A nice getaway and time to remember

Last weekend my kind mother offered to give Jenni and I a much needed break and take us to California. It was lovely. We stayed the first two days in Carmel. Talk about happy memories!
Here we are at the Carmel Plaza, across the street from our favorite Carmel hotel - the Wayside Inn. Carmel is full of family memories with our immediate family, our Grandparents and our cousins. My mom visited Carmel often when she was growing up, as did my Dad when they lived in Merced. My parents came on their honeymoon and I can't even remember all of the times we came when I was a kid.

Below is a picture of the last visit, taken in the same spot as the picture above. That trip was to cousin Steve Allison's wedding at Pebble Beach. It was a memorable last trip with my grandparents. I remember it being stressful at the time :) but I'm so grateful to have those memories associated with them. I was about 3.5 months pregnant with Catherine. We had a great time at the wedding - although we definitely looked like "the Mormon cousins from Utah."

Along the coast of the 17 Mile Drive.At the beach with Pebble Beach Golf Course in the background.

Jenny eating artichokes.

Some great Carmel architecture. That place is like no-where else.

The good old Wayside Inn.

It was great to have the time to relax and reminisce together. And without anyone fussing at us or needing diaper changes. :) We also had a great visit with Mom's best friend since Jr. High days, Ellen Porzig and her husband, Klaus. Just visiting their home in Palo Alto also brought back waves of memories. They've lived in that home for as long as I can remember and we had great times staying with them and their daughters as we were growing up.

They fed us lovely food and we got to see incredible pictures of their cruise to Antartica! Amazing. They are as wonderful as ever and it was so great to visit with them again. Sadly, we forgot to take pictures of that part.

Sunday morning before we came home we visited Berkeley in the pouring rain. We had planned to attend church there - at the building where my Grandfather was bishop for 8 years, and where my mom attended growing-up and had her wedding reception. Such a beautiful old building.
Sadly, when we arrived, no one was there and the gate was locked! The only thing we can figure is that it was Stake Conference and everyone was meeting in Oakland. Sad.

The Ordway Street house where my mom's family lived when she was born.

10 The Crescent. The home my grandparents built and owned for 30 years in the hills of Berkeley. It has changed since my mom lived there - the roof above the garage has been cut-off to create a deck and some of the trees are gone. Very sweet memories to drive by. Just seeing it made me think fondly of my grandparents. I know I stayed there as a baby before they moved to Provo. The only time I remember going in was when I was about 4 and the Tanners were living there before my grandparents sold it. I remember wondering who these "squatters" were in my grandparents' house. :) We wished it wasn't pouring so we could get out and walk around.
A really reminiscent trip. I'm sure it was even more emotional for my mom. And she and Jenni have more pictures, so I may add more later. Thanks again, Mom, for inviting us a long. Thanks again, Jen, for letting visit quilt stores a long the way. Thanks again, Michael, for being super-dad.