Days 4, 5 & 6 Highlights

Whoops...we go to bed so late every night (such is life with Uncle Joey) that I can't seem to get caught up on posting! It's funny, even though we eat 1-2 hours later than normal each night, Joey still claims that he and his friends have to eat 1-2 hours earlier than normal each night to accommodate us early peasant folk. :-)
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So anyhow, after fake apple-picking (which Ryan still talks about...tee hee), the next morning (day 4 of our trip), we went to eat French Creole food for breakfast at Brenda's. Can I just say that it was probably the best breakfast I've ever had? That Joey suuuure does know his food.

After breakfast we dropped Rich off at coffee shop so he could study ( a recurring theme throughout this trip), and so we could take Ryan to a family favorite destination- Golden Gate Park! Psst- Ryan is the only little (mama's) boy I know who quickly admonished his uncle for carrying him like that because "It's too dangerous!"

One of the things I love most about the city of San Francisco is that despite it having more dogs than children...they seem to have more parks per square mile than any other city I know. I swear, we take Ryan to a different park each day (all within walking distance from Joey's) and never seem to run out of options- there are at least 2-3 children's parks within Golden Gate Park, Alamo Square, Duboce, Mission Dolores, the Panhandle, etc.
Here's Ryan learning to cross a ropes bridge at Golden Gate!

Right after that, we took him to toss coins in the fountains (one of his favorite things to do).

I'm guessing his wish just came true. ;-)

And it just wouldn't be a complete outing with Uncle Joey unless he taught Ryan to do at least one naughty thing (Ryan wanted to touch the water). Mommy said no...too dangerous...too cold. Uncle said sure and hoisted his little body right over the water. No wonder the state keeps taking away his young.

Later that night we chowed down on Mediterrean food (also at Uncle Joey's urging) and the next day, we rented a car and headed out to Fairfield to meet up with Ryan's beloved Grammy Kay at the Jelly Belly Factory! Once we got there, Ryan excitedly hopped out of the car and announced that this car in front of the factory was 'soooo silly' so I had him take a picture with it.

We had to wear silly paper hats on the factory tour (we saw bazillions of jelly beans drying, which made it worth it). Rich was asked to be a volunteer to eat one of the beans from their 'gross line' (they really do have one!). He was given the sample called "barf" (very accurate, he reports), the guy who volunteered with him was given "boogers." Eeeew. Who buys that stuff? Well, me I guess...I mean...I almost bought it, I wanted to...but I couldn't figure out who to give it to!

I think Ryan's favorite part of the factory/store was the race car in the cafeteria (which sold jelly bean-shaped hamburgers amongst other things). Between these kinds of rides, fountains and wishing wells, I've learned that parents of toddlers should always keep a few rolls of quarters in their bag. ;-)

That night we hooked up with one of Rich's stepbrothers (he technically has a total of six brothers if you're counting), which also happenned to be the ONLY one I hadn't met yet. Shawn & his wife Sandy are the most amazing, generous hosts and let us crash in their "barn" (a large pool house/man cave...complete with full bar, pool table and six TVs!). Ryan loved running through their little beaded curtain!

And to make their home even more cool? They have their own totally kick-arse playground in their backyard!

That night they took us out to eat at one of Guy Fieri's restaurants (Johnny Garlic's) for an amazing dinner. And to our surprise, Ryan loooooved their rosemary garlic bread and olive oil/basalmic vinegar appetizer!

The next morning we took Ryan to a place I've been wanting to take him for a very long time (but we don't have such options on our tiny island)- an indoor play park!!! While Rich studied in their coffee shop, Ryan and I ran around howling and having fun with Grammy Kay for as long as they let us. Rizzle loved the ball pit the best. So did I.

They also had a bouncy house obstacle course, giant slide and bouncy monster truck. The picture below is the precise second that I actually DROPPED Ryan on the obstacle course (in part because I was trying to take pictures AND play with him) and almost couldn't get him back! I actually had to take my socks off (which you were required to wear for sanitation reasons) and charge back over the wall in order to haul him over with me so we could move on! Hysterical.

And no side trip would be complete without Tiger Mom insisting that Ryan still practice the piano!

Sidenote: Even though Ryan does in fact, have a brief piano lesson at the end of each music school day...he has not learned a thing. In fact, while all the other obedient children delicately tap on the keys they're supposed to, my son has figured out how to turn on the drum beats and instead sits there bopping his head to the beat and pounding away on the keyboard with his fists (if we're ever asked to leave, I won't fight it).

Ryan with his Grammy Kay and two cousins Macey & Riley...we can't wait until they come and visit us someday!

Days 7, 8 & 9 to come soon!

PS- We had blue sunny skies each and everyday we were in California...we landed in Hawaii today and it rained! (That didn't stop us from swimming in the pool though...our little fish missed the water and just had to jump in the moment we returned.)