Aunt Amy Comes To Visit

Last weekend we got two aunties for the price of one when Amy came to visit. It was a quick trip but a ton of fun. Well, a ton of fun until Kristin got everyone sick. Thanks again for that one, sister....

Friday we took a girls only road trip up to Calistoga (right outside of Napa). On the way up we stopped for a little champagne tasting.



Our ultimate destination was Indian Springs Resort and Spa. The ultimate in 1950's kitsch, Indian Springs is situated atop natural geysers. We did the mud bath treatment, where you are dunked in a tub of volcanic ash, soaked in pure mineral water, steamed up in a traditional steam room, and then wrapped in towels and cooled down with cucumbers on the eyes. It was very different, but very relaxing. Here is K waiting to be taken back for her treatment. We were pretending to be celebrities at rehab (the whole place totally had a 'rehab in the desert' feel to it).

As a patron of the spa we were also granted access to the pool. Floating in that pool was peaceful, restorative, and nothing short of spectacular. It is pure mineral water (I tasted it) and crystal clear. It is naturally heated anywhere between 90 and 102 degrees. I was afraid it would be hot and uncomfortable, like a giant hot tub, but it was perfect.








On Saturday, BVZ got us tickets to the Giants game. We met up with good friends Jim and Michelle, and took advantage of cheap beers at the Java House outside of the stadium.




We have the worst luck when it comes to taking Norah to sporting events--it is always boiling hot. Everyone took turns walking up in the shaded area with her and she enjoyed the people watching. At one point A and K got her a certificate recognizing that it was her first Giants game. Apparently it took the people in the certificate booth a couple of tries to get her name right. Poor kid.



This is the mascot Lou Seal (get it? Lucille?). BVZ had the brilliant idea of getting Norah's picture with a giant, scary, stuffed seal.

As you might imagine Norah loved it. This was right before she commenced screaming.

Sunday was all about Half Moon Bay (or as A calls it, Moonshine Bay). We got up and out the door early so that we would hit the tide pools at the best possible time.



We were there for about an hour before the tide really started creeping in.


But we saw a decent amount of fun stuff, ameobas and the like.







My great triumphant was finding a starfish.



It is hard to tell in this picture, but the harbor seals were hanging out really close to the shore. They came closer and closer once the tide moved in even more.

We let Norah out of the backpack and she went nuts playing in the sand and collecting rocks.


She found a rock with lots of little crevices and couldn't stop sticking her fingers in the holes.




A and K took her down to the water to swim with the seals.


This was her favorite move of the day.



A fun weekend with great company. Let's do it again next month. Please?