Princess Party

Some of our family friends are "princesses", so we had a princess party last Saturday. Cinderella, Belle and Snow White came to see lots of adoring fans. It was so much fun. I was one of those moms who got tears in her eyes watching Audrey see the princesses for the first time...heavenly.
Special thanks to GrandD, Fafa, Memor and Auntie Alli for all your help (and for Audrey's new Belle dress, she wants to wear it everywhere!).

Audrey showing Belle the princess cake and saying, "There's you on the cake!!!"

Storytime. Each princess told her own story (with lots of interjections from the little princesses).

Audrey getting her face painted by Snow White.

Dance time!

Even Joshua got in on the dancing (thanks to Auntie Alli...is your arm sore from holding him all day?!)

A little game of duck duck goose.

Audrey, having her cake and eating it too.

Mimi and I (me?) with our own little princesses.

Note: My dad would have been a high school teacher (probably English) if he didn't get into dental school. All growing up, we had to use correct grammar (for example, when asked, "How are you?", the correct response was, "Well", not, "Good". Anyhow, here is my thinking on this one...I know you are supposed to make it singular and see which way sounds better, yada, yada, yada, but, "Here I am with my princess" sounds correct, but then again, "Here's me with my princess" although not quite as eloquent, still sounds fine to my ever shrinking brain. Sorry to disappoint Dad, your daughter is no longer "well" when it comes to grammar.

Princess pictures.

The Melting Pot

I have been wanting to go to The Melting Pot for such a long time. As a reward for not eating dairy for a year, and chocolate for seven months (so I could nurse Joshua), we went with our friends Tim and Angela last Friday night. I am obsessed with that place. The cheese, the meats, the chocolate, the company...everything was fabulous.

Baby Brigade

A couple of times a week, a few lovely ladies and I "power walk" together, but let's be honest...it's way more about the social aspect than the workout aspect. Last Friday we decided to walk down to the beach. It made for a great morning of talking, walking, sand, and some burning thighs as we pushed our strollers up some pretty steep hills.
It was so fun to walk around this beautiful city.

The classic pet cemetery (I swear people love dogs more than kids here).

Fairyland

For playgroup last week we ventured over to Oakland to go to Fairyland. We loved it. Audrey got to go on a Ferris wheel all by herself (with Max), Joshua went on his first carousal ride, they watched a puppet show, rode a train and even got to give Snow White and one of the dwarfs some TLC. And of course we made a penny, a new tradition thanks to Addi. It was a great day with some great friends.

It's official

We purchased our tickets to Dallas. One way. This is really going to happen.

Some must work...

...so some can go to school.
My dad always used to say, "Some must work so some can play." Well, Audrey must work so someday she can go to college (and so that her daddy can finish his schooling- will that ever happen?).
Audrey did another Pottery Barn Kids ad last week.

In the "green room" with Joshua.

With the studio teacher, and the other little boy she was "working" with. They had a toy helicopter they were flying around while they were waiting.

She did such a great job cooking (she was playing with their kitchen set during the shoot) so we got to pick out a toy. We went to Claire's (which for some reason she calls, "The North Pole" (?????)), and of course she got "cosmetics".

He walks!!!

Or I guess I should say, "He steps!" Today Joshua took his first steps. Goodbye grungy knees and dirty hands, and hello countertops and well, dirty hands.

Easter

On Easter Sunday, we went to our church and then drove out to East Bay to spend the day with Dave's family.

We had a great day of cookie decorating,

quality family time,

egg finding,

candy eating,

and more candy eating.

The Easter egg hunt was fabulous. Not only were there treats in some of the eggs, there were also pictures of family members. When they got our picture, they would come to us, and we each told part of the story of Easter. It was a great way to keep the true meaning of Easter the central focus.

Another fun activity was a race of Eater activities for the "big kids". It involved finding eggs, "pictionary" with the little kids guessing, bean bag toss, and even a station where we ate a carrot and then had to say "I am a wascally wabbit" three times. I lost the race.

My sister in law Kristin, wins for best picture of the day...

Happy Easter!

Great day

Today was a great day. We went to meet Dave for lunch at school, and even though I had packed a lunch, they had free food at the school-yummy salad and asparagus. We came home and Audrey, Joshua and I all took snoozes. I let Audrey sleep in my bed with me, I love how she snuggles right in close. And then my most favorite thing happened, while we were sleeping, Dave came home. He joined us for the last few minutes of snoozing before the kids woke up, and then we all headed to Costco. After a successful shopping trip, complete with hot dogs and ice cream bars for dinner, we headed home feeling slightly queasy from all the food we inhaled. After putting the kids to bed, Dave and I watched an episode from our latest show, "Friday Night Lights". Then I left for a girls night at Rebecca's. Great, great, day.

Saturday

The day before Easter, I took the kids to my parent's house so they could go to the annual Easter egg hunt. I wasn't going to take them but then last week Audrey asked if we got to see the bunny at D's house like last year, so of course we went (her memory is amazing). Dave couldn't come because he was playing in the annual basketball tournament. The bunny did not disappoint and there was food, candy, games and crafts for everyone.

The kids with my beautiful mom.

I am so mad I cut my mom's face in half, but I love the look on Joshua's face.

Thanks, Mom. We had a great time.

We hurried and came back to San Francisco so we could watch Dave play in the championship game. They came in second, but that's okay, they were champions last year.