Beating the Heat, San Fran Style

Two weekends ago we headed to San Francisco to celebrate Chris's 10 year anniversary with his company. When we originally received the invite Chris thanked them for including us on the invite list but given that we were in Austin, we'd have to miss the celebration. The HR lady contacted Chris to let him know that our flight and accommodations were included with the invite. So, we could not resist a FREE trip to California and a break from the heat.

Friday night we had the 10 year dinner. Chris's cousin Kieran and his girlfriend Blaine were so sweet to help with our sleeping Cupcake. I can't imagine their ideal Friday night was sitting in a hotel suite eating take out while the cutie pie slept and we were at a swanky dinner. None the less, they were there for us and we SO SO SO appreciated it. Here's a pre-dinner shot of us and the babysitter. Blaine joined later....

Saturday morning we headed to the tourist magnet, Pier 39/Fisherman's Wharf area. We had some yummy clam chowder on the dock and watched the sea lions. After trying to explain to Cupcake that the barking was not a doggie we went for a closer look. Our little animal lover was mesmerized and said Uh Oh loudly each time one rolled in the water for a dip.
We stopped on the Pier to watch a little stage show by an awesome juggler. She high fived our little Cupcake ensuring that we'd stick around for the show. Cupcake danced to her music, clapped when she juggled and really seemed to enjoy the show.
Then we went to the aquarium. I don't have any pictures from inside but it was really neat. We went through a tank that went over our heads and all around us. Huge fish, eels, turtles, starfish, and many other fish swam all around us. Again, our animal lover was mesmerized.

Finally we went to a historic arcade museum. Chris was in love and was dropping quarters in all of the slots. We played old fashioned boxing (no need to mention who won), saw monkey's sing, and then Chloe got to ride the horse. The picture is a little blurry but for those who knew my Grandpa, they'll understand just how special this is. I only wish that all these years later, almost 28 to be exact, he could see his legacy living on as I helped my little cupcake onto her very first horsey ride.
Sunday we caught back up with Kieran and Blaine for some yummy seafood and then a trip to the California Museum of Sciences. We got to see penguins swim right up nose to nose with our Cupcake, a live rain forest exhibit (all the locals were sweating profusely meanwhile we felt right at home) complete with birds and butterflies flying all around us, more fish and an octopus, and the living roof (pictures are on the Earth Friendly living roof).
Monday Chris headed into work while Cupcake and I enjoyed a walk along the bay, a little swim in the hotel pool, and then we all packed up to head back to Hotter-than-Hades-Texas. It was our first family vacation not centered around a holiday, a wedding, or our families and we LOVED it! Our cupcake is such an adventurer and if the plane ride was a little shorter it would have been perfect!!