Jarrah and Elliot eat an apple and play on the chopping block

For the fans out there a special video post. Apologies for the lack of sound due to technical difficulties.

 

Woodacre

Watching Keith's volley ball team

Woodacre was a time of fine views, family and volleyball.

Playing the work at Den's place

Hiking near Mt Tam

Hiking near Mt Tam

Hanging out with the fam at Edianne's

Hanging out with the fam at Edianne's

San Francisco

We stayed for four nights in a lovely apartment in Laurel Heights. The place was a little bit away from the action and we had to manage the SF buses and Muni electric trams.

Our apartment

There was a lot of pram pushing up the steep streets which was also very interesting. As well as the popular sights such as Lombard St and the Ferry building, Tom and Elliot accidentally experienced the joys of being down and out in the Tenderloin. A man waving an axe was a highlight for a first time father with a baby strapped to his chest.

Cool San Francisco

Enjoying coffee and toy at NOPA. Elliot kindly shared his amazing custard French toast with us.

We remembered the fun on our last visit to SF scooting through the streets chasing the finest burrito Steve McQueen style and so decided to hire bikes. These photos do not reflect the extreme dislike of sitting in a trailer with a helmet that Elliot feels. We had a great time at the bridge when stopped!

This carabiner distracted me for 1 minute form the torture of cycling

I hate cycling but I can put it on for the grand parents

Alcatraz was very interesting and worth it for the views.

Our most unusual visit was to the Nike nuclear missile site, set on the beautiful Marin head land. Elliot and his parents found this surprisingly fascinating and extremely scary, including riding down into the bunker with the missile. Thank god Elliot doesn't have to grow up in a world where these things are necessary.

 

 

Visiting the Marshall clan

We had a lovely lunch (taquitos with all the fixings) with Jerry and Laura, and Shakti, Eric, Jake and Alex in Sunnyvale.

 

 

 

Monterey aquarium

A great time was had by all at the Monterey Aquarium. Elliot was surprisingly interested in the fish. Zoe remembered the kids touch pools fondly from her last visit at age 9, so we took Elliot there. He had to be forcibly restrained from eating the seaweed. That's our little gourmet.

 

 

SLO to Pacific Grove

A beautiful drive up highway one to Pacific Grove. Broken only to purchase sticky cinnamon rolls covered in cream cheese at Pismo beach and a visit to the amazing Hearst Castle. Elliot was very good in the car until the last hour enjoying his superior US car seat and his cousin's toys.

View from Hearst Castle.

Relaxing by W.R.H's pool

Bixby Bridge

 

The accomodation at Pacific Grove was great featuring a vinyl room (also Elliot's bedroom) and a blind three legged dog called Zeus which Elliot took a shine to.



 

 

Pasadena to San Luis Obispo via Santa Barbara

A nice drive without incident. We enjoyed fish tacos in Santa Barbara. We climbed Bishops Peak in SLO which was Elliot's longest bushwalk. He enjoyed it on the way up and slept on the way down.

We stayed in a nice old wooden cabin in a rural area near SLO. Here we are hanging out in the setting sun.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Shadows and reflections

Elliot is fascinated by shadows at the moment. The only thing he loves more Is looking at himself in the mirror.

Olive Tree Cabin, San Luis Obispo

 

Posted with Blogsy

Cousins reunited

Big tuck, little truck

Good times in the bath

.

Mum and mum

Floor time

 

On the plane to Los Angeles

This is the actual plane

We managed to get a middle isle bulkhead seat with plenty of legroom and a bassinet. Our row consisted of two other couples also with babies and a suffering korean couple from Sydney. Luckily they seem to love babies. Elliot only slept in the bassinet for around 1 hour but it was a great storage device.

 

Complimentary child's play area

The baby quarter

 

 

Out and about with Grandma and Grandpa

Elliot's first City to surf

Waiting for Dad with Grandpa

Mmmmedal

You were this close to winning Dad.

Bye folks

 

Park life

Spring arrived in Sydney this week and Elliot made the most of it, hitting the parks. He had fun on the swing at Johnson Park, Dulwich Hill with mums group and enjoyed his first 1st birthday party for his playgroup friend Ollie at Beaconsfield Park, Alexandria.