Scotland visitors

One week after we got back from the beach house we had visitors - Mark & Linsay, and their daughter, Ailsa. Isabella was very happy to have a girl her age to play with for a week! They got along fairly well. We tried putting two cots in Isabella's room for them so they could sleep together. Of course, half way through the night Ailsa ended up with her parents, and Isabella with us (big surprise).

That weekend we headed off to New Brighton to go camping. It turned out to be a pretty decent campground, a bit too close to highway 1 but right next to the beach. We spent the day there, enjoying the sun and the sand.

We brought two big tents and one small one (in case the girls wanted to sleep together). They made it through about half the night before wanting their parents. But it did make for a great play area.

The drive up was fine for one set of us - the car carrying the two girls. Apparently Ian wasn't so keen to be crammed into a car seat right after day care.

Mark bravely took both girls into the water - both of them freaked out when they got soaking wet! He also bravely went body surfing without a wet suit, unlike Bill, who piled on everything he had.

I borrowed mom's wet suit and went in as well. There must have been a fish run because there were a ton of dolphins, seals, and pelicans in the water.

 Ian wasn't quite sure how he wanted to go swimming - should he take the fishy ring, or should he try the surfboard? Dat was trying to convince him to use the surfboard.

Isabella tried the fishy ring in the water, but that didn't last long.

On Sunday we went to the Boardwalk for a little while. The kids rode many of the kiddie rides and I got a chance to ride the Big Dipper again, which was just as much fun as I remembered.

Mark and I took the girls on the log ride - unfortunately, I can't find the picture of them on the big splash down at the end. They looked absolutely terrified!.

After Santa Cruz we drove all the way up to SF to see a very cool production of Peter Pan. Unfortunately, we ran into a huge traffic jam (they'd closed the Embarcadaro for a race) and we basically got there just as the show had started. Not enough time for poor Isabella to adjust. She freaked out - too scary. And Ian wasn't that keen on sitting still. So Bill and I took turns waiting outside, where at least we could watch the show on the screen. Ailsa sat through the whole thing with aplomb.

The kids also went together to the Discovery Museum, where Ian showed off his new found walking skills by falling down the practice stairs and scraping up his forehead. Bob the Builder was also a big hit, despite there not really being all that much in the display area. The girls rearranged flowers and made balls go through the pump while Ian just rearranged everything.

Mark & Linsay also took Isabella to see the Hubble show at the tech museum. Apparently she really, really liked it. We also got a night out and got to go see a movie. Whee!

Isabella was very sad to see her friend go. We were sad too - it was great having adults to talk to!