![LHR --> SFO](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8134486182_8868600598.jpg)
We reserved seats with a bassinet (which gave S extra leg room - bonus!), and lucked out to have an empty seat next to ours, so the flight was as good as we could have ever wished. Junior slept for the first half, and kept himself busy by playing on the floor and walking in the aisles with us for the second half. By the time we landed, the passengers around us were praising him for being such a good boy, and giving us credit for being great parents. Yeah, we're pretty awesome.
As soon as we arrived at my parents' house, Junior made himself at home.
![Making myself at home](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8043/8134459775_bd7f680a95.jpg)
We were reunited with my sister, brother-in-law, and 17.5 month old nephew. Watching Junior and his cousin over the course of our trip was fascinating: they both have distinct personalities and are quite different from one another. Despite P being older, Junior was more bold (dare I say aggressive?) and by the end of the trip, P had mastered the word, "no!" Funnily enough, Junior started mimicking P shaking his head "no", and defiantly ignored P's admonishments to leave his things (toys, sandwiches, snacks) alone. Thoughtful P couldn't help himself, though: he kept offering (showing?) Junior his things and expecting him to respect his treasures. I hope Junior's greedy phase recedes over time... P was a bit overwhelmed.
![Bath time](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8464/8134487268_da72a9d985.jpg)
Wait a sec, I was playing with that one...
Although the boys had a few minor skirmishes, they played nicely together for the most part. And we had a great time entertaining them.
We went on the merry-go-round and steam train in Tilden Park.
![Merry-go-round](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8134486730_9f76fea7d2.jpg)
![Steam train](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8465/8134460335_372f4ba3f8.jpg)
We played at Totland and Thousand Oaks Park.
![In the sand](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8046/8134461245_1f3bfbbbc8.jpg)
![Walking practice](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8463/8134461579_29bbe975df.jpg)
![Thousand Oaks Park](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8464/8134493418_75f949fc9e.jpg)
We spent an afternoon at the Oakland Zoo.
![Oakland Zoo](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8047/8134462021_e385da93b5.jpg)
![Junior and the goat](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8469/8110927865_7b138741a0.jpg)
![Tiger](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8328/8134462419_5ee86347ef.jpg)
![Giraffe](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8332/8134489322_acfc17850f.jpg)
We met one of my high school friends and her son - who is six days younger than Junior - at the Discovery Museum and the boys had the time of their lives exploring and splashing together.
![Watching bubbles](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8045/8134463185_4d43169e53.jpg)
![Exploring](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8045/8134463495_9214105cc6.jpg)
![Splashing water with Sam](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8471/8134490276_7f4d7bb276.jpg)
![Stream at Discovery Museum](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8055/8134490586_d9b18e5c5d.jpg)
We snuck into P's swimming lesson.
![Swimming](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8330/8144019043_68a10b7bf4.jpg)
![Swimming with Grandpa and Cousin P](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8196/8144019149_bb329dd6d7.jpg)
We visited my best friend's family. Junior enjoyed playing with her son, who is a few weeks younger than P. They even invented a secret handshake under the table.
![Chez Raymond](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8183/8134491126_8ea0b4575b.jpg)
![Making deals under the table](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8467/8134464447_0475f3d864.jpg)
![Chez Raymond](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8194/8134465195_f93407a574.jpg)
The 2011 boys and big brother
In quiet moments, the boys read books with Grandma and Grandpa.
![Cousins reading with Grandma](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8325/8134460879_e7983a142e.jpg)
![Cousins reading with Grandpa](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8330/8134464941_34f1bfd812.jpg)
They played music and ran around at Studio Grow.
![Playing music](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8329/8134493738_17957088d5.jpg)
![In the ball pit](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8335/8134467477_4487f2b9cf.jpg)
![In the ball pit](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8334/8134467761_062f22eaba.jpg)
One of the highlights of the trip, though, was taking them to the Nicasio pumpkin patch.
![Mums and juniors at the pumpkin patch](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8049/8110936186_daf89dfb01.jpg)
P was kind enough to lend Junior his pumpkin outfit from last year, and although it was a tight fit, Junior roamed around in it for well over an hour. P wore a tiger outfit. They inspected some pumpkins and walked through the hay maze. Halloween is not as popular in the UK as it is in the USA, so it was a new experience for S as well. Read his impressions about it on his blog.
![Stealing a sandwich at the pumpkin patch](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8471/8110929839_7ce061810b.jpg)
![Inspecting the pumpkins](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8196/8134492246_2e5f7db222.jpg)
![Hay maze](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8465/8134466045_4433cffc80.jpg)
![Hay maze](http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8046/8134466409_d03c83fe15.jpg)
It was such good fun to have the boys together and to see my family in person (as opposed to on the webcam). Ten days passed quickly, and it was time to return to London. Junior was fussier on the flight home and suffered bad jet lag for a week, but it was worth it to see everyone. Now to plan our next adventure...
*Some photos by S and my sister
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