Vacation

   This past week we got to go on our long awaited vacation to Northern California. We knew that last year would not be a year of much traveling for us, although we love to travel. It was too uncomfortable for Amaya's leg and we were short on time with daily physical therapy sessions as well as short on funds with added medical costs. Our friends moved up to Fort Bragg, CA. last year and we have been dying to go up and visit them and explore this new area. 

   We stopped in Sacramento for a couple of days to spend time with my brother in law and his family before making our way up to Fort Bragg. When we finally made it there we were taken back by the beauty, calmness, peace and quiet. We had no cellphone or internet reception at their house and it was nice having moments of uninterrupted quiet. Our days were spent enjoying friends, eating delicious vegetarian and vegan meals, and exploring beautiful areas. Fort Bragg is a beautiful place where the redwood forest meets the ocean. Here are some pictures of our trip. I hope the pictures do it justice. 

Josh and the girls with uncle Cody and cousin Elliott at a bridge over the American River in Sacramento. 

Lidie, cousin Elliott, and Amaya at the Jelly Belly factory in Fairbanks, CA. Several people have asked me where its located. Its between Sacramento and San Francisco off the 80.  

Me and my niece Imaan. Isn't she sweet? 

The kids in front of Candy Heaven in Old Town Sacramento. 

We stopped by a favorite spot in San Franciso. These are the painted ladies. There's a great children park there with a great view. 

Amaya posing. She got several compliments on her shirt. Thats the one Josh made her last year. It says "born this way." Each tiem I hear those song lyrics I tear up. 

Our first morning in Fort Bragg we woke up to deers in the back yard. A mama and her baby. They stayed there for several hours. 

Later that day we went to glass beach. It was beautiful. And amazing. It use to be the cite of the city dump. Later it was closed and several years later the ocean slowly turned the glass into beautiful glass pieces. They're soft, beautiful and feel wonderful.  

THe next day we explored nearby Mendocino. Wow. 

Josh and Amaya by the cliffs and sink hole. 

A family photo at the cliffs. 

Amaya did a lot of rock climbing on the cliffs. She had me nervous and scared, but she was careful and did great.  

The girls and I enjoying the sea. We paused to picnic and got to see some whales migrating down the coast.  

Before we started our way back home we went for a mushroom hunt in our friends backyard (which happens to be in the redwood forest. Amaya loved finding mushrooms. 

This si a fairy ring. THey say that wehn a tree dies trees grow around it and create a ring.  

Some mushrooms growing on the side of a stump. These were really hard and not easy to break. I didn't know mushrooms were so diverse. 

Here's a coral mushroom.  I was amazed by how many different types we found so close to one another.

Here are three tiny mushrooms growing on a leaf. I was taken back by the determination, strength and resilience of mushrooms. 

Here's some of the many that the girls collected. Thankfully our friends knew which were safe to eat and cooked some for us. 

A family photo on our walk through the forest. 

On our way back we drove through San Francisco. 

We continued on in through Half Moon bay where we got more vegetarian treats then headed on to Santa Cruz. 

Lidie kissing Amaya at the Saturn Cafe in Santa Cruz. 

 Before we left we went out to the pier to enjoy the sea, looking and "talking" to the sea lions then headed home.