2011 - The Highlights

Well, here we go with another year in review... 2011 was pretty excellent! It was very busy and I think that in 2012 we'll be working on slowing down a bit. 2011 is ending with Thanksgiving because we're still on vacation and I can't transfer/access the most recent photos.

January: So Cal trip and skiing at Lake Tahoe.

February and March: winter beach walks, zoo trips, and visits from GoGo and Pop.

April: Easter.

May: Yosemite, SoCal trip, and Vineyard/Boston trip for Jess and Geoff's wedding.

June and July: Beach time and Katy and Anthony's wedding.

August: Washington trip.

September: SoCal, Disneyland and Grace's first camping trip.

October: Hiking and Halloween.

November: Monterey and Thanksgiving with Nana.

Thanks for reading this year! I'll be back soon with pictures and details of our Christmas in Washington and maybe even some resolutions (if I share them, will I keep them?). Grace and I are flying back today (Steve had to return a few days ago for work). Grace has had a wonderful time, but she is super excited to see her daddy tonight (and so am I)!

Happy New Year!

More holiday cheer

Earlier this week we attended the CAS holiday night for members. They have lots of special activities for kids - ornament making and cookie decorating, reindeer on the lawn, music and wintery treats. It was very festive and lots of fun. Grace was mesmerized by the carolers. We caught them two different times, and I have never seen her so attentive (still/quiet) for so long. When it was time to leave, she kept pleading "one more song, please!"

She also had her first candy cane. It was a big hit!

And, just for kicks, here's a snap of the gingerbread house on display. It was pretty incredible!

Holiday cheer

A colleague gave me a really cute container of hot cocoa shaped like santa with a bag of marshmallows and jingle bells attached. I took it home to Grace, knowing she would get a kick out of it. She had never had hot chocolate, so I made her a cup and showed her how to spoon out the marshmallows. She's a believer. The following conversation ensued:

Grace: Thank you, Mommy. That delicious.

Me: What is it?

Grace: Cholocolate coffee!

Swim, fishy, swim!

We started swimming lessons this past session, feeling like Grace should start to get comfortable in the water. Given that San Francisco has no summer, she just hasn't been swimming that much. She's been really interested in pools whenever we have the opportunity to use one, but very tentative. She seemed into it at first, but as the session wound down we felt like she was getting bored and was always freezing by the end of class (thus the wet suit). In fact last week we had a birthday party to attend and Steve was on call and couldn't go, so she and I bailed. I figured she would have more fun at the party and at the class before, she said she was done halfway through. So, our plan was to not sign up for the next session and wait to see if she liked it better when she's old enough for the preschool classes (just with teachers, no parents, and there's more "swimming" and fewer games).

Well, apparently the last class was the charm. Suddenly she was jumping in and loving it, she did "starfish" (back float) and put her head under without freaking out. She also was not purple at the end of class, probably because she was actually having fun and moving. So, of course, we signed up for the next session.

Proof:

Christmas part deux

Grandpa came up from San Diego over the weekend for a quick visit and an early Christmas celebration. It was a pretty mellow weekend - on Saturday morning we got donuts and went over to the Sutro Baths ruins to walk along the Coastal trail.

The scenery shots...

Afterward we headed down to the zoo for a while. It was strangely deserted (I guess everyone was out shopping?), and almost all the animals were sleeping (even the monkeys and hippo). We still had fun and Grace had a great time in the children's zoo because it was so empty. She did a lot of farm work, raking and brushing the goats and driving the tractor.

In the evening we celebrated Christmas. Steve and I have been debating the play kitchen question for a while. We knew Grace would love one, but we have approximately zero space for one... fun outweighed practicality (proving that we actually are awesome parents, she better remember this when she's 13) and we ordered one. Umm, big hit (we gave it to her early to spread things out a bit). We have been served many a gourmet meal already. I think she even preserved lemons! Sunday morning when she got up she said to me "you got me a kitchen." I asked if she liked it and she said "I really like it." Then she said "I have a kitchen and you have a kitchen, Mommy." When I asked about Daddy she said "Daddy shares your kitchen." Hmmm.

Grace also helped Grandpa open presents.

Sunday was very chill - church, swimming lessons, excellent lunch in the Mission, football (the Chargers game was televised for a change!), Christmas cookies and more cooking by Grace. No pictures... I am lazy.

Thanks for coming to celebrate with us, Grandpa!

Bucket and Lineee

Last weekend, Unca Bucket and Aunt Lindee came for a visit as part of her tour de residency programs/interviews.

Grace was pretty thrilled to have them here!

I was pretty bad with the camera, but here are a couple of good ones from a long walk we took through the Mt. Sutro preserve, Cole Valley, the Haight and Tank Hill.

Saturday the Greats and Scott and Katy and Anthony came over for dinner. It was a squeeze since we don't really have a suitable table (ok, apartment) for large groups, but they were all good sports about sitting wherever they could find a seat. It was such a treat to all be together!

After dinner, Grace played an elaborate game of steal the nose. I'm pretty sure Anthony started it... and eventually no one had a nose, but they worked hard to protect themselves!

Sunday was a pretty mellow day - swimming lessons, lunch in the Inner Sunset and a gorgeous walk from the Lands End trail around to the Sutro Baths. It was sunny and beautiful and I forgot the camera. Did I mention that Grace was playing outside barefoot? In December?!

So fun to see Mark and Lindee and we're very excited to see where residency takes them. Glad the weather cooperated and had them oohing and aaahing at at the sun after some serious Seattle drear lately.