AWOL

1. Big project deadline tomorrow.

2. Another big project deadline tomorrow.

3. Covering for boss on vacation.

4. Co-worker's wife due to birth twins at any moment so backing him up.

5. Regular work.

6. Not to mention regular life.

I have been working every night after Grace goes to bed lately and am hopelessly behind on everything... but the good news is that after tomorrow's deadlines things may clear up a bit, at least until Tuesday. Hoping to get through a giant backlog of email, photo posting, house projects, and volunteer commitments over the long weekend, plus spend plenty of time relaxing and playing outside awith my favorite two.

BEST OF ALL: LAST DAY OF YEAR ONE OF FELLOWSHIP IS TOMORROW. Collective sigh of relief.

Father/Daughter

On Father's Day, we woke to a gorgeous sunny day. It was even clear in our neighborhood, so we knew it would be amazing weather. We headed north to Muir Woods for an easy hike.

And some rock climbing.

And then on to In-n-Out for what has become a post-Muir Woods tradition (why hike if you're not going to destroy the benefit immediately?).

In the evening we (and most of the rest of San Francisco) headed to Ocean Beach.

Grace tested out her fab new sand toys.

But her favorite activity was running into the waves over and over and over again until she was soaked.

The rest of the pictures here.

Officially two

(Well, I had hoped to get the Father's Day pictures up on Father's Day... but I didn't. Don't tell anyone. So, here are pix from Saturday instead.)

Grace is really two now because we finally threw her a birthday party!

It seemed ridiculous that we waited until now, but we wanted her to have a party and between travel and Steve's call schedule, this was the first weekend that worked. We got lucky and instead of the forecasted 60 degrees and foggy, we got a beautiful Saturday morning. Perfect for a morning at one of our favorite playgrounds with a gang of our favorite people.

Running the mommy-daddy relay:

Since I didn't get many good group shots, I couldn't pick which pictures to post so put them all here. Yay for parties!

And for cupcakes!

Reverse course

After a sad good-bye to GoGo (all visits are too short!) and the others, we started the return trek early Tuesday morning... bus to ferry, wait at the dock in Woods Hole, bus to Boston, couple hour layover, T to the airport, long flight, and finally the drive home. Martha's Vineyard is beautiful and wonderful and a loooong way from San Francisco.

Tired kidlet on the bus. Of course she finally fell asleep about 20 minutes from Boston.

It was another lovely morning and great to be on the ferry. I was sad to leave, but we broke up the day and the end of vacation with a couple of quick visits back in Boston. Grace and I met up with June and Viesia for lunch in Franklin Park while Steve had a few business meetings.

It was so much fun to see them and reminisce and make them remind me how brutal the winter was. But on a 75 degree day, surrounded by spring flowers, it's pretty hard to remember that for half the year, the place is covered in snow, with dirty piles taller than me and slush and ice and it's bitterly windy and cold cold cold. Someone please keep telling us this! Anyway, Grace played in the fountain and got soaked. Completely and totally drenched while the fancy financial district people snickered and looked askance at the sopping, dripping wet toddler.

June had to get back to work, so we popped over the greenway to meet up with Sarah. She and Grace rode the ring-around, and then we headed over to Christopher Columbus Park in the North End. We didn't realize there was a playground there, but Grace seemed to have some sort of homing device as she ran ahead and led us directly to it.

Fab trip. You can probably tell how much we miss Boston and our people there. It was such a good visit. In many ways it still feels like home. But, Steve and I always notice that when we get on a westbound, cross-country flight, that really feels like going home. We've been in SF a year this weekend, and my experience is that it takes a year for a place to start feeling familiar enough to be "home." I guess we're pretty lucky... we love so many places.

All the trip pix are here.

To the lighthouse

Fortunately, I had planned for Grace's penchant for watching the sunrise and was able to get up with her at 5:45am on Monday morning after the wedding. We took a walk in hopes that maybe the rest of the household could keep sleeping, especially Baby Gavin. So, we headed down to the harbor (I hate getting up early, but love how quiet and still the water is in the early morning). Once the coffee shops finally opened, we went had some coffee and scones before heading back to the house. Precious mother-daughter memory it will become, I'm sure.

Visiting her favorite boat (Mad Max). In her pajamas.

After a quick re-group to really start our day, we headed out for more exploring.

First stop was Espresso Love to say good-bye to Jess and Geoff. The whole walk over Grace kept saying "Jessi got married; Jess all done!"

The new Missus!

We walked back over to the lighthouse, which Grace loved. She was so excited that the keeper let us go up to the top.

Grace konked out in the stroller, so we grown-ups enjoyed a feast - lobster bisque and lobster quesadillas. Yum. Then we caught the bus up-island to Aquinnah.

She spotted this lighthouse and insisted that we walk over to it. She was devastated that it was still closed for the season. Not just devastated, but MAD. Kicking, screaming, giant tantrum-mad. She wanted to see that lighthouse. I make her mad plenty, but I really hate it when I would happily do what she wants if I had the power... I guess that's one of the parenting challenges we will face more and more as she confronts the world.

It took a lot (in fact, I finally distracted her with the money I used to pay for the not-public toilet) to get her to shift gears, but eventually we made it to the beach.

We threw rocks, we dug in the sand, we enjoyed the sun. It was sooo nice to be in short and tank tops. We got soft serve. It was vacation... but it was winding down, always a little sad.

We headed back to the house for a big "family dinner," UCSD-style. It was just too bad Jess and Emm weren't there for it and to take pictures.

More porch sitting and playing. I really wish we had a porch.

One of the best pictures ever.

The quiet harbor at dusk after our last walk to see Mad Max.

Wedding!

Sunday, wedding day! We headed up to the farm Sunday morning for pampering and girl time. We had our hair done, did make up, ate some very excellent pastries, and helped Jess get dressed in her beautiful dress. It was such a special time to be all together and have some leisurely time ahead of Jess's wedding, even if the assistant-stylist made several attempts to give me an up-do, before passing me off to her boss, who realized it was futile.

The day was foggy and humid, but the fog started to lift just as the ceremony started.

This one for my bridesmaid audition portfolio. Look how well I'm holding my flowers by my belly button as instructed. And - I didn't even trip, despite fog and grass and having to walk.

The ceremony was so lovely and personal to Jess and Geoff. I did my best not to cry through the whole thing. I failed.

The view from Allen Farm toward the ocean.

First dance.

Emm and Adam.

The reception was quite a party. It was sooo nice that GoGo and Super could babysit. Nat, Chris, Steve and I were able to really have fun. Thank you!!!

It was the night of the fist bump.

I think this was a little while before Nat and I jacked the sound system... Jess was gracious about it.

Beautiful wedding and wonderful couple, plus a fabulous party, excellent food, good music, and good friends. It was an honor to stand up with Jess and to witness the start of her and Geoff's marriage. And, weddings are always better when Steve can be there so I can make him dance and recall our vows. Almost 8 years... what a special night we had, enjoying such a fun night without any responsibilities (Thanks, Mom!).

Pre-wedding

Saturday morning Mom and I headed over to the salon for a little bit of girl bonding. After getting out toes all fancied up, we met up with Steve and Grace to check out more of Edgartown. We did a little shopping, sat on the docks to have a lunch of fried clams (LOVE), and then took a walk. We discovered the Edgartown lighthouse and planned to return when Grace was awake to explore.

We headed home so the kiddos could play... porch sitting might be the greatest thing ever.

Natalie and I headed up to the farm with rest of the bridal party for the rehearsal, then we met up with the gang for the welcome dinner (I heart destination weddings). Luckily, GoGo and Super joined the party and helped with baby chasing because neither Grace nor Gavin was particularly up for the party.

The ace toddler chaser (giving Steve and me a chance to ransack the incredible buffet).

The blushing bride-to-be.

So much fun to have the UCSD gang together.

After a while, Grace warmed up and was ready to par-tay.

Fabulous party and such a fun kick off to the wedding. Geoff and Jess looked so happy and it was a joy to see them surrounded by so many people there to celebrate with them.