Day 1 - A Very Good Day

By any measure, today was a very good day.  We can only hope that days 2 through 22 are as smooth.

The airport drop-off was as well timed as a precison military excercise. Thanks to Uncle Sean and Pop-Pop who met us as we merged onto the airoirt access ramp.  Stop at the curb - dump luggage - kiss & hug, take our car to Pop-Pop's...and we're on our own. USAirways was unusually empty and security was a breeze.  I think I overheard the security guy say that we maxed out the number of plastic tubs allowed per family at 12 - I wonder what happens on the way back with Ashley in tow??

As we waited to board the plane, Dylan had to use the restroom, so I took him down the corridor. He had to sit down so we found the only open spot. As we swung open the door, I looked down at him and said "Let's go, it's showtime."  He didn't make a move as we both eyeballed a pretty unkempt stall.  I glanced down again at him and I wish I could paint the picture of his face, as he told me without saying a word, "I'm not goin' in there! No way...No how!!" After another quick look at the scene, I had to agree with the little guy. We waited around for 2 minutes, found another place to go, did  our thing, washed our hands, dried them in a nifty Dyson (from the guy who brough us the bagless vaccuum and the bladeless fan) automatic high volume warm air hand dryer, and went on our way. Both boys actually got a big kick out of the hand dryer - it was a big hit.
 

Kyle spent the flight with Aunt Rita in 21 E&F, whole the rest of us were back in 22 A,B & C. Kyle had a great time with AR alternately coloring, playing his new DS, playing his leapster and napping (briefly). Dylan had fun with Mom doing much the same.  He also succummed to the sandman for about 40 minutes.
 

The flight was smooth, except for the surly flight attendants.  Nuff said - Don't get me started.  Dylan got a a bloody nose, which he occasionaly gets, and when I asked for a tissue ro napkin, you have thought that I asked the woman to remove her own left pinky with a rusty pocket knife!  Don't get me started...
 

As we approached San Francisco, Dylan had the window seat and gave a running commentary of the scenery.  He said that he saw a "volcano with hot lava" and also a rainforest! It must have beena remote part of California we flew over!

Once on the ground we took an airport shuttle to the wrong hotel. Luckily, AR was on her game and called the dispatcher and had the guy come back, re-load us and drive os the 1.5 blocks to the "RIGHT" hotel, at Fisherman's Wharf.
 

We ate at the Rainforest Cafe near Fisherman's Wharf (probably just an odd coincidence with Dylan's earlier window sighting!) and jumped quickly onto a Bay Cruise.  This as Mom's idea and it was a great one.  We got to see and drive under the GGBridge, dodging about 15 -20 windsurfers along the way. The boys (me included) had a real blast. We even got to see Alcaraz up close as we went around the island on the return.

Next, we hoofed it down to the start of one of the Cable Car lines at the Hyde street turnaround.  We took it to the end of the line - Dad hung off the outside (much to Kyle's displeasure) while the rest of the crew had comfortable outside seats.  Again, lots of good clean fun.

The boys did extraordinarily well considering the time change, and they just began to fade as we got back to the end of th line at Hyde Street.  Theyreally were excellent today.

So, as a reward, we stopped off at Ghirardelli's at the Square to have a hot chocolate and initiate a late day sugar surge - enough to help them make the short walk back to the hotel.

It took them just a short while to settle down, but the entire crew is happily sleeping, and I'm just wrapping a long day with this sign-off:  1 down 21 to go.
 

We leave for HK tomorrow (we get to sleep in a bit as we have an early afternoon flight) so we may be out of touch for a while - we'll reinitiate contact then.

Here are some quick snapshots...

D-man polishing off Mom's breadbowl!
Thanks for following -  more soon...
C