All of my work traveling is way less interesting than our trip to CA so I'm gonna go ahead and skip right to talking about our vacation - which was A-MA-ZING!!!
We started out our trip in San Francisco and spent some time with my family - everyone (mom, dad, Scott, me and Paul) was in town to help celebrate my sister's graduation from graduate school. In case you don't know, my big sis is one of the most amazing people in the whole wide world and she is also one of the most humble people you will ever meet. Up until her graduation I had no idea all of the things that she's accomplished in the short time that she's been in school - not only did she graduate with 2 Masters Degrees but she also won a very prestigious award for being the best in public speaking and preaching in her whole class. Growing up I always knew that she had a way with words but it's really wonderful to know that she was recognized for it in such a special way.
Paige, I am so very proud of you for all that you are and all that you continue to do and accomplish. I love you!!!
Okay, now on to the good stuff, the trip:
Side Note: The photos in this blog entry are from my camera which wasn't up and running until a couple of days into our trip (the battery was dead) so I'll have to post the earlier photos from Paul's camera on another day.
My sister was graduating in the late afternoon last Sunday (May 22nd) and my parents and my sister had to get to the church really early to prepare for the ceremony, so my brother, his girlfriend, me and Paul were left to find something fun to do with our morning and early afternoon. So all 4 of us decided to head to Sausalito for an early lunch. Sausalito was absolutely beautiful and the drive took us over the Golden Gate Bridge which was also a first for Paul and I both.
Here's a picture we got from Sausalito with San Francisco in the background:
Can you guess which one is Paige???
Here she is on stage after winning her award - I wish the picture was closer because her face is priceless!
Here she is walking down the aisle after officially graduating - typical Paige :)
After the graduation we were all pretty warn out so we decided to head back to the hotel for a little rest and relaxation. We also took advantage of the perk room back at our hotel.
Really Long Side Note: I'm sure you're all wondering what the perk room is and I feel an explanation is much needed. First of all, no, the perk room does not involve anything weird, crazy, or unethical. It's actually the name we gave to the concierge lounge that was located on the top floor of the hotel. You know what? I'm just gonna start this little story from the very beginning.
If you didn't know, I'm quite the planner when it comes to going on any kind of a trip - 1 day, 3 days, 15 days or 25 days, the length of the stay means little to me. I will without a doubt spend hours upon hours googling restaurants, hotels, hot spots, tourist traps, must sees, locals only attractions, diners, drive-ins, dives, museums, beaches and the list goes on and on. So when my whole family booked our flights for this trip it was no different than any other: I would be in control of most of the details :)
The first thing I started working on was the hotel for San Francisco. I knew that we needed to stay in a Marriott hotel because with all of the hotel perks that I get being a high spending rewards member (because of my work travels of course) there is just no other place to stay. The extent of the "perks" is different in every single Marriott but no matter what, there is always some advantage.
My sister knew of a really nice Marriott that was only a couple of miles from her house so it was perfect!!! The fact that we would be staying so close to my big sis was a huge bonus, but even better than that was the "perks" that this particular hotel offered to its Platinum Rewards Members. Not only did we get a bottle of wine and cheese in our rooms each afternoon but we also had access to the concierge lounge (a.k.a. "the perk room") in the morning for a complimentary breakfast as well as in the evening for complimentary cocktails and appetizers. The even extra bonus was that the appetizers that they had were filling enough to make up a whole meal for all of us --- and that's saying a whole lot considering we had my dad, my brother, and Paul with us.
Back to the trip:
So after we ate in the perk room (after Paige's graduation) we headed back to my parents hotel room for some catching-up.
You never know when you get all of us together in a room:
Paul with a Chocolate & Peanut Butter treat - hee, hee :)
Here I am with a visor that Paul & I got my dad - another hee, hee!
No, that is not a feminine pad stuck to my sister's head, she had a headache so she put one of those cold packs on her head
Of course my dad had to add a little something in support of his Auburn Tigers :)
I have no idea what my dad is doing in this picture, but he still looks adorable doing it
After we all had a nice long night of sleep, we woke up and headed to the perk room for breakfast (of course) and then we headed out for a day touring a couple of wineries in Napa. Our first stop was a last minute find by my sister and it ended up being a really great idea - it was called Spelletich Cellars.
Here are a few pictures we got:
Dad and Scott inside the Cellars
Me & Scott tasting a little of the wine
The whole family along with the winemakers (they man on the far left, Timothy, and his wife, Barbara, the woman in the middle with the really blond hair)
Me and my adorable husband
Our second stop on the wine tour of 2011 was to a winery that I found amongst all of my google searches, Goosecross Cellars located in Yountville. It was really neat because I set us up with a private tour of the vineyards as well as a private tasting with one of the owners.
Here's some really neat photos that we got:
Here's some really neat photos that we got:
Me & My Big Sis
Scott, Paige, Dad, Mom, Me & Paul
Me in the Goosecross Vineyards
My Adorable Momma
Husband & Wife
Dad & Mom, Husband & Wife
Me & My Mom
Me, Scott, Mom, Dad & Paige
After we finished up at Goosecross Cellars, my parents headed to Sacramento (they were flying back home) and Paige, Scott, me & Paul all headed back to San Francisco for another day together before Paul and I started our journey South.
Here's a couple of extra photos we got while around town the next day:
The trail to Mt. Diablo
Me & Pauly on top of Mt. Diablo, overlooking Walnut Creek
That little figure at the top of Mt. Diablo is Pauly - hee, hee!
Scott, Paige, Me & Pauly eating some yummy Dim Sum
Okay, so I know that today's entry has been ever so interesting but if I don't stop writing now than this blog will end up taking up a few pages in itself. So, I'll continue the journey later in the week (probably this weekend).
Happy Wednesday!!!
