Talk about a week packed with fun and excitement!
On Monday I took the kids to a splash pad that we had tried a while back but was closed. They loved it and it was the perfect toasty day to appreciate getting soaked.
Tuesday was a little bit nuts. I had a handful of errands I wanted to run before heading to a meeting. While I was checking which library books were due, I heard screams and cries coming from the bathroom with a shout of "Noooo he flushed it down the toilet!!" I went running and the kids told me that Alex threw the duplo cannon into the toilet while Matthew was flushing it. Suddenly everyone was hysterical. Matthew was upset that his cannon was gone, Alex was crying because Matthew was mad at him, and Michael was crying because I told him he had to wait to go to the bathroom while I figured out what to do. I called Andrew and tried to talk about what to do admist all the screaming. Remember how this is our only toilet right now? Anyway, I eventually decided there was nothing to be done right then and I had to skip my errands and get to my meeting. While there, I got a text from a friend asking if I could watch her kids for a little while. Always! So we rushed home to meet them.
I needed to finish the week's meal plan and make a grocery list plus get Adaline ready for dance, while not letting the house get too messy. After my friend picked up her kids and I dropped Adaline off at dance, I tried to book it to the grocery store. Of course, with 3 little boys and it being right before dinnertime and having less than an hour before I needed to be back at the dance studio, it was a little stressful and we were a bit late. While I was cleaning up the house after bedtime, I found the duplo cannon on the floor behind the bathroom door. What?? I went into Matthew's room to show him to see his reaction. Well, he didn't react. Huh? So I asked why he wasn't surprised to see the cannon that had been flushed down the toilet. Turns out, it was actually the bullet from the cannon that was flushed...um so not worth being late and stressing all day!!
I spent the rest of the evening cleaning, packing snacks and the diaper bag, and prepping dinner for the next day because...the next morning we got to pick up Anna and Dave from the airport!!!!!!!!
We all chatted with so much excitement as we headed to get them (and we had plenty of time to do so thanks to Bay Area traffic. Ha!) First stop was the Cable Car Museum downtown. I find the cable cars and their history fascinating-it was cool to learn more about them.
Next, we walked toward Chinatown. Just as we decided it was time for lunch and asked Dave to see what he could find, we found ourselves standing outside a restaurant with good reviews. It was totally a hidden gem off the beaten path and so delicious. The waitress basically ordered our whole meal for us and it was all fantastic.
After lunch, we walked through the more touristy part of Chinatown and got some Dragon Beard candy to try while fighting our way straight up hills back to the parking garage. We drove across the bridge and over to the Marin Headlands to check out Rodeo Beach. It was such a perfect day for the beach, surprisingly, and the kids had so much fun playing in the waves with Andrew while the rest of us lounged on the beach.
Took a couple hours to get home, had some sweet potato tacos, and got the kids in bed as quickly as we could. Then we played Ticket to Ride, I'll spare Andrew's and Dave's pride and not mention how that ended. *wink*
All day long I was amazed by how well the kids did. They ate the Chinese food, walked up and down the steep streets, happily left the beach as soon as we told them it was time, and were just generally so pleasant and agreeable. Way to go, kiddos!
Andrew needed to go to work on Thursday and we had something super fun planned for the evening, so we kept it a pretty low-key day. We filled up 200 water balloons, grabbed the squirt guns, and headed to the park.
Headed home for lunch/naps/quiet times/trivial pursuit then we got ready for HAMILTON (my birthday present from last week!!) and waited for Andrew and the babysitter. We headed out and I found that I don't mind the traffic very much when I have good company in the car and no little kids getting antsy. We found the general area we needed to be but had a couple homeless guys trying to "help" us park our car. We were running out of time so we split up-Andrew and I found parking while Anna and Dave found dinner. Success all around-they found us some fantastic Filipino food (I think) and we found a garage across the street. We made it to our seats with a couple minutes to spare and then had our minds blown. Well, I did anyway. Anna and Dave had seen it in New York a few years ago, so I don't want to speak for them, but they did say the preferred this performance overall. All this to say, it was so good and I'm already dying to go again. Thank you, Andrew! And thanks for going with us, Anna and Dave!
I was so hyped up after the show. I think we ended up playing a game and then staying up until 1. Not something I recommend, but I was wired that watching that performance.
Andrew had the day off on Friday and we headed to Mt Diablo State Park to check out Rock City Park. I don't think I could even guess how many times the kids exclaimed "how cool" everything was. They had a blast climbing in and around and down all of the rocks and taking turns leading our adventures. We had a picnic, explored a little more, then headed out.
After we got home, we hung out on the deck and watched the big kids play while the littles napped, until it was time to get ready for dinner. We met a childhood friend of Dave's at a Latin American restaurant in Walnut Creek, and ate our way through a handful of dishes-all amazing-then stopped at Cream for dessert. Then you know the drill, chatting and games every night. Love it!
Saturday we checked out the Brentwood Farmers' Market, ate tasty sandwiches at Dino's, inhaled Mexican ice cream at Guanatos, then headed home to hang out and let the kids rest. That night Adaline wanted to perform her ballet number she's been working on since January. She's going to miss the actual recital because it's next Sunday, so we dressed her up in one of Chloe's old costumes, did her hair and make up, and set up a theater in the entry way/hallway. She smiled through the entire performance and remembered everything. Even though it was just in front of her immediate family plus an aunt and uncle, she is often too shy to even do that and I was so proud of her. The performance quickly turned into and dance/karaoke party and then I let the kids stay up to eat and make cookies afterward. It was just too sad to put them to bed since they'd have to say good-bye to Anna and Dave.
Oh my goodness, we feel so grateful to have wonderful family who took the time to come visit us. The week was such a fun mix of big adventures and low-key hanging out. We ate all the delicious food, and Anna and Dave read my kids most of the library books we have checked out. Thanks for coming and spoiling us with your company. We made so many good memories and I loved watching my kids warm up to you and then become completely obsessed with you. Y'all are the best.
This morning I got up early to take Anna and Dave to the airport before heading back to watch the Oakland Temple re-dedication broadcast. It was great, though I admit I struggled to stay awake after the busy week we had. Since kids under 8 can't go, we traded off with a couple friends and got to have extra kids at our house most of the day. I'm pretty sure my kids thought it was the greatest Sunday of all time.
Which pajamas to wear each night has become quite the subject recently. Often the boys ask to borrow Adaline's nightgowns or, like tonight, they all wanted to wear dad's soccer clothes. They crack me up.
Oh, and happy Father's Day to the many wonderful men in my life and in my kids' lives. Particularly to my dad, my kids' dad, my husband's dad, and my wonderful brothers and brothers-in-law. Good dads are so important and I'm glad to have such fantastic ones all around me. Love you all!
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| She grew these beans totally by herself |
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| We love hanging out of the deck these days |
On Monday I took the kids to a splash pad that we had tried a while back but was closed. They loved it and it was the perfect toasty day to appreciate getting soaked.
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| We had to kill some time because the open time on the website was wrong. The kids took turns driving the "train" |
Tuesday was a little bit nuts. I had a handful of errands I wanted to run before heading to a meeting. While I was checking which library books were due, I heard screams and cries coming from the bathroom with a shout of "Noooo he flushed it down the toilet!!" I went running and the kids told me that Alex threw the duplo cannon into the toilet while Matthew was flushing it. Suddenly everyone was hysterical. Matthew was upset that his cannon was gone, Alex was crying because Matthew was mad at him, and Michael was crying because I told him he had to wait to go to the bathroom while I figured out what to do. I called Andrew and tried to talk about what to do admist all the screaming. Remember how this is our only toilet right now? Anyway, I eventually decided there was nothing to be done right then and I had to skip my errands and get to my meeting. While there, I got a text from a friend asking if I could watch her kids for a little while. Always! So we rushed home to meet them.
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| I've still got it! love this sweet, sleepy baby |
I needed to finish the week's meal plan and make a grocery list plus get Adaline ready for dance, while not letting the house get too messy. After my friend picked up her kids and I dropped Adaline off at dance, I tried to book it to the grocery store. Of course, with 3 little boys and it being right before dinnertime and having less than an hour before I needed to be back at the dance studio, it was a little stressful and we were a bit late. While I was cleaning up the house after bedtime, I found the duplo cannon on the floor behind the bathroom door. What?? I went into Matthew's room to show him to see his reaction. Well, he didn't react. Huh? So I asked why he wasn't surprised to see the cannon that had been flushed down the toilet. Turns out, it was actually the bullet from the cannon that was flushed...um so not worth being late and stressing all day!!
I spent the rest of the evening cleaning, packing snacks and the diaper bag, and prepping dinner for the next day because...the next morning we got to pick up Anna and Dave from the airport!!!!!!!!
We all chatted with so much excitement as we headed to get them (and we had plenty of time to do so thanks to Bay Area traffic. Ha!) First stop was the Cable Car Museum downtown. I find the cable cars and their history fascinating-it was cool to learn more about them.
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| We happened to park in a garage underneath a cathedral and walked out into the courtyard. |
Next, we walked toward Chinatown. Just as we decided it was time for lunch and asked Dave to see what he could find, we found ourselves standing outside a restaurant with good reviews. It was totally a hidden gem off the beaten path and so delicious. The waitress basically ordered our whole meal for us and it was all fantastic.
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| Michael loved the duck. I have never seen bones licked so clean |
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| Duck, BBQ pork, bok choy, fried rice, and some chow mein curry deliciousness |
After lunch, we walked through the more touristy part of Chinatown and got some Dragon Beard candy to try while fighting our way straight up hills back to the parking garage. We drove across the bridge and over to the Marin Headlands to check out Rodeo Beach. It was such a perfect day for the beach, surprisingly, and the kids had so much fun playing in the waves with Andrew while the rest of us lounged on the beach.
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| "It's kind of a mix between cotton candy and shredded wheat."-Anna💝💝💝💝💝 |
Took a couple hours to get home, had some sweet potato tacos, and got the kids in bed as quickly as we could. Then we played Ticket to Ride, I'll spare Andrew's and Dave's pride and not mention how that ended. *wink*
All day long I was amazed by how well the kids did. They ate the Chinese food, walked up and down the steep streets, happily left the beach as soon as we told them it was time, and were just generally so pleasant and agreeable. Way to go, kiddos!
Andrew needed to go to work on Thursday and we had something super fun planned for the evening, so we kept it a pretty low-key day. We filled up 200 water balloons, grabbed the squirt guns, and headed to the park.
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| Aren't they naturals? Someone please convince them to have a whole pile of kids. They got this. |
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| The big kids' quiet time activity was painting wooden animals that Anna and Dave brought back for them from Australia. How cool is that?! and they were so focused and careful with their painting |
Headed home for lunch/naps/quiet times/trivial pursuit then we got ready for HAMILTON (my birthday present from last week!!) and waited for Andrew and the babysitter. We headed out and I found that I don't mind the traffic very much when I have good company in the car and no little kids getting antsy. We found the general area we needed to be but had a couple homeless guys trying to "help" us park our car. We were running out of time so we split up-Andrew and I found parking while Anna and Dave found dinner. Success all around-they found us some fantastic Filipino food (I think) and we found a garage across the street. We made it to our seats with a couple minutes to spare and then had our minds blown. Well, I did anyway. Anna and Dave had seen it in New York a few years ago, so I don't want to speak for them, but they did say the preferred this performance overall. All this to say, it was so good and I'm already dying to go again. Thank you, Andrew! And thanks for going with us, Anna and Dave!
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| About to burst with excitement |
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| Such a cool theater |
Andrew had the day off on Friday and we headed to Mt Diablo State Park to check out Rock City Park. I don't think I could even guess how many times the kids exclaimed "how cool" everything was. They had a blast climbing in and around and down all of the rocks and taking turns leading our adventures. We had a picnic, explored a little more, then headed out.
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| This lady is going to be such an amazing mama, and I absolutely loved watching her love on my kids all week. |
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| Um, Matthew and Dave? I can't even. So cute! |
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| Gorgeous views while we climbed around |
After we got home, we hung out on the deck and watched the big kids play while the littles napped, until it was time to get ready for dinner. We met a childhood friend of Dave's at a Latin American restaurant in Walnut Creek, and ate our way through a handful of dishes-all amazing-then stopped at Cream for dessert. Then you know the drill, chatting and games every night. Love it!
Saturday we checked out the Brentwood Farmers' Market, ate tasty sandwiches at Dino's, inhaled Mexican ice cream at Guanatos, then headed home to hang out and let the kids rest. That night Adaline wanted to perform her ballet number she's been working on since January. She's going to miss the actual recital because it's next Sunday, so we dressed her up in one of Chloe's old costumes, did her hair and make up, and set up a theater in the entry way/hallway. She smiled through the entire performance and remembered everything. Even though it was just in front of her immediate family plus an aunt and uncle, she is often too shy to even do that and I was so proud of her. The performance quickly turned into and dance/karaoke party and then I let the kids stay up to eat and make cookies afterward. It was just too sad to put them to bed since they'd have to say good-bye to Anna and Dave.
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| Rose petals with pistachios and rice pudding flavors for me |
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| This was hilarious-they played 4 times and Matthew one 3 of them. I've never heard so much giggling going on |
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| Dave was such a good sport about letting them wrestle with him |
Oh my goodness, we feel so grateful to have wonderful family who took the time to come visit us. The week was such a fun mix of big adventures and low-key hanging out. We ate all the delicious food, and Anna and Dave read my kids most of the library books we have checked out. Thanks for coming and spoiling us with your company. We made so many good memories and I loved watching my kids warm up to you and then become completely obsessed with you. Y'all are the best.
This morning I got up early to take Anna and Dave to the airport before heading back to watch the Oakland Temple re-dedication broadcast. It was great, though I admit I struggled to stay awake after the busy week we had. Since kids under 8 can't go, we traded off with a couple friends and got to have extra kids at our house most of the day. I'm pretty sure my kids thought it was the greatest Sunday of all time.
Which pajamas to wear each night has become quite the subject recently. Often the boys ask to borrow Adaline's nightgowns or, like tonight, they all wanted to wear dad's soccer clothes. They crack me up.
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| "Now can I see the picture?" |
Oh, and happy Father's Day to the many wonderful men in my life and in my kids' lives. Particularly to my dad, my kids' dad, my husband's dad, and my wonderful brothers and brothers-in-law. Good dads are so important and I'm glad to have such fantastic ones all around me. Love you all!
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