a zillion and one photos

So our trip was perfect. Perfectly frazzled. Perfectly sweet. Perfectly imperfect. We've learned that traveling with a three month old is cake. Traveling with a year old, not so much. There were tantrums and crying and snotty noses, and Henry was worse! (I know, I know, old joke.) But it really was fun. I got to meet up with Ashley. I struck out into the city, just me and my son. I refused to use the GPS, determined to find my way with a map and some good old intuition. Thank God for the map is all I have to say. After being EXTREMELY impressed by Ashley's parking skills I attempted my own parrallel parking. I had to text her at my success- parking backwards on a hill! I was so excited! I didn't text her again to tell her that within minutes of parking and cheering my own success I realized it was a yellow meter. I wanted to cry. But I pulled out and found a better spot anyway. I shopped and found parks, and took pictures out my window (shh, don't tell my mom!). I became an aggressive city driver which I will admit has made me an aggressive town driver since I've returned. There's something about conquering your fear of a big city to instill an new found confidence in yourself. And I loved that part of me that I brought home. The one that is less timid to try. Even if trying means admitting that the parking meter was yellow. Admitting that I got lost several times and had an absolute ball finding my way back. Admitting that as much as I'm a country girl through and through, I think there's a small part of me that could put on skinny jeans and walk those city streets with the best of them. Scott and I've decided that if we lived in a big city we would hate each other. While I was proud of my driving and my limited city knowledge, he was scared to death of my driving and busied himself with the GPS so as not to see the cars and buses that I reeled around. We constantly fought about my map leading the way verses the annoying woman in the GPS telling me where to go. And then you add a kid into the mix; someone who can't wait an extra couple of hours until we find dinner. Someone who has to have diapers changed, and sleep in the bathroom because it was the only place for him in our little hotel room. It was a crazy, fun, perfectly imperfect trip. And here is a boat load of pictures to prove it.



We met up with the lovely Ashley on our first day. This girl seriously rocked my socks off. She can't take a bad picture-both in front of and behind the camera. I had a ball hanging with her, and if I could have, would have monopolized her entire week!











Some details I saw...









When I was in high school and my parents took me to London and Prague, the running joke was "Lorie go stand over there for a picture." We have rolls and rolls (remember rolls? FILM?) of me standing in front of various statues, trees, monuments. Whenever my mom wanted a picture of something I was always made to go stand in front of it.

"Hey Henry, go stand over there!" What can I say, the sights are just cuter with your children in them!





An attempt at a self picture.



While I was constantly looking around at the amazing architecture surrounding me, I couldn't help but look up as well. The bus and trolley cables blew my mind. How complex yet simple it all is. What tangled webs they were.



One of the few "city" pictures of Scott at night. Photoging is just so much harder when you've got a fussy kid in a stroller.



Our second night we drove over the Golden Gate bridge to Sausalito. For no other reason that I wanted to say Sausalito as much as possible. Say it with me, Sausalito.
We were disappointed. What seemed like a cute little town to poke around in, was dull and everything closed by 6. 6! But I did twist Scott's arm to eat at a pretty decent restaurant where I devoured my pinky-up crab cakes. They were divine.







On the way home Scott kept Henry occupied so that I could try my hand at some night photography of the bridge. It was freezing and I couldn't get the tripod to cooperate with me, but I got a few I liked.



On the last day we headed over to Pier 39 to do all the touristy stuff. We ate at some horribly crappy restaurant over looking all the sea lions. Seriously, the only edible thing was the chicken tenders I ordered for Henry. Who really only wanted to look at the sea lions. Then we headed over to the Aquarium by the Bay. Now this would have been a lot more fun had it not cost as much as it did, for as little time as we spent inside. What can I say. Our one year only wanted to walk on his own and would scream and throw a fit any time we'd try to pick him up or put him back in the stroller. So fun, let me tell you. These were a few of the quieter moments.







hmmm sardines for lunch...







And because we hadn't had enough screaming we thought, heck, let's keep going. We drove down Lombard street, and made our way to the Palace of the fine Arts. It's kind of our thing, me and Scott. Whenever we go somewhere and we're excited to see some famous building, without fail there will be scaffolding up. Prague, New York, San Francisco. Seriously, it's just our thing.







"To your right we have the Palace of Fine Arts, and to your left on our tour, we have a red-headed child available for picture taking"

Seriously...had no idea our kid would be a tourist attraction.


(And yes, Scott was completely confused when the lady kept pointing at Henry and asking him something in another language until she just picked up Henry and smiled for a picture. Crazy with a capital C!)



Grams will be so proud....we have a little bird brain on our hands....





Then it was on to the Golden Gate Bridge.









I warned you! It was a lot of pictures! Aren't you glad I didn't post all 500???