Blue Angels

Gwen was born in San Francisco, but now we are a full fledged suburban family with Whitney making it across the bridge just a handful of times in her life.  So, what a treat it was for her to make not one, but TWO trips to the City this month!

The first was earlier this month to see the Blue Angles.  Both Daddy and Clara's Daddy work with a wholesaler whose company had a VIP tent on the water to view the air show, so our two families with 6 kids (all aged 6 and under!) in tow braved one of the busiest weekends of the year and make the journey from Moraga to the Marina Green.  We left the house at 10:15am, took the BART to the city, walked to a hotel to find cab and luckily found 2 town cars we were able to cram into to get us to the Marina.  There we had a buffet of food and front row seats to watch the planes.

After the Blue Angles, we found ourselves (along with a few thousand other people) stranded miles from home or a BART station.  So, we walked around the Marina/Cow Hollow area, our old stomping grounds where we spent our 20s and early 30s.  We hit the Moscone park, which was a big part of Gwen's daily routine as a baby.  Whitney and Paige got to sit in the same swings her big sister first swung on some 5 years ago!

Then, we trekked uphill - me pushing a stroller carrying Paige, Gwen and Clara;  Adam carrying Whitney on his shoulders; Sara ergoing Molly and Tim leading an exhausted-looking Joey. We walked aimlessly around Chestnut and Union street looking (unsuccessfully) for a restaurant that could accommodate our party of 10 until we again crammed in 2 town cars and headed to the Embarcadero for dinner a Fuzio and then home on a VERY crowded BART train.  For half the ride, it was standing room only, even for me lugging a stroller and poor Sara with Molly in a carrier.  

Four tired kids

Finally, at 9pm, we made it home.  Whew, what an adventure.  It was surprisingly do-able and fun (at least in hind sight!).