Summer

Here’s what we have been doing this summer:

1) Kid’s birthday parties- so many of them that Sophia expects to have a least 1 piece of cake each weekend.
2) Swimming- the new “park” for us. Daily swimming has led to the kids’ eating more and going to bed much earlier- they are tired!

3) Boxes- unpacking boxes and doing projects around the house are commonplace for us on the weekends and evenings.

4) Family visits- we have had 2 family visits already and 1 more planned. We all love seeing our distant family at our house or theirs.

5) Baby strollers- a favorite pastime both girls right now is loading up their doll
strollers and racing around the house.

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Summer

Here’s what we have been doing this summer:

1) Kid’s birthday parties- so many of them that Sophia expects to have a least 1 piece of cake each weekend.
2) Swimming- the new “park” for us. Daily swimming has led to the kids’ eating more and going to bed much earlier- they are tired!

3) Boxes- unpacking boxes and doing projects around the house are commonplace for us on the weekends and evenings.

4) Family visits- we have had 2 family visits already and 1 more planned. We all love seeing our distant family at our house or theirs.

5) Baby strollers- a favorite pastime both girls right now is loading up their doll
strollers and racing around the house.

Read more...

Drum Roll Please----We Bought a New House!

For about 6 months Cyrus and I have been looking for a house.  As he puts it “Issy took my office”.  We needed more space- an office to work from home, a guest room for our many visitors & if possible some adult space, not littered with toys.  We looked and looked, but couldn’t find just what we wanted.  We talked about building or moving out of our current area, but decided we liked where we were. Then a house came onto the market and I knew before we saw it that it was the right one.  The neighborhood, location, size, gourmet kitchen were perfect- everything we wanted plus a pool.  So, we jumped and landed a few miles away from our old house.  We are so happy to be settling into our new house- we think it is just the right place to raise our family.

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Drum Roll Please----We Bought a New House!

For about 6 months Cyrus and I have been looking for a house.  As he puts it “Issy took my office”.  We needed more space- an office to work from home, a guest room for our many visitors & if possible some adult space, not littered with toys.  We looked and looked, but couldn’t find just what we wanted.  We talked about building or moving out of our current area, but decided we liked where we were. Then a house came onto the market and I knew before we saw it that it was the right one.  The neighborhood, location, size, gourmet kitchen were perfect- everything we wanted plus a pool.  So, we jumped and landed a few miles away from our old house.  We are so happy to be settling into our new house- we think it is just the right place to raise our family.

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Trip to the Shore

It happened to coincide that the week that we moved was also the week that Cyrus’s mom and stepdad were coming to visit.  Prior to going into escrow we had planned a trip to Tahoe, but after going into escrow we scrapped that and decided to stay more local.  They visited for 7 days and requested that they help get us on our feet that week- that they did.  They watched the kids, unpacked boxes, climbed through the attic to move wires, painted the girls fort, etc.  They were amazing.  But, knowing that this week was going to be exhausting and what grandparents really want to do is enjoy their grandchildren, we planned a 3 day trip to Monterey and surrounding areas. 

We left on Tuesday and made the short trip to Moss Landing, where we had rented a beautiful townhouse on the beach.  We explored the area a little- the 1 road town and got some lunch.  Then we went for a long walk on the beach to find shells and play in the frigid water. That evening Bennett, Cyrus and I found a local fish place with live music.

On Wednesday we got up early and went to breakfast at a local place known for great everything.  The fresh artichoke omelet was delicious.  After breakfast we headed to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where we spent most of the day.  The kids, especially Sophia, were in heaven.  She is still talking about the trip and the fun new jellyfish exhibit.  After a stop at the gift shop for plastic sea animals we headed down the street to Ghirardelli for an ice cream the size of our heads.  


Needing a slight rest & a nap for Isabella, we piled into the car and went for a drive- a 17 mile drive to be exact.  I am sorry to say I have not done this drive before- it was gorgeous.  At the end we stopped in Carmel for an early dinner before heading back to the house exhausted.  Thursday we packed up and headed home, but not without a pile of artichokes to enjoy! 

Read more...

Trip to the Shore

It happened to coincide that the week that we moved was also the week that Cyrus’s mom and stepdad were coming to visit.  Prior to going into escrow we had planned a trip to Tahoe, but after going into escrow we scrapped that and decided to stay more local.  They visited for 7 days and requested that they help get us on our feet that week- that they did.  They watched the kids, unpacked boxes, climbed through the attic to move wires, painted the girls fort, etc.  They were amazing.  But, knowing that this week was going to be exhausting and what grandparents really want to do is enjoy their grandchildren, we planned a 3 day trip to Monterey and surrounding areas. 

We left on Tuesday and made the short trip to Moss Landing, where we had rented a beautiful townhouse on the beach.  We explored the area a little- the 1 road town and got some lunch.  Then we went for a long walk on the beach to find shells and play in the frigid water. That evening Bennett, Cyrus and I found a local fish place with live music.

On Wednesday we got up early and went to breakfast at a local place known for great everything.  The fresh artichoke omelet was delicious.  After breakfast we headed to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, where we spent most of the day.  The kids, especially Sophia, were in heaven.  She is still talking about the trip and the fun new jellyfish exhibit.  After a stop at the gift shop for plastic sea animals we headed down the street to Ghirardelli for an ice cream the size of our heads.  


Needing a slight rest & a nap for Isabella, we piled into the car and went for a drive- a 17 mile drive to be exact.  I am sorry to say I have not done this drive before- it was gorgeous.  At the end we stopped in Carmel for an early dinner before heading back to the house exhausted.  Thursday we packed up and headed home, but not without a pile of artichokes to enjoy! 

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Tahoe

Turns out that now that I have kids summer is my favorite season to be in Tahoe.  I have talked about renting a house for years with some of our friends, but it always seemed that we could never pull a trip together with all our families in the summer- until this July.  We rented a house in July in North Shore, near King's Beach with 2 other families.  In case you are keeping track that is 6 adults and 6 kids!

It was quite the adventure- beach trips, taking turns cooking, cards, adult beverages & lots of playing with the kids!  The memories are firmly planted.





Driving the Fire Truck:



The Girls' Bunk Room:

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Tahoe

Turns out that now that I have kids summer is my favorite season to be in Tahoe.  I have talked about renting a house for years with some of our friends, but it always seemed that we could never pull a trip together with all our families in the summer- until this July.  We rented a house in July in North Shore, near King's Beach with 2 other families.  In case you are keeping track that is 6 adults and 6 kids!

It was quite the adventure- beach trips, taking turns cooking, cards, adult beverages & lots of playing with the kids!  The memories are firmly planted.





Driving the Fire Truck:



The Girls' Bunk Room:

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Recap of June

It’s Summer! Time to enjoy family, the outdoors and vacation. This summer we decided to make a list of some of the fun things we want to do with our family.

q Go to Half Moon Bay and walk on the beach

q Go to San Francisco as a family of 4!

q Replenish our wood supply for future projects

q Vacation in Tahoe with family and friends

q Visit Gorilla BBQ again and introduce Isabella to the local king of BBQ

q Go on a weekend family trip somewhere…..San Francisco, Seattle, Santa Barbara, Solvang (not necessarily a city starting in an S though)

q Play in our backyard kiddie pool

q Drink a glass of wine under the stars on our new pergola

q Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium

q Take Sophia to Disneyland

q Go to a movie with Sophia

q Attend my brother’s wedding & swoon over Sophia as the flower girl

q Take millions of photos of our girls doing all these fun activities

q Make 5 new recipes

q Fill our new freezer with lots of homemade meals & treats to enjoy when I am working again

I am sure this is just the start of this list…….

A re-cap of June, the first month of summer!!!

Attended 7 kiddie birthday parties and before the beginning of each one Sophia asked if the present for the child was for her. We would say no and she would be sad until she realized there was cake to eat at the party. At one of the last parties our friends handed us a birthday present for Sophia. She asked if it was for her and we said yes. Her response was “Finally, it’s about time”. It was too funny.

Displaying one of the many masterpieces that she made in preschool.

Cyrus built and finished our outdoor table, which will definitely be the centerpiece to many summer dinners!

Isabella continued to grow and amaze us. She turned 2 months old and got her first set of shots, which she managed quite well.

Our family right now at one of the birthday parties.

Read more...

Recap of June

It’s Summer! Time to enjoy family, the outdoors and vacation. This summer we decided to make a list of some of the fun things we want to do with our family.

q Go to Half Moon Bay and walk on the beach

q Go to San Francisco as a family of 4!

q Replenish our wood supply for future projects

q Vacation in Tahoe with family and friends

q Visit Gorilla BBQ again and introduce Isabella to the local king of BBQ

q Go on a weekend family trip somewhere…..San Francisco, Seattle, Santa Barbara, Solvang (not necessarily a city starting in an S though)

q Play in our backyard kiddie pool

q Drink a glass of wine under the stars on our new pergola

q Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium

q Take Sophia to Disneyland

q Go to a movie with Sophia

q Attend my brother’s wedding & swoon over Sophia as the flower girl

q Take millions of photos of our girls doing all these fun activities

q Make 5 new recipes

q Fill our new freezer with lots of homemade meals & treats to enjoy when I am working again

I am sure this is just the start of this list…….

A re-cap of June, the first month of summer!!!

Attended 7 kiddie birthday parties and before the beginning of each one Sophia asked if the present for the child was for her. We would say no and she would be sad until she realized there was cake to eat at the party. At one of the last parties our friends handed us a birthday present for Sophia. She asked if it was for her and we said yes. Her response was “Finally, it’s about time”. It was too funny.

Displaying one of the many masterpieces that she made in preschool.

Cyrus built and finished our outdoor table, which will definitely be the centerpiece to many summer dinners!

Isabella continued to grow and amaze us. She turned 2 months old and got her first set of shots, which she managed quite well.

Our family right now at one of the birthday parties.

Read more...