10 Year Anniversary

Last week, we embarked on a trip to San Francisco, CA for our 10th anniversary. The day before, Chuck's parents came in and learned the ropes of how things work around here, and did a beautiful job caring for the kids while we were gone. This is the first time we've had to have grandparents come here instead of the kids staying with them, because Charlie needed to be in school. I so appreciate their willingness to come and serve us like that. The kids loved it too!

Also, a big thank you to Nana & Big Daddy who took all 3 boys for the weekend in Austin, to give Grandma and Grandpa a break!

So, we flew out to San Fran, and here's what's so amazing to me...how the coast goes into mountains in no time! Wanna go to the beach? There it is. Want to go snow skiing? Just drive a little while... Crazy! This was Southern CA, by the way.


While we were checking out the rental car, we decided to upgrade to a Mustang! At first the salesman said the daily price, which was like $10 more than what we'd planned, but then he offered a discount of $3 off. As I was saying "I don't know, that's still expensive..." Chuck was saying "We'll take it!" LOL It was chilly and overcast most of the time we were there, but it was still fun.

Then we checked into our incredibly charming hotel...




Which was a short walk from a street full of shops and restaurants. We spent the evening walking down to the Fisherman's Wharf. We had a snack at Fresh Fish Grill, and dinner at Scomo's, on the water. It was chilly, but not windy, so it was great!

The next morning we had breakfast at a place called "Judy's Cafe" where everything is made from scratch. This was Chuck's omelet.


Then when drove over the Golden Gate Bridge, up Highway 1, and got out for awhile at Stinson Beach.


It was actually pleasant despite the impending rain clouds.

We drove around a bit more, found a neat Lego store in Sausalito, and here's driving through a tunnel on the way back.


That evening we got dressed up and went out to eat at a restaurant called Mamacita.


And we had dessert from a bakery. Yum!!


One thing I had forgotten about California is how good the produce is there!! We bought some fruit to eat in our room the first night, and it was still ripe 3 days later.

The next morning we met up with Alberto and Lisa, friends/ former coworker of Chuck. It was so fun to get to know them!! And we ate breakfast at a great little cafe called Pergamino's. I love breakfast foods, ya know?!


Alberto and Chuck thumb wrestled for the bill. What Alberto didn't know is that Chuck has imposable thumbs (so, really, Chuck cheated, ha!).


Then we headed up for the second phase of our trip: seeing the Stoppes. Steve and Rhonda Stoppe are/were big influences in our lives. They were the youth pastors at our church, where we became youth leaders while we were in college. They did our premarital counseling, Steve officiated our wedding, we bought their house when they moved to Californina, etc, etc. There's no good way to sum up what all they mean to us. I was psyched to get to see them. In fact that's why Chuck surprised me with this trip, because he knew how much I missed them.

On the way, there was a break in the clouds for about 20 minutes, so we figured out how to put the top down...


Then we got up to their house, about 2 hours outside of San Fran. They live up in the "hills" (they're mountains if you ask me), with no cell phone signal, no internet, etc. It's like camping, only with electricity (my favorite!!). Chuck snapped this while we were hanging out. Oh, the memories this brings back, from my first few years outta high school, just chilling with the Stoppes...



The next morning we went to their precious church (Steve's the pastor) in a little town called Patterson. This is Kayla, their youngest kid, (err young lady, now that she's in college! wow!) and her guy 'Stevan.


After church we joined the Stoppes on a progressive dinner with their young marrieds. Many of them had babies, which made me miss my own! But it was SO fun.


But by that afternoon, Chuck started running fever and not feeling well.


It all went downhill from there.

That night he was up all night vomiting. We were supposed to fly out the next morning, but delayed it a day due to Chuck's illness. Poor guy just had to stay laid up all day. That evening, though, Rhonda showed me around on her ranch and to my amazement, there was an incredible canyon view. So we stopped to take pictures!





thank you self timer...


My fave! This is my friend/mentor/almost-mom, Rhonda. :)


Anyhow, we loaded up Tuesday with Chuck still not eating, but not feeling nauseous anymore, and we head to the airport. On the way there was a big accident which put us over an hour late to the airport, so we had to switch flights (again). I have to say, Southwest is so great with stuff like that! But finally, we got home. The kids were sleeping, which made me kinda sad (it was a school night), but it was so great to be home.

The next day Chuck still didn't feel well, and by that night we loaded up and took him to urgent care, only to find out he had strep. Poor guy!! He's been quarantined and recovering. He has really missed the boys, and today (Saturday) he finally got to come out and see them a bit.

Next up, the kids' Christmas parties...Then to get ready for Christmas!