(You know you have posted too much when it runs over the alotted space. I wrote specifically for my own memory. feel free to read. If it is too long, enjoy the photos and at least read ** at the bottom. It is my crazy Asain man story.)
We had a two day break from Modesto Life and went with Daddy to San Francisco. We spent the first day taking the trolley to to Ghirardelli square and the Warf. Anna was fascinated by the trolley and I think others were fascinated by our small troop. The Trolley driver even joked that he charges for extra baggage (aka our stroller).
I learned quickly why there were so many gawking eyes… San Francisco isn’t exactly the most newborn, 3 year old, and stroller friendly town. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE “the city” as the Modestinians call it, I just have a lot of respect for mothers with children who live there.
(I had recently been playing with the camera’s functions and forgot to set them back, so these photos are a little blue and blurry from the movement of the trolley. )
Down on Pier 39 I was feeling bad that Anna had been sitting so much and there wasn’t a lot for her to do, so made Dave take her on the carousel. She was so excited there were two levels!
(let’s not even talk about how nervous I was at this moment! )
Watching the “green bubbles” just after a boat passed by.
(Miss 3 year old attitude!)
We also enjoyed watching the sea lions until Anna begged us to go on the trolley and go back to the hotel. She was so excited to stay in a hotel. I soon learned that I should throw naps and bedtime out the window when we are on vacation in a hotel. Seriously.
We headed back to our hotel on Nob Hill. We were right on top of all the hills there in San Fran… which made for some Hiking for Heidi and Dave, my body was tired, but grateful. Dave was off to meetings and good food. I tried to get Anna to take a nap, but after a while we decided to head out for dinner instead. I asked the concierge for a cheaper, child friendly restaurant she sent me up the hill and around the corner. ( I was excited to see the Grace Cathedral on the way and reminisce to my high school days of studying Ghiberti's doors and doing the labyrinth with friends during our high school art trip.)
By the time I got to the restaurant Anna was out cold in the stroller (I’ll have to get the photo off my phone she looked hilarious!) and Maddie asleep in the sling. I looked in the windows, white linen napkins was not my idea of a child friendly restaurant, let alone one sleeping in the stroller.
Next I got a distracting phone call from a friend with excellent news (: and I found myself wandering the streets and getting to the outskirts of China town . I finally settled on a cheap pizza place and ate my dinner while the girls slept. Anna woke up just in time to take one bite and leave.
I hiked up the hills (probably could have planned better, but I didn’t mind) and we headed back to the hotel for Princesses and Tarzan (Anna’s favorite movie). She stayed up late, Enjoying her Pizza and movie. (: She is so funny.
After the movie we (Dave and I) went to bed. I have no idea when Anna finally fell asleep in her “big hotel bed.” All in all, with 2 kids in a hotel, it was a fun night.
The next day Dave was up and down to meetings and we were off to Union Square. Anna loved the Trolley and yet again I was the source of embarrassment (“Move over for the Baby and the mom, they need seats”).
We walked around got some donut holes from 7-11 ( I am kicking myself that I didn’t get out of the hotel for Breakfast at a recommended restaurant called Mama’s), but Anna enjoyed her set of donut holes. I did some shopping at children’s place and spent too much money on sales, but got many things Anna needed. Then we headed to the “park” or grassy area of union square. They has all these hearts out, Anna loved them.
**Funny, random, and creepy thing happened next. I sat down on a tiered step/grassy area to nurse Maddie. I gave Anna some snacks and she climbed around. I looked up and next thing I knew there was an Asian man standing down a tier looking at me through his camera. I was surprised and thought oh for sure he wasn’t taking a picture of me. He saw that he was caught, pretended to look at something else then quickly glanced back an snapped a photo of me. I glared. He then took some photos of others enjoying their lunch in the sun.
THEN, no folks he wasn’t finished, At the top of the tiers, one step above me, Anna was twirling herself around a tree. I looked back and see him AGAIN, 2 feet away from Anna snapping a close up of her. I glared again, not knowing if I should be creeped out, say something or be flattered. He nodded and did a little wave with his hand and disappeared. I guess if we end up in a magazine in Japan or something I should have asked for royalties. (:
I had lunch at the Boudin bakery and Anna whined from fatigue so we headed back. But after trying everything I could think of, Anna would not take a nap.
Dave had a break and we left for China town. It was fun to explore the shops, I found myself thinking I could decorate with Chinese things, then realized I was just being a tourist. I bought myself some new slippers and called it good. (Though I cannot wear them because they make our house stink of rubber!)
Anna was a mess again and kept asking us to stop walking and she wanted to go back to the hotel. (again, not the most child friendly place). We walked around a little more letting Dave soak in the air of the big city. Then us girls headed for an easy Italian dinner (no not pizza again) and Dave went to a yummy dinner at the hotel.
Once we were back we played princesses again and Anna enjoyed some of Pocahontas.
Again, I have no idea when she went to bed.
Anna literally cried when we left San Francisco and keeps asking me when we are going back. So despite the lack of sleep, whining and hours in a stroller, I think Anna enjoyed the two day break!
