Marvelous Mackenzie!

A future movie star.....Mackenzie welcomes Gumpy and Gma Kathy to California in May 2008. It's party time!

A Village of Beauty

Just 45 minutes from Santa Rosa were a number of small communities along the Pacific Ocean. We enjoyed the view from several restaurants. These homes are along a bay that feeds into the ocean. We journeyed a few miles down a road to come to a beach on the ocean. A windy day, we loved it!

Pacific Coast Fun

We journeyed from Santa Rosa up the highway a bit until we hit a small road that took us over to the coast. Part of our journey took us through a redwood forest, and it was breathtaking and mysterious. As soon as we hit the coast, we pulled over to view the flowers and cliffs. Let the adventure begin!

Outside the Restaurant

We waited for a table at a cool restaurant in Healdsburg, California. Note the Brewers t-shirt on Chef Ben!

It's Been A Looonnngggg Day!

Here we are at a restaurant in late May 2008. Can you imagine how tiring it was for poor lil Mackenzie to listen to two 60-year-old foggy grandparents chatting on and on and on? At least, Daddy seems amused (and handsome, as usual!)

The Pacific Coast

On three separate days, we drove up and down the coast. The winding roads, high cliffs and spectacular homes were breathtaking. As an aside, I overcame my fear of heights as we twisted and turned down the narrow roads. I think.

Loving Being Gumpy and Gma Kathy

At the IHOP restaurant in Santa Rosa, here we are enjoying an entertaining meal with Ben, Brianne and Mackenzie. We didn't mind eating out a lot of our visit, as every morning, we took a walk outside of our Extended Stay hotel, through eight car dealerships. (No, we did not buy a car, but Gma Kathy came close to buying a cool, green convertible two-seater Mazda MX5. The clincher was that it had brown seats!)

Pancake House Breakfast

Mackenzie enjoyed looking at and a little bit eating of a Happy Face Pancake. She charmed the wait staff and customers, natch. Here, her playful Papa strikes a pose of "too many pictures, Mama!"

Golden Gate Bridge

The tour boat took us in the Bay, near the Bridge and alongside the island of Alcatrez. We were told the Bridge is in a constant state of being painted, section by section, day by day.

Chinatown, Baby!

Another world! While riding on a jump on-jump off tour bus, we hopped off at Chinatown. To my amazement, the stores, buildings, and people are predominantly Chinese. Most startling were the fresh fish stores and fresh vegetable stores. I felt immersed in the culture.

Entering the Coit Tower

A wealthy woman, who loved firefighters, donated money at her death to finance what is known as Coit Tower, outside the Downtown area of San Fran. Here, Ken is entering the building.

Breathtaking View

Atop the Coit Tower in San Francisco, panoramic views of the city are remarkable.

Above the City

It's the former hippie, Grandma Kathy, on top of a hill overlooking San Francisco in May 2008. The beauty of the clouds, the water and the city (f0r the second time) are magical to Gma Kathy and Gumpy Ken.

Picnic Fun in the Redwood Forest

Gumpy and Mackenzie enjoy lunch in the theater section of the Redwood Forest. Most definitely, the bonding has begun!

Mommy Brianne and Mackenzie

It's dance time for spritely Mackenzie and Mama Brianne in the Redwood Forest Theater stage. They are a natural duo! Very talented and carefree!

A Huge, Old Redwood Tree

Gumpy Ken, Brianne, Mackenzie and Gma Kathy enjoyed a picnic in a redwood forest outside of Windsor. The trees were majestic and breathtaking. There was even a spot for blind people to walk.

Ben The Chef

Here's Ben as a chef , in the right hand corner of the kitchen, cooking up the mushroom sandwiches for his mom and step-dad , as well as a bunch of meat menu items for Brianne and her mom, dad and brothers. Ben didn't know we were watching him, at first. We were impressed! (However, daughter Mackenzie promptly fell asleep!)

Watching Ben Cook

Grandma Kathy and Mom Brianne and Sweet Mackenzie had great seats to watch Daddy Ben cook up their meal at the Healdsburg Bar and Grill in Healdsburg, CA. Grandma loved showing off the t-shirt she is wearing, which she bought at a San Francisco Haight-Ashbury store. The t-shirt says, "War is not healthy for children and other living things." This very slogan was on a poster that Grandma Kathy had on her dormitory wall at UW-Eau Claire in 1968. Ironically, there was a war /peace demonstration occurring in Healdsburg the very night of this restaurant outing. Gumpy Ken had to restrain Gma Kathy from joining the demonstration!

Pizza Fun

Mackenzie was a happy pizza eater at a fun restaurant a couple of blocks from her house in Windsor, California. Mommy Brianne and Daddy Ben are happy campers!

Farewell!

Brianne, Ben and Mackenzie waving goodbye from their duplex in Windsor, CA, as Gumpy and Gma Kathy head on home.