Reno and California

We have had a busy month and I will make an attempt to share some pics-because we have had so much fun and I want to keep you all updated!

We took a trip to Reno/California to visit my 2 sets of grandparents-which was about time since we havn't headed that way since before Anna was born! Our first stop (after a bumpy plane ride that the girls really, really did not like) was Reno to visit Grandma and Grandpa Stewart! After a little warming up, which gave us a chance to chat up a storm, the girls tried to claim all their attention.

Grandpa helped Anna blow some bubbles...

...and Anna helped Grandpa blow some bubbles!

Bug got in on the bubbles as well (their yard is just as beautiful and full of fun things as always)...

...and she and Grandma took turns seeing who could blow the most bubbles!

But the favorite activity at the Stewarts was playing Hide-and-Seek. Hours of entertainment inside and out. That's pretty much all the girls wanted to do and they were hilarious. No, Anna is not in pain in this picture-she is hiding. She would crouch down and hide anywhere you told her to and would also take her turns hiding her eyes to count. Everyone got in on the action. I wish I could have gotten pictures-but they wouldn't do it justice. Lots of giggles and squeals and running around involved. From all of us.

Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Stewart! It was such a fun visit! We love You!

We left Reno and headed west for California-and first a stop at the Jelly Belly Factory!

The girls enjoyed the tour, loved the hats, and especially loved all the free candy! Can't go wrong! We stocked up on their "Belly Flops," the Jelly Beans that are too strangly shaped to make the cut! Yum!

And of course there were odes to Ronald Reagan everywhere as he helped make Jelly Bellys famous! Happy Richard.

We also took a side trip to San Francisco to hit some sites. Beautiful and a very cold day. We didn't stay by the water too long!

Instead we went inside the Monteray Bay Aquarium! It was really amazing. The girls loved seeing the fish up close.

Here they are spotting Nemo, Dory, and friends.

The aquarium has these two long tunnels that you travel through with fish swimming all around you. It is really incredible. The girls loved the starfish and Bug loved seeing the school of fish swarming around above us. We also hit it at the exact time that they were feeding the sharks. Very cool. You are so close and the are so big and they seem to suddenly come up out of nowhere. The girls kept talking about the people that jumped into the water to feed them. Wow. Lots of Happy faces. Too busy looking to take pictures. But here is Kaitlyn peering out of a little bubble in the middle of a fish tank.

After looking at the fish, you got a chance to touch some too. Anna was the brave one who petted the starfish.

The girls would go there again in a heartbeat. They loved it.

Then of course we got to spend time at Grandma Ruth's house! This was the first time Grandma got to meet our little Anna Violet so it was really special. Her house never seems to change, except the myriads of pictures all over keep expanding and adding new family faces. The girls happily played with Little People and other toys I remember playing with during our visits when I was little. Her house makes me want to sit and read. Nice.

We also got the meet Jake and Aiden, who are second? cousins. They are really close in age and had a blast playing together. It was such a fun day!

Thank you for the wonderful time Grandma Ruth! We love you!