San Francisco - Day 1

Our first stop in San Fran was the famous Ghirardelli Square. They gave us some fantastic free chocolate samples, and we bought some delicious ice cream while we were there as well

Beginning our walk around the Bay piers and wharf

We ate at this fun restaurant right on the bay called Tarintinos

The cool street car

I can't go to a major city without trying to imitate some piece of art work

Steven's favorite thing was the sea lions, and barking at them

He, however, hated the fake things..

Cool submarine on Pier 41..I think

Alcatraz. Wish I could've gone.

Cool fresnal lense at the Maritime museum

Steven by the sea lions with daddy

Good ol' Lombard Street :)

Oakland/San Francisco

Tuesday we went to the Oakland Temple in the morning before venturing back over the bay to see the Golden Gate Bridge. The temple was simply beautiful, and it was a great sessions! The grounds were also beautiful, and Steven had fun smelling lots of flowers.

I loved that you could walk up around the Terrace of the temple

Beautiful roses were everywhere...

Just a beautiful temple all around!

Monday the bay was SO foggy/smoggy so we were really excited when we had such a great view on Tuesday

The shadow of the bridge...we walked to the first pillar dealio

Steven was a little trooper and walked all the way to the pillar by himself

Darrell enjoying the walk

Fun photo spot

It was extremely windy

Battery Spencer was pretty cool

Steven escaping the wind

We drove around the coast line for a bit, and I was more than pleased to see a lighthouse :) This one is the Point Bonita Lighthouse just directly West of the Golden Gate Bridge

Tuesday night we headed back to Darrell's sister's to take a break on Wednesday before the rest of the week's adventures

Yosemite - Day 1

Thursday morning we left Modesto and started our trek West which included a 2 and a half day trip to Yosemite National Park! Despite the windy car sickness inducing roads, it was a beautiful drive, and a beautiful park!

Our first view of the valley! Bridal Veil Fall Half Dome

Yosemite Falls

Lower Yosemite Falls - We hiked to this one

Yosemite Falls again

It rained quite a bit that day, but it was beautiful. Steven loved riding in the back carrier!

Hiking to Bridalveil fall

Bridalveil Fall

Steven hanging out

Me being dumb...

Cute lil family by the river

Darrell and Steven by the river

more river..

This was called the Tunnel View...but basically you have an incredible view of Yosemite Valley

Yosemite - Day 2

Nevada/Vernal Falls:

Darrell headed off early the morning with those who were up for the strenuous, more experienced hike. I would have gone, except somebody needed to stay and go swimming with Steven and his cousins at the hotel :). Hiking to Vernal and Nevada Falls was the highlight of the whole trip for Darrell, and good thing, he got lots of cool pictures! I'm not sure which one is which..but the next are some pics of those awesome hikers!

What some of the hike consisted of...

The women who stayed behind with all the kids met up with the hikers for lunch, and even the rain couldn't stop us from having a good ol' time!

After lunch, we headed up to Glacier Point, which gives a fabulous view of yosemite valley

Yosemite Falls

Nevada and Vernal Falls

Steven being cool

Us squinting in the sun

Darrell, his brothers, and brother-in-laws decided to have a week long "Battle of the Beards" which turned into a ghotee growing contest. Darrell won by a long shot, and hooray! He's not going to grow his beard out again.

Six days of growth

Tickling Steven's feet with his beard

Last Leg Home - Through Yosemite

Rather than back track to Sacramento or Merced, we went through Yosemite on Tioga Road. It had just opened about a week or two before, but it was a beautiful drive!