One day in mid September I got a call from my Dad asking if my sister & I wanted to go with him to a CAL football game. It was the next weekend. In California. Hmmmm...I need to think about that. 1.002 seconds later...Yes, Please! :)
It was a super fast weekend but we all had a blast. I can't remember the last time I spent a weekend with just my Dad & sister.
It started off a little crazy with a 5-hour delay, which got us to my aunt's house at 1:00 a.m. CA time. But all of that frustration was quickly washed away with the next three days of GORGEOUS weather in one of my most favorite (if not the favorite) cities on the planet.
After sleeping in, we headed to meet my cousin Becca & Mike for brunch. So fun to get to see her with a baby bump! :)
And then we headed out to CAL. First stop was the alumni water polo game. Dad even ran into some old swimming friends.
CAL + a pool = My Dad's Happy Place
Lunch at Top Dog
Getting close to Game Time!
A serious pre-game workout!
The siblings/alumni.
This pic during the warm-up should've been the first clue. Wow...that's A LOT of red. I've been to several CAL games and had never seen anything like this before. It was like the Ohio State fans were multiplying somehow.
Wait. I thought this was a CAL home game???!!!
Tightwad Hill was hoppin.
And just a few rows up from our seats was this view!
The game did not go our way...at all...but we stayed until the bitter end and still enjoyed watching the Bears! My home game record got its first loss, 3-1. :(
And what do all CAL fans do after a game?
The next day we headed to the city. Last time I was in California, my cousin Amy had just had her first daughter, Audrey. So it was great timing for us that we were there a few weeks after her second daughter sweet Gemma was born. She had to spend some time in the NICU, but she was able to snag a great window view. :)
And we enjoyed a delicious lunch with the adorable Audrey as well. (Paul, how do I have no pictures of you???)
From there we started the drive out to my uncle's house. I was able to talk everyone into stopping at the Lookout Point on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Never a disappointment!
From there we took a pit stop in Sausalito. Right on the water was one of the most impressive street artists I've seen. I have no idea how he did it, but the rock stacking was both incredible and stunning.
Charming Sausalito is another one of my favorites!
And then off to Santa Rosa for a fun birthday dinner for my uncle. If we had enough time, we probably could've spent an entire afternoon going through all of the vineyards. So pretty!
Then sadly, it was the last day. We said goodbye and thank you to Aunt Barbara, our lovely hostess. But a trip to northern CA wouldn't be complete without a drive by Dogwood Drive, my dad's childhood home. We tease him about ALL of his stories, but they are always good to hear!
Grandma Ellie's infamous trees that I always thought were dogwoods (hello, it's on Dogwood Drive) until maybe a couple years ago. :)
Luckily we had a late afternoon flight, so we had a few more hours in the city on an absolutely gorgeous day. We explored the new Bay Bridge, Coit Tower, the pier where the 2013 America's Cup was happening, saw a mystery prototype car, and shopped and ate some good food at the Ferry Building.
The weekend was over before we knew it. So thankful to my Dad for making this happen for us and for providing some pretty great memories!
