Anderson Express: Vacation

Despite having been (and still being) sick, Mark and I had planned a vacation with some sweet friends of ours from college. The kids were to head to the Anderson's for the first part of the week and then to the Moyer's for the second half. We packed, we argued a little, we loaded everyone in the car, popped in a DVD and were off. With a very short time in Madison before our flight left, we made it to G-ma and G-pa's house, dropped the kids off and hit the road/air. We started the trip with a meal at the airport Great Dane, which we were extremely thankful for when we had less than 15 minutes to get to our connecting flight in Chicago! We arrived late, stayed up even later catching up, and then finally hit the hay at about 2 our time. We haven't seen 2 am in years...literally, years. The next day, our great hosts, Lucas and Andrea Divine, started the trip off right with a breakfast run to Psycho Donuts. Arnold Palmer donut? Yes, please. That's how I wanted to start my first morning in California:)

We did some relaxing, as we were pretty exhausted from our trip there, and then had our first experience with Korean food. WINNING! It was so good; it was so plentiful:)

SSAMBOB!

Over the next couple days, we had the chance to see San Francisco, visit the Silicon Valley area where Lucas works as Panasonic's patent lawyer, and to spend some fun time relaxing with our friends.

Checking out Apple.

Visiting Lucas' office at Panasonic.

Goofing on the muddiest hike ever; we hiked above Silicon Valley in perfect weather after a rainstorm. It was beautiful and reminded me why I feel closer to God when I'm outside.

We visited the oldest surviving mission in San Francisco, Mission Dolores, on Palm Sunday. We were able to participate in their service and palm procession, which was a beautiful, solemn moment we were so thankful to have been part of.

We then continued on to some of the more touristy sights, the Pier, the Fish Market, a tour of Boudin Sourdough, etc. It was lots of fun, sunny and beautiful. And you can't go wrong with free sourdough samples.

Snuggling for warmth at Pier 39 before we had "crab jacks" for lunch. Grilled cheese with crab...yum!

Golden Gate.

The crew.

Mark giving us a visual about the interesting cleavage of the rocks we were hiking past.

I was told that I looked like the unabomber. Well, Ari broke these glasses a day after we got back, so joke's on you, Mark!

One of our favorite spots on the hike, high above the harbor at an abandoned army base.

I can always count on Mark to take awkward photos of me. I knew even before the door on the toilet-pod opened that he would be waiting for me:)

And a sweet ending...ice cream and little sitting still!

Later, making homemade mozzarella with the master, Andrea:) It was awesome!

Playing a new board game, Quelf, self-billed as "the unpredictable party game that gives RANDOM a new meaning". They were not kidding:) Yes, that towel on Lucas' head is part of the game.

Mark, making some Divine fudge for dessert.

The next portion of our trip was the "romantic" part:) Mark and I took a couple days to drive down the coast, along the CA1. Me at 4 months pregnant on the first beautiful beach we came across:)

This is why they say California cows are happy cows. I get it. That's ocean and beach behind the tree line...not bad.

Our favorite stop on this part of the trip...Willow Springs camping pull-off, part of the Los Padres national forest area. It was a beautiful creek that flowed down the hills right into ocean. The water was stunningly clear. We could have stayed here for much longer!

Kite surfers.

Our dinner that evening in Morrow Bay at the Galley, part of the beautifully-named Anderson Inn.

Our view from the table.

At our lodging for the evening, chosen by Lucas, the Cambria Pines Lodge.

This was a potty break turned much better when we found a little Catholic chapel with this as it's backdrop.

Amazed by the colorful flora along the road.

At Hearst castle on the trip back up the coast. We also had the privilege of stopping to visit Mark's cousin, Lindsay, who is currently doing her Farsi language training with the Army reserves in Monterey, CA.

A typical view from the side of the road. We took this during a rock slide that stranded us for almost 2 hours.

On our last day, a little break for Chipotle.

We were, aftervall, staying with the Diesel.

At the Japanese grocery store across the street, before our good-bye dinner of shabu shabu, with the next batch of visitors to the Divine hotel, Nicky-D and Big Mike (another couple of friends from the UW). We left CA at 11:35 that evening, arriving in Minneapolis by way of Chicago at 10:30 the next morning. We had too short a time with Bethany and her boyfriend, Brian, but then got to head back to WI for Easter. What a wild trip!