a Kuzak family invasion

A few weekends ago we had Derek & Kim and the kids down from Seattle to visit for Elena's spring break.  They spent 2 nights at our house before heading over to my parents house, and we managed to pack in the fun.  

Their first night here, we had everyone over for dinner at our house.  This was the first time these guys got to have their own "kids table" at our house, and they loved it.  Not sure much food was actually eaten, but they definitely giggled a lot.  And at one point, us grown ups were silent just listening to these kids chat and laugh at each other.  It was great.  

The kids all slept in Ryan's room, for a big ol' slumber party.  They were wild at first, and definitely stayed up later than usual and woke up earlier than usual, but they had so much fun.  After Connor and Elena left, Ryan looked at me with a super sad face and said "Mom, it sure was quiet in my room last night without Connor and Elena there".  

bed time stories with Nanny

slumber party in Ry's room (and no, Connor is not actually asleep in this photo)

 The next day we took the Kuzaks up to wine country.  We stopped at one of our favorite playgrounds in St Helena so the kids could play, before asking them to be on best behavior so the adults could do a little wine tasting during our picnic lunch.  It was a win win for us all really.  

the cousins and some wildflowers 

Crane Park in St Helena

even Kaitlyn was loving it

at our favorite winery, Arger Martucci.  Who says you can't bring kids to a winery?  

 The last 2 times we have seen the Kuzaks, Connor has been the one in love with baby Kaitlyn.  But on this trip, Elena was the one who couldn't get enough of her.  And I think Kaitlyn fell equally in love with her older cousin...with big smiles and squeals of delight whenever Elena was in the room.

girl cousin bonding

After the weekend, Eddy had to go back to work, but on Monday my parents good friends the Briggs were camping at a place called Kirby Cove.  It's an amazing little campground at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge.  They invited us all to come picnic and play with them for the day, so we all decided to make the trek.  

the view from where we parked the cars

 It was an almost one mile hike down to the campground, and the kids did so great with the hike.  Helps that it was all downhill, and a gorgeous view.

hiking is so much more fun with friends

From the campground, we had amazing views of the bridge, the city, and the water...we even saw a pod of dolphins swimming by!  The kids loved the beach, and loved the chance to run around among the sticks and logs and dirt.  It was a trek, but on a beautiful day it was so worth it.  

yup, that's Ryan, bare from the waist down (aside from a little sand on his behind)...at his request.  The kid who won't get his hands dirty to do art projects at school has no problem with sand up his crack.  Go figure!