Eli at the farmer's market

Ready for our journey to the farmer's market on 24th Street.

it really bugs her

this morning Leslie, our downstairs neighbor for those who do not already know this, came up for a visit. Eva went into a very dramatic rendition of the night time visit from the fly/mosquito. she kept saying, "..and I was shaking and crying I was shaking and crying.." as she over exagerated her arm movement simulating a crazed chicken. her eyes were wide and her words over emphasized as she retold her story. it was quite funny. this took away from the main attraction of our playdough. mommy made her first batch of homemade. eva was fondling the brilliant green, blue and orange as she kept saying, "I need RED!" luckily I got to it eventually. whew, the demands never stop.

the bugging fly

last night eva had her first night mare - she came screaming out of her room at 3:00 looking for daddy. she told of us a fly bit her. daddy snuggled with her a bit on the sofa then in her room. he said she was shaking. my poor baby. we do not know if a mosquito got her or if she remembered all the bugs we saw over the weekend. what ever started scaring my baby - i hope it goes away. we've been singing. "Shoo fly don't bother me, shoo fly don't bother me, shoo fly don't bother me, I belong to some body!" i hope it get's the hint and leaves her alone!

words for Eli and more

Eli's vocabulary is growing. Here is the list of perfectly ennunciated words and some that are a bit more creative:

NO, nose (sounds more like nos), knee, hi mommy, mommie's (possesive is very important!), yaya (Eva + olivia), daddy, happy, some times we get a clear tank you, doggy, moon, bee, hot, up, hat, shoes, ice, boobie (of course) ( i will add more as i remember them), buh bye, nigh night, down, bebe, noodle (which sounds more like noonoo -= Eva taught him this while comsuming Thai food on Sat), he make fabulous sounds for birds, cars, planes, cats, dogs, bears, sheeps, frogs, ducks, cows. hapme = help me.

his understanding of what we are saying is excellent - he can run back to his room and get a diaper for me, point to any object in a book i say.

plus an update on sleeping. for three weeks, i nurse eli for 20 minutes at night then we have hugging a kissing time standing up for a few minutes. usually, he leans backwards for me to place him in his crib where we continue talking and saying our good nights. then he will blow me kisses and ask for daddy. this is where i take my cue to leave and find daddy. they say their good nights and then daddy leaves. eli usually fusses for 30 seconds to 2 minutes then goes to sleep. for the last week i slept in the bed near him and if he wakes at 2:30 - 3:30 i tell him it is not time to eat and he must go back to sleep. he protest for a bit and then goes back to sleep for 2 hours or so. he has gone so far as sleep to 5:00 am three times. tah dah - we'll see if we can get it to 5:30 soon!

Eva's Open House

We had an eventful day. As we prepared for the day - I discovered the toilet paper from the bathroom was no longer in its rightful spot. Instead it made a trail from its home to the living room. At the end of the trail I found two extrememly happy naked children dancing amongst the pile.

Today, Eli stayed with Olivia while mommy and Eva Gray went to Hummingbird Cooperative Preschool's open house. We had a very nice time. Highlights included, snacks, dolls, a doll house, Somerset and Kusha, the rabbit in its hutch, and the water fountain in the yard. We gave Beth and Somerset a ride home and ended up playing at their house for a bit.

Eva is busy playing with a carriage during the open house at her new school

Open House at Humingbird Preschool

The end is in sight!

Following Eli following the paper trail

Eva and her friend Katie outside of class

Self-timed shot of mommy and Eva waiting for Daddy and Eli to pick us up.

Eva outside of Andrea's class

Just one more time

so on the eve of my parent's departure, just before bedtime the children got a bit crazy for the
grandparents and eva got carried away chasing eli who had taken her brush and ended up cutting the
skin around his eye. eva was lectured a bit by her father. i crawled in bed with her to say good night
and reiterated the mantra "eli is your little brother, we don't hit him, we are gentle and teach him not to
hit." her response, "just one more time, next week." so there you  have it

Grammy and Eli at Park Chow for lunch

Ready to begin making cookies for Mother's Day dinner 

Eva rolls the pie crust 

Breakfast 

Mother's Day

Yesterday was Mother's Day. I awoke to a rainy San Francisco day. Unbelievable, considering the rains usually stop by the end of March. My plan to sleep in was interrupted by Eva's loud protests all morning. Silly girl, I'd have to ask her dad what all the fuss was about. She managed to calm down and helped me make blueberry corn muffins, stirring the eggs and filling the muffin tins. Art faced the storm by trying to grill bacon outside but ended up browning in the house. We had a tasty breakfast for the 6 of us.

I celebrated the day with a solo shower - quite lonely I must say. Eli joined me while I brushed my teeth. Grammy has found her way into Eva's heart, allowing her to play with chapstick all by herself. wow - am I going to have to face the music after she leaves. Grammy's secret weapon works in her favor most of the day, "You can play with the chapstick If you ......." a miracle I say.

Eva and I made pie crust cookies with our animal cookie cutter Sydney gave us. The last batch was coming out of the oven when Joe Cheeseman arrived for dinner. We had a nice time visiting with Joe. He fits in to all of the madness without batting an eye. We had grilled pork loin, spinach salad, asparagus, and roasted potatoes. Joe brought us black berries and cream for whipping. We managed to all squeeze around the breakfast nook. The children ended the day by jumping from the orange ottoman over the arm of the sofa with a crash landing. It took a while to settle down but we had some sleeping babes by 7:15 pm.

On our way home 

In the Lobby of the Mark Hopkins 

Mom Dad and Me - with Haley our babysitter in the mirror 

Saturday

Saturday started out a bit hectic. After many negotiations who would go where and with whom – the children and I headed to Day Street Park to meet Leon and Naomi. Mom rested at home. It took me so long to cloth the troupes and get out the door Art and Dad got to the park before us. After a romp inside on the slides and toys, Eli and I headed to the Fair Oaks community yard sale. What fun. By the time we got there the sun was baking our backs, everyone was warm and sunny. It was a bit confusing by the end, meeting up with Art, Dad and Eva and our exit was rushed and aggravated but this did not take away from the finds: an Ergo Carrier, two plastic retro cups for the children, a hand milk frother (to replace my broken one), and a sun hat and necklace for Eva.

Saturday night we had a big ole time. The four adults, dressed in our "Casual Smarts", headed out to a secret location (at least for mom and dad). We drove through the city to arrive at the entrance of the Mark Hopkins Hotel. Mom and I waited in the lobby while Art parked the car. Mom returned from the powder room with a souvenir of a pen and pad. The view of the city was perfectly masked in the glow just after the sun set. Our table overlook Grace Cathedral, the GG Bridge, Alcatraz and the water. So pretty. We all had cocktails which added a lightness to the evening. It was in no time we were all giggling. We managed to dance to a few tunes and imbibe a second drink – well all but dad who flavored the olives with his martini (those silly tall glasses do get in the way!).

Mom and Dad at the Stanford Campus 

We sure missed Art at lunch 

Adults at Play

Friday, Mom, Dad and I went on a field trip to Palo Alto. Our first stop was a tour of Stanford University. It was a bit overcast but that did not hold back the 100's of bicycles that whizzed by us on every surface of the campus. We did stick out amongst the young, fit California students. We toured the Main Quad, Memorial Church and the Hoover Tower where we got to look down at the grounds below. We spoke to our student guide about her choice of schools. After which had my mind racing as to how I could get Anna Hammock out here to the school. I purchased a pair of big sunglasses at the Stanford Shopping Center and then we headed down town for lunch. Oh did we have a tasty meal at Lavendand - crispy artichoke hearts over arugala and olive tapenade, skirt steak and Mom’s pasta. We relaxed over a glass of the house red, returning to trenches all relaxed.

Eli plays with a fish and a turtle in the water activity pond 

Eva finds her niche 

Oh look a nest for eggs 

Granddaddy hides the best he can 

Eli enters the maze 

Our favorite part of the Bay Area Discover Museum - the maze! 

Grammy teachers Eva to use and umbrella 

Grammy and Grandaddy Visit

Mom and Dad arrived on Monday. Thought we'd never get out of the airport. Their flight was only the second to arrive in San Francisco as a part of Independence Air. They landed in the international terminal. I parked in the domestic terminal. long story short, not knowing there was different lot for international parking, i took us all the way to Lot G which was where I thought I had parked. But no, we had to go for ever to get back to our car. poor mom and dad, eli and myself saw every corridor of the terminal. i was so agrivated by the time we got to our car and the grand parents were worn out!

Anyway, we've had a nice visit. Eva and Eli have been playing with the tea set grammy brought them non-stop. Every morning, Eva crawls between G & G and talks to them and even let's them fall back to sleep.

Yesterday, Eli and I took grammy to get her back adjusted by Dr. John. He gave her a real work over. He tried to get grammy involved in a controversial subject of how liberal San Francisco is but Mom declined. She passed it off by saying, " I can barely get Branch to come out here." Dad graciously handled the question I posed later, he said he did not think he could live out here.

We made a new bed in the dining room for our guests by setting up our old bedframe and placing the airmattrass on a board. It looks nice and is comfortable, not to mention they get a view of the city from their bed - many people would pay $$$ for that!

Today we went to the Bay Area Discovery Museum. The children had a blast. Dad liked the design of the exhibits and Mom loved the veiw of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Eli's new words in honor of the grandparent's visit: nose and nigh night. Eva has been busy playing with her imaginary friend, I think his name is Cranboy. He keeps Eva busy and gives Eli a bit of peace too!