California Trip

We just returned from a Hammond reunion in California. All of Ray's brothers and sisters and his parents were there. We had quite the large group with 14 adults and 20 children. Somehow in posting this, the events are all out of order, but I think you get the idea. It's also divided into a few different posts, since all the pics wouldn't fit into one.

View of San Francisco from Twin Peaks We went and walked across (o.k., the kids only made it part way) the Golden Gate Bridge.

On the bridge looking up...


What would San Francisco be without a little of this?
We also went to the Exploratorium that day and attempted a six car caravan through the city for "Cooks Tour" led by Ray's dad. That night we divided the smaller children amongst the teenage cousins and left them at the hotel while we ate at Hang Ah. It's a little hole in the ground restaurant in China Town that serves delicious food!

The Bay Criuse took us under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Hanging out at Pier 39

Look who we ran into!

We stayed in San Francisco for two nights and this was the view from our hotel window! Bay Cruise

The boat went past Alcatraz
It was freezing on the boat!

The next day we went to Muir Woods to see the redwood trees. It was beautiful! Did you know that the tallest trees in the world have the smallest cones?
The Boys with Grandpa

We visited the house where Ray's family lived in Fairfield, which is also home to the Jelly Belly Factory!!! I think I had more fun than the kids! For some odd reason, I love factories and watching things be made. I blame Mr. Rogers, because I was hooked from the moment he showed the crayon factory on "Picture Picture". The Food Network show "Unwrapped" was even there filming an episode while we were there! We couldn't take pictures in the actual factory, but let me tell you, it was cool! Lots of cousins!
The Three Musketeers!
The Fam
This picture is made entirely of real Jelly Bellies!

Lake house

Ray was able to go to a Giants game with his parents and all of his brothers. He grew up in Fairfield and attended many games as a kid, hence his Giants/baseball obsession. Our next stop was a beautiful lake house on a private lake where we played with a wave runner, canoes, and a paddle boat. We also went to church at the building Ray's family used to attend when they lived there. It was great to be with Ray's family and the kids had a blast! We only had two flat tires, two vomit incidents (thankfully not our children), one forgotten purse, and a neice who got 6 staples in her head after falling near the Golden Gate Bridge. Other than that, yeah for our family vacation!

We're having a girl!

The first ultrasound was disappointing because they couldn't tell the baby's gender. My doctor was nice and ordered another ultrasound, and this time we got a better view. Marinne is excited to get a sister and I'm excited to shop for girlie things! Now we need to really start thinking about a name - any suggestions?