The (pseudo) end of an era...

The last Wednesday night of every month for the last four and half years have been spent with these fabulous ladies, eating fabulous food. I somehow got invited to join this gourmet cooking group shortly after we moved here, and to this day don't know how I fooled them into thinking I can cook. Each month the host would pick a theme and then everyone would be assigned to bring something (appetizer, drink, salad, dessert, side dish...). Some of the themes included Mexican, Moroccan (I did that one- impressive, I know), small plates, breakfast for dinner, Chinese, and summer grilling. These ladies are amazing cooks and it was so fun to be apart of this group. Unfortunately people kept moving to the burbs, and schedules just got too busy, so we got together for the "last time" last Wednesday night (May 21). We decided we liked stuffing our faces to the point where buttons on pants had to be undone, and we just like each other too much to quit all together, so we are going to do it four times a year. Thanks ladies for all the fun memories, and the unwanted extra 10 pounds.

Memorial Day

I love three day weekends, especially when it's a Monday holiday. This Memorial Day, Dave and Audrey went to the East Bay to go put flowers on Dave's grandparents graves, while Dane and I slept in (wahooooo!). Then we went down to Sausalito with some friends. We went to the yummy salt water taffy shop where you can sample all you want for free while you are in the store. So I basically made myself sick eating all the candy I possibly could. Jamaican rum and buttered popcorn are my favorite. We found this really cool art studio that my mom had told me about and looked around for awhile. We then ate yummy hamburgers by this fountain, came home and snoozed, had egg salad sandwiches for dinner, and called it a day, a great day at that. I am so grateful for those who have served and sacrificed so much so we can enjoy the freedoms we do.

Audrey and her cute friends.

Our sweet boy, doing what he does best.

Regan found her twin! (Yes Jocelyn, this is your "Where's Waldo?" shirt.)

The difference between #1 and #2

My poor son. I spent hundreds of dollars on Audrey's bedding that I designed and had custom made, and she had the most beautiful nursery. Dane, on the other hand, sleeps on these fine linens, in our family room...

At least he sleeps peacefully...

Music to my ears...

It's official, Dane is a giggler. It started last week and I love it.

Date Night

On May 17th I had my first date with both of my boys. Dave took me to my new favorite restaurant in San Francisco, Umami. It was delicious Japanese food and I can't wait to go back. Audrey was lucky enough to go on a date with Memor. After dinner we went and got slurpee's for dessert. Classy, I know.

Just call me Maria

These are a few of my very, very favorite things:

1) Girls Weekend Retreat to Bodega Bay. In April a bunch of girls rented a beach house in Bodega Bay for three days.

We were still waiting for Kera, Megan and Jamie

2)The crafts Rocia made to welcome us:

The darling place settings. I always say I want to be Rocia when I grow up.

3) Eating nothing but junk food until 3 am

4) Having Rebecca and Regan make crepes and eggs benedict for breakfast. Heavenly.

5) Going out to a nice dinner at the Duck Club.

Jamie and Kera had just left.

6) Shirley Temples. Apparently, lots of people like Shirley Temples.

7) Peaceful babies at dinner so their mommies can eat their yummy bacon wrapped fillet mignon. Here they are, Dane and Simeon sleeping at dinner. They were the only two boys lucky enough to come on our trip. These little friends are four days apart.

8)Eating a yummy dessert that Regan made and making crafts.

We were all very proud of our crafts:

9) Watching Megan show us her gymnastics skills (she was a BYU gymnast!), and watching everyone else try their gymnasts skills. Just picture ten mommies trying to do cartwheels. Laughed. my. face. off.

10) This one might not be considered one of my "favorite things" but I guess I'm quite good at it:
Being a freak show with Megan. We go on tour next month.

Oh, and Ladonna is going to be our opening act. Here is her version of the body roll:

11) Realizing I can still do the splits.

12) Last, but certainly not least, bonding with my baby.

13) Getting away for a weekend with fabulous friends and coming home feeling rejuvenated (not rested however) and ready to be a better wife and mom.

All about Audrey

My sweet Audrey has a been champion big sister, as least when it comes to Dane. She loves him so much (sometimes too much-she wants to give him very tight squeezes- I can't blame her, he is so squeezable), and she has never done anything to hurt him (except knock heads with him once, but she was trying to be funny). When it comes to me, however, she has been pushing the limits. She won't listen as well as she used to, she throws more fits (see previous post), and just wants her Daddy all the time. On Mother's Day, my in-laws were here, and Audrey didn't want to eat, was whining, and Dave said, "Audrey, if you need some attention, I'll give you some, just don't act negatively to get it." A light bulb went off in my head. My poor Audrey. She has been so good during this transition, and all she wanted was some more attention and didn't know how to get it. So I made this week "All about Audrey" week. We went where she wanted to go (Discovery Museum, her favorite parks, her friend's house, and the beach twice), read what books she wanted to read, when she wanted to read them, played games all week long, and let me tell you, I have a new child. She has been an angel. We have spent hours laying in my bed reading books (Dane is now very well versed with all the princess stories), have put on more princess dresses and danced around the house more this week than we have in a long time. We just got back from going to Chestnut St to get a bagel and Jamba Juice to finish off our week, and I have never been so in love with my daughter. She is listening like a champion again, she is more helpful, and she is much more delightful. My house looks like a bomb went off in it, I have only done one load of laundry all week (we were all out of towels, Dane had to use a hand towel), my fridge is empty, but I have a happy two year old. And that, is everything a mommy can ask for.

Oh Audrey

Last week Audrey was a little out of sorts. She wasn't listening very well, she had to go to time out 10 too many times, and I didn't know what to do. One particular morning she was throwing a royal fit, so I told her she couldn't leave her room until she was acting like a big girl. Once she stopped crying she could leave her room, come find me in the kitchen, and then we could talk. She stayed in her room for about ten minutes, crying the whole time. Finally I heard silence and I came out of the kitchen to find her standing in the doorway with one hand up on the frame, and one knee popped. She looked so sassa-frass. I didn't say a word, I just knelt down and put my arms out. She came running to me and gave me a big hug. Then she pulled back, looked and me, and said, "Do ew (you) want to say you're sorry to me?" It was all I could do to bust out laughing. I did apologize, had her say she was sorry too, and then we went on about our day. I love that crazy girl.

Riding the heat wave

This week it was SO hot in San Francisco, so our playgroup and park day were both down at the beach. Lovely times.

I love these kids.

Audrey eating her "sand"wich. I crack myself up.

May 14th. Dane's first time at the beach.

Record breaking heat in San Francisco, and of course we don't have air conditioning. My hot little baby.

My Buddha baby, sitting on his sister's princess dress.

Why I blog...

"You will have significant experiences. I hope that you will write them down and keep a record of them, that you will read them from time to time and refresh your memory of those meaningful and significant things. Some may be funny. Some may be significant only to you. Some of them may be sacred and quietly beautiful. Some may build one upon another until they represent a lifetime of special experiences." ~Gordon B. Hinckley, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

Let's go fly a kite...

For our Friday night picnic on April 25th, we went and got sandwiches at Safeway and then went to Chrissy field to fly a kite. At first Audrey was afraid of the dragon, but once we explained it wasn't going to "get her", she loved it. I love San Francisco.

Dane just hanging out in his car seat. He is such a good boy.