Catching Up in California

For the end of Madeline’s fall break, we headed out to the Bay to meet up with our friends Casey and Amanda. Fall break didn’t go quite as we’d planned—Madeline was exposed to Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease right before the trip. At first, we thought she’d dodged it, but nope—she got it. The first few days of break were rough with a very sick, fussy baby. Thankfully, by the time we left for California, her blisters had scabbed over, and she was feeling much better.

We left early Thursday morning for the airport, running a little behind schedule but still on track to make our flight. It didn’t look like we’d have time to grab brekkie, but thanks to the government shutdown (and the ripple effects it caused), our flight was delayed just as we arrived at the gate. The silver lining: time for breakfast. The downside: an extra hour on the tarmac with a toddler. Thankfully, Mads is a trooper and slept for most of the flight. Despite the delay, we made it to the Bay in good spirits.

After picking up our rental car, we drove to Palo Alto to check into our hotel. We planned to spend most of the weekend there—it’s where I met Amanda years ago while serving my mission, back when she had just finished her degree at Stanford. It felt special to be back, now with Alison and Madeline, ready to explore some of my old stomping grounds.

We settled in and grabbed lunch at a nearby burger spot, then stopped by Trader Joe’s to stock up on snacks for us and Madeline. Back at the hotel, we attempted a nap, but Mads had other plans. The second we gave up and got in the car, she fell asleep, of course. So we took a scenic drive through Atherton while I reminisced about my time living in the area during my mission.

When she woke up, we stopped at Bell’s Bookstore—a Palo Alto classic celebrating 90 years in business this year. We picked up a couple of books for Mads: Hi Cat Bye Cat and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. She’s a total bookworm already and couldn’t wait to flip through Hi Cat Bye Cat.

That evening, Casey and Amanda arrived, and we all headed out to hike The Dish—a local favorite near Stanford. Amanda used to hike it regularly as a student, and I had done it a few times on my mission. The weather was perfect, and we were treated to a gorgeous sunset and a few deer sightings. Alison mentioned how every time we reconnect with Casey and Amanda, it feels like notime has passed—which is so true. We may have finished after closing time, but luckily, we made it out before getting locked in!

After our hike, we grabbed dinner at Sajj Mediterranean. As always, it was a hit—Madeline devoured her hummus, and Alison was thrilled to try Dubai chocolate for the first time (she gave it two enthusiastic thumbs up). I was a little less impressed, which she found incomprehensible.

The next morning, we drove over to Capitola—a spot that holds a special place in my heart since it’s where I finished my mission. Alison and I have visited before and love it, and I was excited to show it to Casey, Amanda, and Madeline. The drive over Highway 17 is always memorable with its winding, wooded stretches. We arrived a bit before our friends, and—no surprise—Madeline was asleep again. We drove around until she woke up, landing at one of my favorite beaches, Twin Lakes State Beach. When she woke, we got out to explore. Mads was in heaven—pointing at birds and dogs, feeling the sand between her fingers, and toddling around like she owned the place.

Once Casey and Amanda arrived, we headed to Capitola Beach for lunch. Pizza My Heart, naturally. It’s a must. I was helping Madeline with my slice and set it down for a second to take off her sweater—rookie mistake. A seagull swooped in and stole it right out from under me. Lesson learned. We grabbed another slice and ate on the beach before walking along the wharf to admire the colorful Venetian Court. Even the bathrooms on the wharf were shockingly fancy.

Next, we popped into the tiny Capitola Museum. The volunteers there were incredibly kind and eager to share their town’s history. They had exhibits on vintage swimwear and Alfred Hitchcock, who drew inspiration for The Birds from a real bird strike that happened nearby. Afterward, we made a stop at Gayle’s Bakery for treats—Mads was all about the cookies. By that point, she was over the stroller, so we headed back to the beach to let her play. She loved digging in the sand—until she tried to eat it and instantly regretted her decision.

We took the scenic route back through Pleasure Point, which had miraculously cleared of fog just in time for us to enjoy the ocean cliffs and surfers, then returned to Palo Alto for dinner at Celia’s, a local Mexican spot. Madeline happily inhaled beans and rice while the rest of us enjoyed our meals. It was a great end to the day.

Saturday was our Stanford day. Alison, Madeline, and I started at the Cantor Arts Center. I loved visiting this museum during my mission, especially the Rodin sculptures. Madeline was surprisingly captivated by the pieces of hands, and it made me smile thinking of her growing up to share Alison’s love of art. I always make a point to see the Golden Spike there too—such a neat bit of Utah history tucked away in Palo Alto.

We spent the rest of the morning wandering campus. Stanford really is one of the most beautiful campuses around. Mads loved rolling in the grass and splashing near fountains. We eventually made our way to the bookstore, where she was delighted by all the stuffed animals but didn’t latch onto any in particular. We picked up a Stanford onesie for her and a new sweater for me. Lunch at The Treehouse hit the spot before we met up again with Casey and Amanda.

They took us on a walking tour of campus, showing us the places Amanda had lived and studied. We found her class tile and joked that if Madeline goes to Stanford, she’d graduate around 2045. Who knows—if she does, we’ll have these baby photos on campus as a fun full-circle moment. We snapped a picture of Amanda and me in Kingscote Gardens, where we first met all those years ago. We also walked by the institute where I spent much of my mission and even my old apartment complex nearby. It was fun to stroll down memory lane, this time with my little family in tow.

We wrapped up the day with dinner at Il Fornaio—great food, good conversation, and the perfect way to close out the trip with Casey and Amanda.

It was such a fun weekend—one that blended nostalgia with new memories. Getting to share the places that meant so much to me with Alison, Madeline, and two of our dearest friends made it feel extra special. We loved every moment catching up with Casey and Amanda, laughing, exploring, and reminiscing about where our paths first crossed all those years ago. It reminded me how grateful I am for the kind of friendships that stand the test of time—where you can pick up right where you left off and instantly feel at home.

The next morning came early. We were on a flight home before sunrise, landing back in Salt Lake around 8:30 a.m.—just in time for brunch with Alison’s brother Bret, who was in town hosting a big family get-together. It was great to see everyone again and end our trip surrounded by family. As fun as it was to return to old memories, there’s always something comforting about coming home.