Serenity Now!!

Received the best present from my parents...a weekend away sans kids.  My hubby and myself joined a few good friends and flew off to San Diego for a much needed rest and relaxation weekend.  We all had a blast just being us again.  It's amazing how just a little bit of time to think of only yourself and be silly without having to plan and worry about little ones can be so totally liberating.  Ahh...this is definately something that needs to be added back in to our routines...time off.

San Diego is one of my favorite places in California.  It's just so lovely...the sunny days and the ocean views.  Always lots to choose from and those yummy fish tacos!!!   With only a weekend I'm so amazed at all we managed to cram in and not make it feel exhausting!  I'm thinking without kids we were feeling a little giddy like teenagers again.  What can a bunch of thirtysomethings find in San Diego to keep them occupied?  Here's a list of what we did:

Happy Hour at

Our lovely hotel in the Lamp Quarter

Dinner with old friends at one of my favs....Sheer Water at the Hotel Del Coronado

Hitting the candy shop and going for ice cream on Ocean Ave

Breakfast for the girls

Spa day

Lite Lunch in Little Italy

Shopping

Boys hit the golfcourse and lunch

Dinner in Little Italy

Hitting the comedy club

Nightlife in the Gaslamp Quarter

Breakfast in Old Town

Having coffee with your housemate from college

Can't wait for the next trip out!!!

Mini Trip to the City

We live so close to San Francisco yet we hardly venture there. Well, it was time we did! So, we took the kids up to San Francisco today and visted the SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art).  It was our first visit to a museum with our energetic bunch.  I think they did surprising well and may have even been unconsciously inspired.  The SFMOMA is a nice size and with lots of modern and colorful sculptures and paintings easily kept our troops engaged.  We brought along journals, crayons and colored pencils in case they felt the need to create a masterpiece or two of their own.  For Busy girl, who was the first to tire it gave her a chance to relax in the stroller and keep herself busy.  One of my favorites to watch was the fascination of the gold beads that covered a large entryway from top to bottom. 

After the SFMOMA, we headed to the end of the block and had lunch at

Time to burn off lunch with a romp through Yerba Buena Gardens...

 and a trip to the playground connecting the gardens.

Of course we couldn't pass up a ride on the Zeum carousel.

The weather in SF could not have been better.  It was a glorious and fun day today.  We should all sleep well tonite!

Ready for Kinder!!

Today was the last day of junior kindergarten for Bubba.  The teacher invited families to come to a ceremony for the students as she said wonderfully nice things about each of them and gave them each a certificate saying they had completed Jr. Kinder and told them they were now ready for Kindergarten.  It was a lovely ceremony with lots of smiles and a few happy tears shed.

I can't believe how fast this second part of the year has gone.  Bubba in December asked to change from his beloved outdoor preschool to go to big kid school like his brother.  I'm a big believer in play as long as possible but when this little boy kept begging for me to send him to big kid school too, I listened and the school graciously allowed us in mid year.  It was a big change for him, which I knew it would be. He cried a little at the beg of each day at drop off and would sit in the lap of one of his teachers until he was ready to be on his own but he still he wanted to be there.  It was hard for me and him, but I'm so proud of him.  His preschool was in the afternoon and because that school had a mandatory carpool program I didn't want to let my carpool down with one less driver for the rest of the year, so he continued that program 3 days a week as well and graduated from his preschool a few weeks ago.  It was a lot of work 2 schools in a day, but he did it and I did it.  I'm so amazed by my little boy and  I feel so blessed to be a part of his life and watch over him.  This little boy makes my heart sing!

His grandparents are here to cheer him on as well.  We are all so proud of how hard he has worked this year.

 

3 Things I'm grateful for:

1) We made it through the year

2) My little determined boy

3) My family support

Reflecting, remembering...

There are places in the world that just the sight of them will always touch my heart and make me grateful for that time, for those experiences, for those memories...

3 Things I'm Grateful for:
1. My children's first teachers, first school
2. My children's love of nature
3. My memories

Meeting the Mouse

We spent our Memorial week down South visiting the famous mouse that resides in the Happiest place on Earth. It's always such a treat to be there. The kids really enjoyed themselves. The one funny thing I really noticed this trip is that my daughter is a Disney character stalker.  It's quite funny to see your children so taken with these characters. As soon as she spotted one she was off. She loved seeing them, taking photos with them, touching them, hugging on them.  Even if she had no clue who they were...which was most of the time.  She did know who Minnie Mouse was and this character especially was a favorite.  A girly sounding mouse that wears pink...I guess what's not too love?  She didn't even mind waiting in line to see her (and yes everytime Em saw her we stood in line) and everytime after the greet it was like pulling teeth to get her to leave her...she was just so fasincated with her.  And no fear...she would approach them on her own...even the giant bear named Balou from the Jungle Book.

3 things I'm grateful for:

1. Kids that love Disney almost as much as me

2. Eating out...yum..yum

3. Being part of a family

Happy 7th Birthday!!

Happy 7th Birthday to my dear Boy Wonder!!  We love you so very much.  Boy wonder requested an ice cream sundae party with his friends.  Activities include making boats to float in the creek, beading necklaces, belly skateboard races in the driveway, ping pong and general run through the yard yelling kind of fun.  Enjoy dear boy!

3 Things I'm grateful for:
1) My son
2) Having lots of family to help
3) An easy birthday party

Sausalito to San Francisco

Happy 35th Birthday to me!!! 
Today we went on a family excursion to Sausalito and took the ferry to San Francisco.  The weather was a little wet but the kids had a blast.  The boys especially loved the ferry and everyone was in awe of driving over the Golden Gate Bridge. 

I have to admit the ferry is a very fun way to travel.  I could definately get used to traveling more by boats myself. 

 

Sausalito iteself is a cute little town.  Must come back this way again and explore.

 

Here we are on the otherside.

We docked at Pier 39 in SF and hit the Hard Rock Cafe for a rockin birthday lunch.

 

3 Things I'm grateful for:

1) Birthdays

2) Fun adventures

3) Living near big cities like S. F.