San Francisco Zoo

A few weekends ago we took the girls to the San Francisco Zoo.  We loved it so much we decided to buy memberships.  However, of all the great things we saw, these two with their tutus, rainboots, and umbrellas were by far my favorite! 

Playdates, playdates, playdates

Today Juliette had a playdate with Claire in the morning while Viv was at preschool and then Katherine and Lucy came over to play in the afternoon. The four of them had a slumber party on our trampoline! It was a good (exhausting) day!



Try, try again!

I know I should throw the towel in on blogging at this point but the idea of having a record of my kid's life is just too appealing to me so I'm going to try again. Also, my sister-in-law said she would actually read it if I update it so I know I'm not just writing all of this into cyberspace.

So a lot has happened in YEAR since I last posted. 2011 treated us really well! In fact, compared to 2010 (which we still try not to think about) it was a joyride. We didn't have anything stolen, nor did we move, nor did we break any bones or crash any cars, so you could say it was a pretty great year. The girls and I spent a good part of our summer at the beach, where they seem to be endlessly content. Vivian and Juliette are now playing together and are hot and cold in their relationship. They LOVE each other and won't let anyone else mistreat their sister, but they contend violently over toys on a regular basis.
Rob is loving his new job and we are putting all of our financial eggs in the Solazyme basket! No, but seriously, he loves going to work everyday doing something that is not only interesting, but also good for the world at large. I hope to backpost some photos of the last year but mostly I'm just going to try to post at least once per week, even if it's just a few photos documenting these little girls' lives that seem to be speeding by at crazy fast speed. For now, here are some recent photos :)

02/04/11

Dear Juliette,

I LOVE taking you places with me!  You are so incredibly cute and are such a social little girl that it seems no one can get enough of you.  Every where we go you are smiling, waving, cooing, and generally wooing unsuspecting passersby.  We rarely pass anyone without your making eye contact, smiling, waving, and saying "bye, bye" in the sweetest voice imaginable.  I think you have captured the hearts of half of Menlo Park and Palo Alto.  One person even told me, "I think she KNOWS how cute she is!"  Sometimes I think you are so independent and yet, you really LOVE people!  Sometimes if we have been in the house too long you will point to the door and say "go" which is my cue to take you out among your people.  I am so glad I have you to take along with me everywhere I go.  Things would be so much more boring and I would talk to far fewer people without you in tote.   It's nice to know I'm not the only one smitten with you!

02/09/11

Dear Juliette,

You had a very rough day today.  You had a fever of 102 degrees and felt terrible.  Amidst all of this all that you wanted and the only thing that would stop the tears was to be held and snuggled.  This is what I love about you.  You are a little independent fireball who I know will leave her mark on the world and simultaneously my little teddy bear who melts when she even THINKS I might be upset with her.  It is so fun to see what you'll do next!

Vivian 08/18/10

DEAR VIVIAN,

Today you entertained us all with your songs and general hilarity.  Connor and Carli were both at our house this evening and you serenaded us with sweet sounds of Train's Hey Soul Sister at the top of your lungs for what seemed like hours.   The original song says, "Hey soul sister, ain't that mister mister on the radio, stereo, the way you move ain't fair you know"  but we all know you like to do things YOUR way, so you sing, "Hey sould system, on the radio, stereo, no way you'll get a fairy yo!"   You also like to sing Lady Gaga's Poker Face but seemed a little reticent to do so with a full audience (mommy just gets to hear that one in the car).  You preschool teacher told me that you are the self-appointed class president and that all the little friends in your preschool follow you around like puppies and you invent games and general mischief for the group.  You teacher (Miss Nancy) adores you and says she's not sure what the class will do if we move you to another preschool this fall (which we are considering only because of proximity to our house--the 1 hour roundtrip car ride to preschool is wreaking havoc on Juliette's nap schedule).  Your general vibe right now is princess all the way.  You are sort of like a racoon--you are attracted to all things sparkly.   If it shines, you want it.  If it's pink and it shines, you can't live without it.  A few days ago you made your way into mom and dad's bedroom, stole my wedding ring, earrings, bracelet and (randomly) earplugs and stashed them away in one of your many homemade treasure chests (generally made from just a box, blanket, or cubby of some sort).  I spent forever looking for my ring in quite a panic and then thought to ask you if you knew where it was.  You replied, "you mean the one with the big jewel?"  and you took me right to it.  I wasn't sure weather to hug you or give you a lecture on stealing my jewelry, but all I could really do was laugh. 

Your favorite past time of late is making Playdough cakes with whoever walks in the door.  Yesterday Cheryl Mason came to visit you from California (she's a very good friend from California who probably loves you most 2nd only to mommy and daddy).  You and Cheryl made playdough cakes, spaghetti and meatballs, and other food items for hours.  After Cheryl left you were fighting back tears and when I asked you if you were O.K. you just said, "I miss Cheryl" and gave me a hug.   You love your cousin Eliza more than anyone else in the world right now.  Every day you ask to see her.  You also make up stories about you, Eliza, Nelly, and your good friend Sarah (our next door neighbor) being princesses who go off on different adventures.  Occassionally your story allows Juliette royal ranking and she tags along too.  You are such a funny, independent, headstrong and sensitive little girl.  Life would be so completely dull without you. 

New Title, New Concept

O.K. so I'll admit I've been no hero in the blogging department. In fact, when one runs a full year behind I think you might go so far as to call that person a blogging failure, but hold up because I'm back with new ferver. I know, I know, you've heard it all before, but seriously, I'm back for good (I hope). My rocky relationship with blogging is on the mend. This time though, I've decided that I need new motivation because apparently posting our life story online for friends to read isn't enough. Maybe because I feel like nothing super interesting ever happens. Maybe because I feel I'd rather just call said friends? I'm not sure, but it hasn't worked for me. I going back to original vision. I'm not going to write this for my girls as a sort of journal of their little happy quiet lives. That way, I can keep up with friends AND do something that has some lasting value to my family as well. We'll see if this works. I hope so as I do love blogging and I do love keeping up with friends. :)

Sock...Puppet!

Viv Waking Daddy with a Kiss

Happy 2nd Birthday Vivian Violet

Viv, I can't believe you are already two! Your second birthday party was full of lots of great friends who love you and lots of fun. Your final words when leaving the party to go home were, "I don't want the fun day to end!" Viv, we love you. You are everything wonderful and joyful about life for us. You bring us so much happiness and and so many laughs. There isn't a day that goes by that we are not thankful that we get to have you in our home. Happy Birthday. We love you!