President's Weekend

Since Eddy was working all weekend, and it was a gorgeous weekend here, the kids and I did our best to stay busy.  On Saturday we bombarded my friend Lindsey and her family, to meet their new puppy and play for the day -- and of course I didn't take one puppy pic but I managed to stop these kids in their tracks for a quick second. They were in the midst of the most colorful tea party ever.  

And then on Sunday, after our Valentine's breakfast with daddy-o, we hit the road to visit my good friend Kim who now lives in Carmel.  It took a bit longer to get there than I had hoped, due to holiday weekend traffic and a major golf tournament happening that weekend at Pebble Beach, but whatever.  We made it, had plenty of time to play in the sunshine and sand, and lots of great time to catch up with an old friend and her family.  Thanks for having us Kim!!

when the ocean waves are too big, just head to the nasty pond of water behind you and start digging and throwing sand in. Just don't touch that water please.  

this girl would've just run straight in those waves if I let her.  She wouldn't stop trying to get wet (and that water was coooooold! and the waves were huge despite what the pictures show).  

doing some tide pooling 

KK even got little Blake in on the wave chasing action

Love these kids in action together.  Jack and Ryan, holding hands. Love them.  And Brooke, Blake and Kaitlyn had a good ol' time running crazy together.  After the beach we hit up their school playground up for some more running/climbing/basketball playing action.  And then had dinner with them before heading home.  A long day, but so worth the adventure.  Wish we could be at this beach with them every day!

Valentine's Day

The lead up to the big day of love this year was a good one.  I was on the ball, for once, and had the kids thinking about & putting their Valentine's together well in advance of the big days at school.  And thanks to some awesome help from our babysitter Shannon, who helped Kaitlyn make all of her Valentine's (melted crayon hearts included!), we were totally ready!

KK had to make a bag or box to bring in to school on the day of her party, to collect her Valentine's in.  And thank you Target, we found this awesome Unicorn box kit.  I mean, who wouldn't love this?  We had a good ol' time constructing it. 

that same day we hit up the library, and she couldn't wait to dump all the books out and start "reading" the minute we got home 

KK's finished products -- cut out hearts, that Kaitlyn signed her name to, and melted crayons in the shape of hearts.  They turned out so cute! 

Ryan chose Star Wars Valentine's, complete with a tattoo to go with each one

KK is ready to head off to school for her Valentine party -- and Ry is just in the mood to cheer on the Tar Heels (ball and shirt compliments of the Williams family of course)

 I got to help out in Ry's class for his school party on Friday morning.  Crafts, snacks, and passing out Valentine's.  It was controlled chaos, but so cute to see these guys in action.  

getting instructions from Ms Watts on how to pass out the goods

Ryan passing out his cards 

And on actual Valentine's Day....poor Eddy had to work, so we were up early to have breakfast with him, and we all exchanged cards as a family.  Ryan got a storm trooper shirt, and KK got My Little Pony chapstick.  And they each got their first heart box of chocolates.  The roses behind them are for me. :) 

The kids made a special Valentine's for each of us...with the help of Shannon... a little book saying  a few things they love about us both.  They were super cute!  

this is the one from Kaitlyn...

glad to know I'm appreciated around here. :) 

100th Day and Super Bowl Sunday

Ryan celebrated his 100th Day of school last week.  Not sure why this is such a milestone for Kindergarten, but it was a fun day, and I got to help out with some of the activities that morning. Always fun to be in the classroom, seeing the kids in action.  

just your average Saturday afternoon driveway picture

 On Super Bowl Sunday, we were treated to a gorgeous, sunny, warm day here in the Bay.  And yes, the Super Bowl was here this year.  But we did everything we could to avoid the congestion.  So that morning we took a walk with cousin Alexandra and Auntie Dana, enjoying the scenery.

And for the game we went to a friend's house -- where the kids ran wild, and where we did a lot of socializing and not much game watching.  It was too nice of a day to be indoors.

up in the hills behind Claudia and Nick's house -- a few parents trying to spot the kids down the hill

a gorgeous evening in February

Birthdays and new sports

 A few weeks back I had a birthday.  Not a milestone year or anything, and midweek, so it wasn't all that exciting of a day.  In fact, I spent the morning at the doctor with Kaitlyn to make sure she didn't have an ear infection (which she didn't, just a really bad head cold).  But then I got to go running, and it was sunny, and the kids were nice.  So all in all it was a good day!  Eddy brought home cupcakes for me, which was yummy, until Kaitlyn leaned too far over the candles and heated up her cheek a bit.  That's why she looks terrified in the picture below.  Thankfully she was fine, just scared.  

Thanks for making me feel loved guys! 

The weekend before my birthday, I got the chance to go out to dinner with some girlfriends at one of our favorite local restaurants, the Bull Valley Roadhouse in Port Costa.  It's so very yummy.  Such a treat.  

myself, Claudia, and Laura -- all three of us celebrating birthdays in the next 2 weeks

birthday twins!  I haven't known many people in my life that share my birthday...but when my friend Laura and I met last year, we knew we were meant to be friends when we discovered we shared the same special day.  And since we have kids the same age -- we figured why not celebrate our midweek birthdays together...at the local pizza shack.  Nice photo bomb Ryan! :)

 We were supposed to spend my birthday weekend in Tahoe, skiing and playing in the snow.  But Kaitlyn's head cold, and Ryan and my stomach bug (thankfully short lasting, but still), and bad weather, prevented us from going up.  Instead we sat home and sulked all weekend.  Ok, not really, but we were really bummed. 

But exactly one week after my birthday, we helped Cristen celebrate her birthday, with a fabulous homemade meal and of course some dessert and candles.  The kids loved having her here to sing and eat brownies and ice cream. 

Happy Birthday to Cristen!

On another note, the kids have picked up some new activities lately.  

Kaitlyn, is still doing dance, but has now added gymnastics into the weekly mix.  She doesn't remember going to this gym as a toddler, so it's exciting and new to her now.  She seems to be enjoying it.  

And Ryan started climbing club at a local rock gym.  It's 2 hours of fun, once a week.  He's doing it with a few buddies, and they seem to love it.  I mean, who wouldn't?  

Ryan walking on the slack line 

there he goes 

he made it farther up, but didn't want to turn and smile while up that high

getting some instructions from teacher Jax (that's really his name -- I mean, is that a perfect climbing instructor name or what?!?)

Ryan and his buddy Casen