Bay Area Adventures

PJ had another work trip, this time in the Bay Area, and we were lucky enough to tag along. We had a NICE Residence Inn hotel in San Jose, which was great because of the kitchen and the two bedrooms and two bathrooms! I was able to keep Alex's nap schedule pretty consistent and we parents didn't have to hang out in the hallway while the kids were sleeping (which we've done on a number of occasions while traveling with kiddos and all staying in one room!)

While Peej was out recruiting high school students to come to USC Thornton School of Music, we visited friends and family in the area. First we went to the home of an Elder from my mission. They have two kiddos roughly the same age as my own, so they obviously had a ball playing with toys in the bedroom while we adults sat around and chatted. I know this picture looks like Brian and I have these four kiddos....but his wife was taking the photo and my husband was busy working. But we do make a cute family, right? ;-) Just kidding. Thanks, guys, for the photos, by the way. I love how Avery is "taking a picture" in the picture.
The next day we saw my grandma and my aunt Mary Lynne and her family in Saratoga. We played with the zillion beanie babies and other toys in my Grandma's house, and then ate a delicious spaghetti dinner with Mary Lynne and fam. Avery is becoming rather dramatic lately. The first thing she said when we walked into Mary Lynne's house was, "Oh where oh where will I ever find the playroom???" The playroom was subsequently found, dinner was made and eaten, and then we had a little musical performing---often a Hulme Family tradition.

We were lucky enough to visit with my parents' mission president's wife, Clo Barnes, the next day. She is like a surrogate grandma as well. She made us a yummy lunch and we played with her grandkid toys and talked about my parents when they were missionaries--how weird is that?!?

The next day we visited with my Aunt Kristine and her two boys living at home. Dinner was again delicious, and Avery discovered the toy basket right away! We overheard Ben's awesome saxophone lessons and caught up on everyone's going-ons. Don't ask me why she's trying to gouge her eye out...but everyone else looks fabulous!

We went to San Francisco the following day and checked out the Sea Lions on Pier 39. MAN were they LOUD and there were SO MANY OF THEM!!!I was surprised that the kids weren't afraid of the sea lions. They thought they were so cool.

From Pier 39 we could see Alcatraz and the Golden Gate Bridge.

The fog was barely thin enough to be able to see them both.

We briefly hit Ghirardelli Square and sampled a bit of chocolate. Here is the ice cream shop where you can watch the machines that make the chocolate.

That evening we met up with my cousin Dan and his wife Diana for pizza. It was a little crazy trying to get our schedules to work together, but we had a great dinner even if it was a little rushed. Thanks for working us in your day, guys!

We headed up to Sacramento/Wheatland after the Bay Area....I'll continue in the next post.