Talia and Aunt Julie by the fire.

 Three pink cousins.  Yes, Brayden is wearing Eliza's pink IWI jacket.  He'll appreciate this picture when he's a teenager!  They are just too cute.

 Brayden teaching Grandpa Great how to work the 4 wheeler.  He's an expert...and never wants to get off!  He LOVES that 4 wheeler.

 Roasting marshmellows and having fun!

 Grandpa Great taking Brayden for a spin.  I am just in LOVE with this picture!

 Family fire time!

 We love when we get to have lots of family at Cocolalla with us!

 These three are a crack up!

We took the girls out on the kayak looking for turtles but didn't find any this time.  We had a good ride anyway.  Happy Labor Day!