Adventures in the City

We do this every single year and it is typically a relaxing and seamless outing. This year, however, our trip to the city to see the Christmas lights was a good 'ol classic Youngberg adventure. I'll tell the story through our pictures......if only the pictures could tell the REAL story....It all started when we couldn't decide whether or not to grab a quick dinner at McDonald's in town before heading out. We decide, together, to drive to the next town and eat a quick meal there......during this drive we are debating whether or not to take the BART to the city.

Deciding to ride the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) into the city was not easy. Tim was not keen on the idea of hitting traffic over the bridge while I was not keen on the idea of riding public transportation without proper planning. While we're eating dinner at the busiest McDonald's in America (I did enough people watching to last a lifetime), Tim realizes he forgot the stroller (an absolute must when maneuvering through crowds). Fabulous....I can just see Sophie and Noah complaining about the hills and sitting atop our shoulders. Tim debates whether or not we go home, get the stroller, and catch the BART from there. Looking at my watch, I tell him we either go now without the stroller or just go home.......so, off we go. Above is a picture documenting Noah and Sophie's first experience on BART (and last, if I can help it).

Here's Noah excited as ever to be riding on the choo choo train, as he calls it. Meanwhile, I am thankful it is near empty and using my hand sanitizer every five minutes.

Finally, we get here. Prior to leaving, I think I asked Tim if it was going to rain in SF at least ten times. Now, keep in mind, Tim checks the weather hourly because he's obsessed and it's part of his job. But apparently, he couldn't care less what happens with the weather unless it relates to what's happening over his golf course. He's annoyed with me and tells me, "NO. I think we're okay." Above, you can see my attempt at taking a picture of the beautiful Christmas tree at Union Square.......in the pouring rain......thankfully, I bring two umbrellas. One for Noah and Daddy (because Noah is already on Daddy's shoulders) and one for Sophie. Yes, I am without an umbrella while wearing a fleece jacket.....it's getting really fun now.

I always have these visions of the perfect picture. And then I get there and end up with the complete opposite of what I envisioned. Noah and Sophie are doing anything but standing still. I like the picture I got above, but I couldn't get the setting right to make sure the tree illuminated in the background. I tried every single setting, cursed at my camera, and threatened to throw it in the gutter. All of this while getting soaking wet. Still having fun and maintaining a positive attitude (however quickly diminishing), but now I'm also regretting my choice in footwear (Pumas) while the bottoms of my jeans are soaking wet.

So, I tell Tim to get over there and rally the troops. Above is a picture of his frustration because he has absolutely no control over this photo opportunity. The kids are literally running circles around him and he looks at me while throwing his hands up and annoyed because now he's getting wet too.

This would be a picture of Tim's fake smile. We are still having fun......I think.

After hitting Niketown and getting a break from the rain, we decide to venture back out through Union Square on our way back to BART in an attempt to get one more picture. This is what I end up with.....please don't enlarge because then you will notice how freaking blurry it really is....let's pretend and just enjoy the small version, okay? As we finish up and are walking towards BART, Tim notices that I'm bleeding......bleeding green dye, that is. I'm soaking wet, wearing an absorbent fleece jacket without a hat, wet jeans, and now my hands are a bright green color and I have no idea why. We keep moving while I am dumbfounded as to why it looks like a can of spray paint blew up on my hands. As we're waiting for the BART station, I am so anxious to get my jacket off of me because it feels like it weighs 10 lbs. Tim says I keep getting this green stuff all over me, like that is my priority....although I will be sad if it doesn't come out of my Patagonia jacket......I keep handing him stuff so I can locate the culprit. Unfortunately, by now it is on everything I own......and now, it is on Tim too.

This picture does not do it justice. It was all over my shirt, jacket, hands, and much brighter than the picture details (I already used 10 wipes to try and get most of it off by the time Tim took this picture). Tim finds out it's from the strap of my camera (WTH?) and he is now covered in it. Sophie thinks I'm turning into a witch, while Tim is obsessing about not getting any of it on his precious outfit. So, how is my camera strap green, you ask? We have no idea. The strap is black....it got wet, so we are thinking a marker might have leaked on it at some point or someone (when I say someone, I really mean Sophie or Noah) actually did color the strap with a marker, or dipped it in paint....who the heck knows. All I know is we're about to get on BART and I am ready to throw my camera into the tracks below.

The ride home was just as spectacular because it was jam packed this time and it smelled like poop in our BART train car. Really bad poop, not like someone stepped in it and there was a faint smell, but worse (I can't even get too descriptive because it's making me dry heave just thinking about it). My hand sanitizer was my best friend, yet again, as I was also using it to hold under my nose for a fresh scent of cucumber melon and alcohol.

As we're driving home, Sophie proclaims, "This was the best night ever!" How come she's always quick to put me in my place and give me perspective? I will say Tim and I laughed a lot that night because it was just one thing after another....and it was nice to see the kids' experience was still a fun and joyous one.