August 2010

On the last day of August, we visited Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. We make it there quite often, since we are annual pass holders. Here Elaina is sliding down a slide in California Adventure. The crowds were small and it made for a wonderful day.

Mama and Lainie had a great time taking a bath together. Jacuzzi tubs are extra fun when you use bubble bath and turn on the jets.

Elaina and Seth look ready to hatch these ostrich eggs at the Wild Animal Park. Now if they were only real!

We visited the Embarcadero in San Diego and took a picture of the statue of the famous kiss given in Times Square at the end of World War II. My father described the jubilee in Rexburg, Idaho at the end of the War. He was only 10 years old, but he remembers a man riding down the street in a tin metal bath tub being towed by a car. He also remembers the grocery store scattering a 50 pound bag of peanuts in the street. After rationing that must have been a treat.

The next picture is of a sail boat in the San Diego Bay. It looks like the kind of boats they use in the America's Cup.

It was a cold day at the beach in August when I taught Elaina to run away from the waves. It has been a very cool summer in San Diego. I can't say that about the rest of the country. It has been the exact opposite.

Seth is well on his way to becoming a ladies' man. Here he is with our friends' daughers, Julianna, Danielle, and Karissa Thompson.

For family home evening, we went on a hike in Los Jilgueros Preserve in Fallbrook, CA. Here is Neil carrying Seth in the backpack. We probably hiked a total of 3 blocks, but it was still fun.

St. Augustine, Florida, August 2010

Our last stop on our East Coast trip was St. Augustine, Florida. We got bumped to a different flight, so we got to spend more time at the beach here. Good thing, because the ocean is about the only place you can escape the oppressive heat and humidity.

Here is the lighthouse at St. Augustine, which happens to be the oldest city in America. It was founded in 1565 by the Spanish.

Next is the old Alcazar hotel, which is now the city hall, among other things.

We really enjoyed the Colonial Spanish quarter in St. Augustine. It is too bad none of the buildings here are original, since the place was attacked and burned a few too many times.

Here is Neil with the kids at the Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine. It was built in 1695 and was never penetrated, since it was made out of coral and was very hard to destroy.

Savannah, Georgia, August 2010

Our next stop on our East Coast trip was Savannah, Georgia. Here is a mansion used in the movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." That movie put Savannah on the map.

This Catholic cathedral was beautiful on the outside and the inside of the cathedral was surprisingly light and bright with pretty blue colors.

This old wood building was frequented by Robert Lewis Stevenson who wrote "Treasure Island." It does look like a pirates' hang out.

This monument to Revolutionary War hero Pulaski is in one of the 22 squares in Savannah. The city has been careful to preserve these squares, which add a distinctive character to the downtown area.

Next is me with the kids in front of a famous fountain in Forsyth Park. Fountains were my favorite part of this trip.

Next is another monument to a Confederate soldier in Forsyth Park.

Finally, you see a couple of pictures of me playing in fountains with Elaina. It was so hot and humid on this trip that fountains were a welcome break from the heat. I'm not sure who enjoyed playing in the fountains more, me or Elaina. I always wanted a daughter so I could relive my childhood, and I got my wish.

Charleston, South Carolina, August 2010

Our East Coast odyssey continued in Charleston, South Carolina, probably our favorite city of the whole trip. Here are Neil, Elaina & Seth on a bridge at the Magnolia Plantation.

Here's another shot of that bridge, one of the most scenic views on any southern plantation.

We got to do a river cruise at that plantation and saw lots of wildlife, including this great blue heron.

Elaina also got to chase a peacock at the plantation.

We got a gorgeous shot of the pier in Charleston, flanked by colorful sailboats with their jibs up.

Next are single houses with their harbor=facing balconies. These houses are characteristic of Charleston.

You see mule-drawn carriages everywhere in Charleston. We even got to ride in one.

Finally, we see some old tombstones in a graveyard. Cemeteries aren't in church yards, but graveyards are. That is the difference between the two.

Outer Banks, North Carolina, August 2010

On our way down the East Coast, we stopped at the Outer Banks, North Carolina. Here are some typical beach houses at Nag's Head.

We went to Kill Devil Hills and saw the place where Wilbur and Orvillle Wright flew for the first time. Neil and Seth got to pose in front of the monument there.

Here's another shot of the Outer Banks coastline with the big beach houses. Too bad Lainie was sick that day and we didn't really get to enjoy the beach very much.

We enjoyed this beautiful sunset on a canal in North Carolina on the way to Nag's Head.

Williamsburg, Virginia, August 2010

Our East Coast trip continued in Williamsburg, VA, where we visited my friend Johnell, who has been out of the country for many years with the state department. Here you see Elaina, Johnell's daughter and son, Seth, Pamela, and Neil.

The next picture shows Johnell, Seth, and me.

The next picture shows a lady dressed in a riding habit sitting side saddle. She told us that men, at first, did not like women in riding habits, because it was too much like men's clothing.

A coach with the armory in the background.

The main street of Williamsburg.

Anna's wedding in DC, July 2010

Right after we got back from the Mammoth trip, we went to Washington, D.C. for my friend Anna's wedding. We stayed with my friend Anita. We are both moms now. It was so nice to have someone to talk to about being a new mother at a later age.

Anna got married to Omar Ochoa in the Washington D.C. LDS temple July 31, 2010. She chose not to wear a wedding dress, but wore a pretty purple dress instead.

We had to visit Old Town Alexandria while we were out there. It was great to see the old Colonial architecture and go to La Madeline, one of my favorite restaurants.

This mall in Georgetown was very beautiful.

We went walking along the Potomac River in front of the Key Bridge. I used to go jogging here. This is also where I used to row.