Planes, Trains and Automobiles

We headed to Old Town Sacramento for Labor Day Weekend with our Li'l Engineer. While we kicked things off at the California State Railroad Museum, the California Automobile Museum and the Aerospace Museum of California completed our museum trifecta.
















That is a big steam engine! In fact, Engine No. 2467 weighs 300,000 pounds and could reach speeds of up to 100 mph. Throughout the 1920s, this locomotive served Southern Pacific's Overland Route from Utah to Nevada, and then moved on to service routes in California.














Cowcatcher!

  

After checking out the observation car (below), we hopped on the Sacramento Southern Railroad for a short ride along the river.

Did we mention the trackside breakfast table and the view of the railroad crossing from the hotel? Will got a special treat when the crossing signal got stuck for 30+ minutes!







The next day, we headed to the Aerospace Museum of California.

Will got to check out a (old-style) Blue Angel up close!

And sit in a fighter jet cockpit!

Boarding a helicopter...

Inside the museum there were more planes, along with several tables with construction toys and brain teasers. We forgot to take a photo, but our favorite was a set of sticks that would only come apart if you spun them around so that centifugal force moved a tab over. Meanwhile, Will was happy to build some very tall towers.

Next up was the California Automobile Museum. We got to try cranking an engine (and driving the car).

Will's favorite vehicle was a Mack truck. We learned that the emblem for Mack trucks is a bulldog (which you can see on the hood just in front of Will).

Following up our San Diego Willard brand sighting, here's another brand with an esteemed name!

A definite highlight was the DeLorean, a la Back to the Future!








 

We couldn't leave without checking out the Wells Fargo Stagecoach in Old Town! So long, Sacramento!

Misner Family Reunion 2012: San Diego

We met up with Mimi and Poppie, Aunt Katie and Uncle Scott and cousins Alex (3.5) and Andrew (11 months) and Aunt Karissa and Uncle Matt and cousins Lydia (3) and Violet (6 months) in Carlsbad, CA, just north of San Diego for nearly a week of family fun.

Family vacations wouldn't be the same without the group family photo. Will was less than pleased about the whole affair; Andrew is missing because he was the one taking the photo (or, rather, because he was sleeping peacefully upstairs out of the fray...):



















We headed to the beach and blew bubbles, made sand castles, jumped in the waves and flew our kites:



























































































































Our visit to Sea World was a highlight. We saw the Shamu Show, touched stingrays and starfish, caught the 4D Sesame Street movie and rode the gondola:

Stroller Train - Choo Choo!

We also spent a day exploring Legoland. Will earned his driver's license driving a Lego car (stopping for gas along his "route") and also took a Jeep safari with Daddy. Despite all the attractions, we think that the kids had the most fun of all playing in the fountain:

Mimi joined Will and Mama on a special adventure for just the three of us to the San Diego Model Railroad Museum. One of the engineers let him blow the train whistle, and he was excited to find a building labeled with the brand, "Willard," by a classification yard no less! The model was extremely realistic and actual photos of the rail line are used in the building process. We got to see an entire new section being built - it will likely take another 15-20 years to complete!





 

 

There was time to play on the piano with Mimi...

...and to snuggle with Poppie...while the big kids jumped off the stairs!
























 



And best of all, time to sing sweet songs to Baby Violet:

Day at the Beach

It was a lovely day to spend the afternoon at Stinson Beach, especially getting to see Grammy and Granddad, too!

Fling Around the Rosie

Will, Hazel and Lily's version of Ring Around the Rosie at MAGC was more like Fling Around the Rosie.

Will's First Ride in the Jeep!

A historic date:
July 7, 2012

Morning at the Park

Will and his new friend Jesse were determined to reach a tree branch at the park, no matter how much laughing ensued! Thanks to Jesse's dad for the wonderful photos!

"Persistence"