California Trip for My Grandma's 94th Birthday!

My grandma turned 94 last week! Wow! Every year since she turned 90, my mom's family has gathered in Northern California for a few days to celebrate, choosing getaway destinations not too far from Berkeley/Oakland. For each of those years, we have been in the Netherlands and I have been nursing, pregnant or home with a toddler, making the trip impossible. Well I have earned my freedom and was so excited when I found a great airfare ($550!) to allow me to attend this year. The idea of 14+ hours of travel (layover in Zurich) might bum some people out, but I was stoked! It was everything I hoped it would be- time to read, watch movies, sleep and enjoy the peace and quiet! And thanks to melatonin, I didn't suffer much from jet lag, only waking at 5:30 in the mornings, which let's be honest, is not too far from the norm.

Onto the celebrations:

We drove from Berkeley to Inverness in Point Reyes National Seashore. The day I arrived was my grandma's actual birthday so we got right to celebrating.

The long weekend was filled with hikes, reading, puzzling, games, eating and drinking. So relaxing!

Hike down to Shell Beach

I loved time on the deck listening to all of the birds, especially the wood peckers, and watching the fog roll in.

Tomales Bay

My aunt put together a slide show of all of the homes where my grandma has lived. A fun trip down memory lane for her. She is doing remarkable for 94, but admits to memory loss. I enjoyed looking through old family albums. My grandma was a meticulous scrapbooker!

A young grandma looking a lot like Maeve

Grandma with my great-grandma Evangeline and her twin brothers. 

On Saturday, rain came in right when we planned on an outdoor lunch at Cowgirl Creamery and a hike with friends Gregg and Katie who have recently moved from Madrid to San Fran. Instead, we shopped in the rain and enjoyed catching up indoors back at the house. When the skies did finally clear, we took a short walk down to Chicken Ranch Beach where their dog was very popular with the kids.

A rainbow for my grandpa

I know we weren't in the Netherlands, but the whole weekend was super gezellig! Especially with the roaring fires and hot-tubbing under the stars. 

Playing the Copeland family classic: Oh Hell. I won by 1 point ;) 

The gang split up on Sunday with my parents and Uncle Tom and Aunt Diane flying back home. My other two aunts live in Berkeley so I got in some extra time with them and grandma before my flight home the next day. And I got to see Sue and Nick's new Berkeley home!

Margaret, Claire and I drove further into Point Reyes National Seashore and took a leisurely hike to the Pacific Coast. It was such a beautiful day and as we were relaxing on the nearly empty expansive beach, Claire spotted first a seal and then two humpback whales, who spent an hour swimming down the coast, breaching and spouting along the way! #California!

 

 Back in Berkeley I did some necessary shopping :)

Then I had the treat of seeing some college friends for dinner and drinks!

Can't remember the last time I saw Becca! 

Marcus and Kevin, 6 kids later... 

One final stop to see Grandma at her assisted living center on my way back to the airport. I'm so glad that I got to see you, Grandma and help you celebrate! Be well and keep making your 90s look good!

Now for another relaxing 14 hours and then getting to see my family back home!!