California Trip

Birthday cakes NO chocolate cake

We went to Santa Barbara, California to visit Louanne’s family. Nonni got a chance to see the baby in non-jet lag mode and everyone else got to meet Nadia for the first time. My mom and Brian had a little birthday party on Thursday night and I asked my mom for chocolate cake for Nadia and I. The photos above show the cakes and what Nadia thought of her first bite of chocolate cake- she actually spit it out which just made us all laugh. My mom made lasagna which was totally yummy and a good time was had by all.

Santa Barbara Beach
Santa Barbara Beach - October 2007 (click to see album)

The photo above was of Nadia at the beach on the west coast for the first time. I love that big toothy smile! We went down to the beach with my sister Michelle and Nadia was not too sure what she thought of the sand. She preferred to be held by one of us rather than be on the ground. The weather was perfect and the sky was clear. I was so excited that Michelle was able to drive down from Santa Clara and she even brought Nadia a cute little cranberry Santa Clara hoodie. Click on the photo above to see all the photos from the beach. Below is a great one of Michelle and I at the entrance to the Santa Barbara Harbor.

Michelle and Louanne

The photo below shows a small sampling of the all the people that Nadia got to meet on the trip. Click the photo to see the slideshow from our Santa Barbara visit. Nadia got her first balloon from the waitress at Sambo’s. It’s the original Sambo’s restaurant and the location of my first job as a hostess at age 14. They have awesome pancakes and blueberry muffins, but I love the tuna melt. My mom took us all over Santa Barbara introducing Nadia to everyone from Lori in her office to the man who does her nails. She is a very excited Grandma 😉

Santa Barbara 2007
Santa Barbara 2007 (click to see album)

After the beach and a nap for Nadia…..Mike, Michelle, Nadia and I all went to the Pumpkin Patch at Lane Farms. They had a corn maze (a maize maze?) that we never found the end of, hay rides for the kids, a petting zoo and a big old horse with a sign that said not to feed him. Michelle found a nice pumpkin to put on her patio in Santa Clara and we picked up a couple mini pumpkins too. Click the photo below for the whole slide show and I added a couple of my favorite shots.

Pumpkin Patch 2007
Nadia's first visit to a pumpkin patch. (click to see album)

Michelle, Nadia and Louanne Nadia's foot Pumpkin Patch

Mike and Nadia Mike and Nadia at the harbor

Aunt Michelle and Nadia