Go west, young girls

We spent last week trekking around Northern California on our yearly pilgrimage to visit with family and friends. 

 First stop, Fremont and running through the sprinklers with our friends' son Ian. 

Andy and John about to hit the town in Shannon's convertible Lexus. It made Amalia think we could take the top off our car, too. 

 Settling down to watch Despicable Me. 

Day 2: Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. As always, Andy pinches every penny. We have season passes to Six Flags so didn't have to buy tickets. Plus, we made the girls pose next to this dolphin trash can instead of springing for pricey souvenir photos.

 I was alit upon in the butterfly garden. 

Day 3: Penn Valley. First thing out of bed, the girls discovered some potting soil under the deck and "borrowed" the neighbor's flower pots to plant flowers for Grandma Kathy.

 Block party. 

 Day 4 morning: Kayaking on Lake Wildwood. 

 About to head out on our great adventure. 

 Hanging out at the lake. 

 With Grandpa Colin and Grandma Kathy. 

 Sporty Spice. 

For those who have been to our D.C. house, you know how much it pains me to acknowledge that the above picture is taken in Andy's parents' back yard.

 Day 4 afternoon/evening: Foresthill. Percussion with cousin Chase. 

 Taking percussion to the next level. 

Duet. 

 Hair-braiding love from cousin Hannah. 

 Chase may have met his match. 

Day 6: Roseville. Hanging poolside with cousin Ryan. (Yes, I skipped Day 5. It featured a 2-hour visit to urgent care for an Amalia ear infection. On the upside, Andy went golfing with Colin, and then Andy and I went out for dinner and a movie, courtesy of some babysitting grandparents.)

 Cousinpalooza.

 Andy, Stacey, Kathy, and Charlie. 

 The whole fam damily. That's Ryan and Joey posing in the front. 

Amalia learned how to swing without assistance. Only a couple of tumbles head over heels and she got the technique down. 

 I'm tempted to make this one a caption contest. I have no idea what Kathy is doing here, but thought it was a funny picture. 

Some of Kathy's candles were those trick ones that keep relighting. When I asked Amalia why they were doing that, she said, "Because they want to sing 'Happy Birthday' again!"

Day 7: Woodside. Visiting friends at "The Shire." This picture doesn't do it justice, but this swing is hanging from a gorgeous, huge oak tree. The girls loved it.

 Caged monkeys (or two girls on a trampoline). 

Piper and Lily enjoying fresh strawberries, which has a whole different meaning in California than in D.C.

My girls' first exposure to an iPad, or as my friend Amy calls it, "baby crack."