Day 1454. Emmy was up first this morning, and he was eager to go have breakfast. We all got up and walked over to where the reception and the breakfast area was. While we were sitting there and eating, I could hear that the people at the next table were French. Randy addressed them, and then we talked for a little bit. They were trying to interact with our kids who were being very shy. Emmy did not want to show off that he can count to five in French.
We returned to our room and packed, then Randy loaded the car up. At 9 am we already drove off; it was obvious that we had crossed into another time zone, as that was 10 am where we had been the day before. We started our 380 mile drive to California. I was looking for a place with playground where we could have lunch and finally found a Chick-Fil-A again. One was rather early, and the next way too late. But given the time difference, 11:30 really wasn't too early. We got gas first, then got out at Chick-Fil-A.
The kids went straight to the playground, while I ordered the food and sat down at our table. Once the food had arrived, they joined me at the table. After eating, they went back to the playground. After 90 minutes we decided to leave. And Sammy was very upset about that as he had been enjoying himself.
We got into the car and continued on to California. It was nap time first, but they wouldn't stop talking and messing around. After an hour I gave Sammy his tablet, hoping he'd fall asleep while listening to songs, as he's done before, but it was not working. First Emmy, then Tammy, finally fell asleep. And we continued driving and driving and did not stop again. I tried to get some rest too, but Sammy constantly needed me.
Exactly at 5 pm we arrived at our friends' house in Pleasanton, near San Francisco. They both happened to be in the driveway, so we said hello, then went inside. But we didn't stay there long. The husband showed them the "climbing tree" in their yard. He put Tammy on the first branch, and off she went climbing up. It was impressive! But I called up and stoppped her from continuing on, knowing she wouldn't be able to come back down, and that was actually the case with where she was. We had to help her get back down. Emmy was a lot more cautious and fearful and didn't go up there. The husband also put Sammy on a branch for a short time.
Then we went back inside, but immediately went out into their yard. They saw a lemon tree for the first time, and the apple tree was losing its apples. Emmy was most interested in the water hose, but they never turned it on. Sammy was pretty cranky, as he was so very tired, not having slept.
After a while we went back inside, and the hsuband got a box of building blocks out for them. They were really excited and got them out, but then his wife asked them to be quiet, and so we left to go to the nearby playground. There they got to move, run, play and be loud, after a day in the car. I took Sammy to the swing right away, and even with his tiredness and crankiness, he really enjoyed swinging and was giggling. Once he was done with it, I got him out, and he got to be with the husband for a little bit, as well as with Daddy. We stayed some more time, then made our way back to the house.
We went straight to our room, where the kids were playing until 8 pm, when we went downstairs to have dinner. They had made a nice meal of chicken and rice, and the kids all ate well. It was rather late for them, and so we went back upstairs after they were done to get them ready for bed. They showered, then we put their pj's on, and I prayed for them. It was 9 pm before they were in bed. We blew up our air mattress so they could sleep on it right next to our bed. Emmy ended up sleeping in our bed, and Tammy and Sammy were sharing the air mattress. Sammy was asleep right away, then Tammy fell asleep, and Emmy was last and needed a t little time. I was very tired myself, but then turned my computer on and started working on the pictures and my report. My eyes keep falling shut while writing, so it's time to go to bed.
