8th Birthday

Robyn turned 8 in January.  Usually we have a party at our house.  But party planning gives me the hives.  Really, it's not something I enjoy -- in fact I try to avoid if at all necessary.  This year I got my act together and had it at the city's gymnastics place.  I've been wanting to do this for a couple years but by the time Christmas is over and I think about Robyn's birthday all the spots are taken.  Since her birthday fell on a Saturday, she even got to have her party on her actual day.

It is a great place to have a birthday.  They ran around and jumped into the foam pit.  Fun was had by all! 

Christmas Break

I've been so lax in posting to this blog.  Even though we are at the end of January I wanted to share some pictures from our Christmas break.  Christmas break is our one time as a family we actually drive into the city and play tourist. 

This year we headed off to the Walt Disney Family Museum in the Presidio.  It's an expensive museum so when I found discount tickets off of Groupon I decided to go for it.  No pictures from there as photography is prohibited in the museum.  It was an interesting museum.  The girls weren't as excited about it though.  As Annalise stated -- it contained too much reading and not enough doing. 

The day we went was gorgeous -- especially for SF.  Afterwards we headed to Mel's Drive-In for lunch.  This is a family tradition.  Everytime the family goes into the city, and I mean everytime, we have to eat at one of the locations. 



After lunch we headed to the Fort Point which is beneath the Golden Gate Bridge.  Unfortunately it was closed but we got to walk around, see the bridge and watch the birds dive into the water. 



The girls and I actually got to go to the city a second time.  We went with friends to go to the free day at the Exploratorium -- which was also the last day it was open in the old location.  The next time it opens will be on the pier.  It was crazy busy but we had a great time!



Would you drink from this water fountain?

Climbing on the Palace of Fine Arts

Favorite Books 2012

Favorite books of 2012

Non-Fiction

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot
Secret Daughter by June Cross
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua
84, Charing Cross Rd by Helene Hanff
Plastic Free by Beth Terry
The Midwife by Jennifer Worth

Fiction

Restless in the Grave by Dana Stabenow
Judgment Call by J.A. Jance
Flower Master by Sujata Massey
Lehrter Station by David Downing
The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

Young Adult Fiction

Enclave by Ann Aguirre
Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony
Waiting for Normal by Leslie Connor
Lost Girl by Sandu Mandanna
Ordinary Magic by Caitlin Rubino-Bradway
Vessel by Sarah Beth Durst

Middle Readers

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
Butterfly Lion by Michael Morpurgo

Holidays are a Coming

Hope you all have a happy December.

This picture was taken at the Festival of Trees.  It's part of our city's start of the Holiday Season. 

While there, Robyn had to see Santa.  Long gone are the days when she was scared of him.

Both girls are definitely growing up.

Now I need to start on the holiday shopping.  I've got the girls mostly finished and then it's on to everyone else.

Cross Country

Last week was the last middle school cross country meet of the season.  It was the League meet.  The top 10 runners of the season of each team had one last chance to race.

I can be taught -- I invited a friend of Robyn's to come along.  They spent the whole time climbing trees, running around and playing in dirt.  The ultimate playdate!

This was at the last leg of the race.  If she had stayed behind her she would have come in 5th.

But with a little encouragement from her dad, she managed to beat her by a second!

Her team won the League Meet -- Good job girls!

Happy Halloween

The weather wasn't too bad.  A bit chilly and dark clouds were coming our way when we started trick or treating but it didn't actually rain until 8 pm.  I didn't mind that as it kept the later-in-the- night teenagers away!

SuperGirl, Baby, Loofah, and a Crayon

School Pictures 2012

Instead of buying the school pictures this year I had my friend Christine, of Christine Larsen Photography, take the girls' pictures. 

They turned out great and I got a bonus picture of the two girls together.