Park 61st st Emeryville

After a trip to the BEST B*Y (thanky you Unka Jim) we found this new park in Emeryville (around 61st and Doyle) - it wasn't super big but it had some pretty cool play structures and we needed to run around for a bit so it was Perfect.

Indoor Play Cafe

On this rainy rainy morning we had a play date with Amy and Cypress at Sadie Days in Oakland - it was a pretty cool space but crowded - lots of moms escaping the bad weather. Still I love a place where the boy can run and play and I can have a latte!!!! Plus seeing Amy was a BIG bonus.

Breakfast Out

You would think now that the kid is in preschool 3 or 4 days a week I would have lots of time to kill with my favorite persuits like coffee, journaling, meals and just general lounging.... but that is SO not the case. I don't really know what the problem is but today I did get to have one of my RARE meals out with myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look at that yumminess -

Yeah Sunshine Cafe on Solano

Happy V-Day

New Park 2.16

Before.During. After HAIRCUT time

I thought his hair was getting a little too much

Emily disagrees.

But he was with me today so that means trip to the kids haircut place. It is amazing because usually he wont let anyone TOUCH his hair, but he will sit SMILING even for a haircut at this place. So even if the cuts not great... he is having an okay time with it...

Still curly -

Monday Funday

Our Adventure Day playdate was at Lawrence Hall of Science this week. We had a good turnout of kids this time - lots of siblings too - There was much running around and playing with the various exhibits and then we ended the day in the blocks room.

Corty's dad David spent about and hour & a half working on his tower....

super duper Burger

Marianna's Dinner at Super Duper

Tilden Park Hike

Our monday am playdate was at Tilden park - we got there a little early so we went and checked out one of the hiking trails behind the Nature Center.

Massacre

Doctors

The newest Habitot exhibit is a dr's office, ambulance, xray station & vets office. I liked watching my two md's consulting on this babydoll baby.

Rose Garden Sunset over the Golden Gate

Okay did anybody notice that the title of this post was rose garder for a few days. Oh well. So we have been having the MOST AMAZING January weather believable. And I feel kinda mean talking about it because I know that the East Coast is beyond cold right now. Seeing temp readings of NEGATIVE Double Numbers in the shire and in Boston. So I am feeling for you all - but I am also so enjoying running around in short sleeves and being on the verge of complaigning that I am getting too warm.

The beauty of this place is taking my breath away again and again. I think I have always appreciated the bay area - but seriously being away for a few years has made it that much more Awe Inspiring to me. Nearly everyday I am hit by something - the redwoods and eucalyptus by my house, the sweeping views of the bay and marin as I drive the boy to preschool, the magic of the fog, the stunning sunsets like this one that was so literally perfect with the bay clear and the Marin mountains and the GoldenGate framed between the Berkley Trees.

If you haven't been here in awhile you should come visit.

Skytown Parade

Kiddie Rides in Santa Cruz

After we checked out of the lovely hotel in Monterey we got into the car and headed up to Santa Cruz - not a long haul at all. It was even more gorgeous out - Monterey had been foggy in the morning but by Santa Cruz it was nothing but sun and the temps had to be reaching the low 70's (sorry Boston folks). Sadly though since it is still the middle of winter 9/10ths of the boardwalk rides were shut down for the season. But Em and the monkey did find a couple adventures to have. Above you can see them on the race cars which look pretty tame but do really whip you around as you head into the curve. He also rode the carousal and some spinny ride with Em that nearly made her puke.

I took a walk along the beach with Em's folks and we all had some decent lunch before heading on up the coast toward Half Moon Bay and SFO.

Not a bad visit at all

Boardwalk

me, Santa Cruz boardwalk, sun, short sleeves. What more can I say. Oh yeah - January!!

Beach Day

Here are my toes as they sample the lovely sands at Carmel by the sea. I know you'd reather see a photo of the beach and ocean, or the Pebble Beach golf course at my right, but hey thats not the photo I took.

So we are on a MLK weekend vaca with Em's folks that has been a quick jaunt down to Monterey and have been blessed with the most amazing sunshine-y day evah! Especially since we got hit with a lot of cloudy overcasty rainy days for awhile now. So we got up this morning to some blazing sun - sat outside for breakfast then walked down to the Monterey Bay Aquarium which was only three blocks away. The boy loved the Jelly fish I love the otters... We all had a good time. Then down to Carmel for a bit of time on the beach and back for dinner in Monterey.

A really good day!

Bounty!!!!

Why I love Discovery Museum

sweeping the golden gate bridge

Year In Pix December