What a day!

We packed so many things in today that when I go back and look at the photos and video, I can't believe we did all that in one day.

We started our day with our usual Wednesday activity walking to the farm. We observed a lot of wildlife this morning. Samuel pointed out two deer just as we were beginning our walk, and not much later we got to see this snake

Samuel did some jumping off of logs, then decided to push Shira to the farm on his own


The fruit trees at the farm have begun to produce, so we usually buy a few of whatever they have. This time we got pears and apples
Because naptime has been hit and miss recently, rather than go home after the farm, we proceeded straight to the pool to meet up with some friends and enjoy the pool for one of the last times this season.

Upon our return home, I put Shira to sleep, but Samuel would have none of it. When Shira woke up from her nap, Samuel came to keep her company.

Me: "Hi smiley girl. You are in a good mood."
Samuel: "Hi smiley girl."
Samuel: "Mommy, Samuel get camera. Take picture."
Me: "What do you want to take a picture of?"
Samuel: "Shira smile."
Samuel also had some work around the house he needed to get done
As I was nursing Shira in the bedroom, Samuel wandered off. I could hear him in the kitchen, and knew that he was on the counter, but it took me a few minutes to get Shira to sleep and extricate myself. This is what I found when I went looking


And when I returned moments later


Post clean up I began to make dinner and was met with this conversation

Samuel: "Mommy, no make dinner."
Me: "Samuel, I have to make dinner, or we won't have anything to eat tonight."
Samuel: "Go Grandma Joan's house. Have dinner."

Hmmm...

Visiting School

I brought Shira and Samuel with me to a local elementary school today to look into finishing my internship there with my former principal. Unfortunately, I didn't get the opportunity to talk to her, but Samuel was all eyes as we walked through the school.

Samuel couldn't take his eyes off all of the kids playing on the blacktop, grass and multiple playgrounds. He informed me that he was going to play soccer with the other kids on the grass. It almost broke my heart to explain to him that since we didn't attend school there, we had to go to a different playground, but that we could watch the boys playing soccer. I thought the chance to watch the big kids would be appealing, but Samuel insisted that he wanted to actually play with them.

We also stood and listened to a teacher give his first graders instructions in Spanish (the school has a dual immersion Spanish/English program) and Samuel was fascinated as I translated for him and he watched the kids follow directions.

It would be super cool if Samuel and Shira have the opportunity to attend there.

Auntie Lauren's New Apartment

We went to visit Lauren in her hip new digs in San Francisco. Made me jealous that we aren't 20 something years old living in the city. Only 18 more years...

Craigslist Obsession Redux - the Stokke Story

Not long ago I bought a Stokke chair for Samuel off of craigslist. I paid a pretty penny, but was willing to pay a premium because the chair was located less than 2 miles from our house.

Samuel loved the chair so much, and we found it so incredibly useful (previous to the entrance of the Stokke into our kitchen and lives, Samuel stood on a regular chair to eat dinner. Yes, we are such lazy and incompetent parents that we were teaching our child to stand at the dinner table), that I decided to begin searching for another one that Shira would use (albeit many months from now).

I began my search before Shira was born, though I didn't search with much urgency in the beginning (figuring I had plenty of time to find one). Since I wasn't in a hurry, I decided I could be picky. I passed up several Stokkes that were good deals, but simply farther than I want to drive. I also ignored Stokkes that were more than I considered to be "a good deal".

Shira was born and I began to be a little more serious about locating this Holy Grail of mine. After emailing the owners of several possibilities, and being informed that the chair had already been sold (including one in which I called 20 min after it posted and I was the fourth person interested) I became more and more concerned that I might not be able to buy one even if I threw my "good deal" and "close by" requirements to the wind.

Finally, last night, I found one that was half the price that I paid for the original chair. It however, was located in San Francisco. Ugh. What a drive for a silly piece of furniture. But I told the owner I would come pick it up without a doubt. So last night, Steve, Samuel, Shira and I hopped into the car at 5pm, endured getting stuck behind an accident, and made it into the sunset by 6:15 to purchase this beauty ;).

Needless to say, we could not subject Samuel and Shira to another hour long car ride without some dinner and a chance to run around a bit. So we had an impromptu picnic in Golden Gate Park with take-out from Park Chow.

Samuel and Shira were both a dream in the car on the way up and on the way back. My Craigslist Obsession turned into a charming little adventure and a good time was had by all. Thanks family for putting up with your silly wife/mom...

Greatest Dad Ever (and husband too).
Shira enjoying her first time in Golden Gate Park.

Where did Samuel go?
Shira scoffed at our take out - she brought her own picnic with her.

Death Defying Feats

Now that Samuel has learned how to really jump, he wants to jump off everything he sees. Since we went swimming at Auntie Lottie's house, and Samuel saw cousin Brendan do a cannonball, every perch inside and outside of the house has become a diving board.


Meanwhile, Shira has been engaging in her own extreme physical sports - namely lying on her tummy and holding her head up...

Wednesday at the farm

Every Wednesday for the past few months I have been leading a walk to our local farm. The idea behind this little hike is that it is short enough that the kids could walk if they wanted to, and everyone can run around at the farm and look at the animals (and I always buy fresh eggs) before it is time to return. This is the only hike that I continue to do on Stroller Hikes, simply because Samuel refuses to put up with the rest. Gone are the days when he was willing to ride on my back in the Ergo for a 2-3 hour hike.

Up until today, the walk being short enough for the kids to hike has been more a theory than a reality. Although the toddlers are completely physically capable of walking the mile to the farm, most of the time Samuel was unwilling to, or I was too impatient to allow him to.

Today, all of the 2 year olds decided to take on the challenge. It was less a walk to the farm, though, than an all out run.
Samuel has become very fond of holding Sophia's hand and telling her where he would like to go and what they should do next. Sophia then informs Samuel that she has no plan to do that and proceeds to inform him of what she will be doing. Samuel invariably agrees with her plan.

Case in point: Samuel said, "Sophia, walk farm." Sophia replied, "No Samuel, I am playing in tree."


Since the kids were leading the way, we had a few stops. In addition to the hollowed out tree, it was necessary for everyone to check out this big fallen tree. Everytime I walk past these trees (and a couple of other spots) I have thought about how much fun they would be to climb and play on. I was wondering how long it would take before the toddlers considered that too.
Samuel, Lillian, Sophia and Jesse across the top, Shannon below.This is a new favorite past time at the farm - learning how a pully system works.

Luna the Cow. An ever popular stop on the farm circuit.
These piglets share Shira's birthday. Of course, their mom only had to be pregnant for 3 months. Then again, she had ten babies.

training the new chef in the family