San Francisco

On Sunday we returned from San Francisco where my husband had a conference last week. We decided that the whole family should go, because, with a new baby coming, it may be a while before we are able to travel again. I can't imagine that travelling with two toddlers can ever be easy, but, despite the difficulties, we had a great time.

The boys loved the museums, the zoo, the aquarium and walking along the pier watching boats and sea lions. The hardest part for me was getting to these places. Getting on and off buses with two children, a backpack and a stroller is no easy task. And I think that every muscle in my body ached by the end of the week from pushing a double stroller up and down San Francisco hills. But we managed and we were able to see some fun things.

After the conference was over on Thursday, we moved from our hotel to the home of friends of my husband. Their daughter shares Sammy's birthday, which was on Sunday. She had a birthday party on Saturday, and they had a little cake for Sammy with three candles on it. He was thrilled. After blowing out the candles, with a huge smile on his face he said, "I no 2 1/2 any more. I three!" For him, it's all about the cake. A birthday doesn't happen until there has been cake. He told everyone on the airplane home, "I big three year-old boy now!" He is very excited about the party we are having for him on Saturday, but the thing that he talks about the most is that he is going to have a chocolate cake and that he gets to help Mommy make it on Friday.

Sammy loved the goats at the petting zoo.

Sea lions at Pier 39

At the aquarium

Riding the carousel near our hotel

View from friends' home where we stayed at the end of the week