Solo in San Francisco

I had five days and four nights solo in San Francisco. It was wonderful, and I won't write too much because this blog is supposed to be about the kids and not about me, and the whole point of this trip was the ABSENCE of the kids.

But here I am visiting friends I haven't seen since pre-kids. We met for dinner at 8 pm - how adult is that?

Some highlights from the trip:

• the flight out, where I couldn't decide how best to spend 5 1/2 uninterrupted hours on the plane. Movie, music, books, crossword puzzle? I bounced from one thing to another like I was ADD.
• hanging out in Ashbury Heights at my friend Lynn's place
• having coffee and lunch in a French bistro in Cole Valley
• dinner in Cole Valley with Lynn and Phil (see above picture)
• walking all over Golden Gate Park
• walking up to Twin Peaks Park
• hanging out in Berkeley with Bob and his family
• hiking/running in my old stomping ground, Tilden Park
• my brother Lee's 50th birthday party bash (the trigger for my going out there
• taking the redeye back with Dave, who also came out for the party

Christian Science Center Plaza

The Bee And Thistle

For mother's day this year my two sisters and I took my mother to CT for a weekend. We went to stay in a B&B where her nephew's sculpture was being displayed. It was in Old Lyme, a beautiful town that sits astride three tidal rivers and was known at one time for the location of an art colony.

The four of us have never been away together before, and it was fun. The area was gorgeous, the B&B very nice, and the sculptures beautiful in the setting.

Catch-up

Wow, am I behind.  I have loads of pictures on the camera from Florida, Sanibel, Lee's birthday, and other things over the past month or so.  I hope to get them on to my computer soon and catch up a bit.  But, just in case that doesn't happen anytime soon, her are some recent highlights:

• Lee turned five.  She's doing great, and she and I seem to be moving into a much nicer, less combative phase recently.   At her 5-year appointment, she measured 4th percentile for weight and 5th for height.  If she stays on her curve she may just hit 5' as an adult.  
• We have enrolled Lee in half-day kindergarten next year.  I probably won't go into the FDK vs. HDK debate here, but just wanted to mention it so we can look back and say "remember all the brouhaha over FDK?"  
• Clara's speech has really taken off.  Her sentences have gotten much more complex, and her grammar more correct.  She's still hard to unerstand sometimes, but she responds very well if you work with her on a particular word.   She and I seem to be moving into a less nice, more combative phase lately.  Balance in the universe, I suppose.
• I just returned from a weekend away with my mom and two sisters.  More about that in another post, I think, since I have some pictures.
• After a very long cold March, we have had a beautiful spring.  Everything is in bloom and it's just been gorgeous.  
• I'm off to California tomorrow morning for five days by myself.  More about that when I return!     

Lee's Fifth Birthday

For Lee's fifth birthday, she wanted to have a party. "With just Annie," she clarified. So she took Annie out to lunch at Ixtapa, and then they went to see Monsters and Aliens.

Aunt Lee came for the weekend with Kaap-Joo, and we started the day with a waffle breakfast and presents.

In the evening we had family over for a birthday dinner. Lee wanted butterfly cupcakes, which she helped me create.

Being with the Kids

I'm with the kids all the time.   That's why I don't work; so I can be with them.  So that's why on a day like yesterday, when I spent all day just wishing they weren't around so that I could actually get something done, I feel so guilty.  The things I'm trying to get done just aren't that important.  Yes, someone needs to clean the house and go to the grocery store and pay the bills and do all that stuff, but really does it all need to be done right now?  Shouldn't I have some time every day to just be with them?  

Summer is coming up and I envision hours of just hanging out with the kids, just rolling around on the grass, or running on the beach, or climbing on the rocks.  Not putting them in front of a video so I can cook something or catch up on email.  I know that's not realistic, but perhaps I can strike a balance.  

So this morning I woke up and thought "today is going to be different."  We went to the library, and because we didn't have to be anywhere afterwards, we went up belfry hill (Clara did great with the stairs), picked dandelions and pinecones, and ambled back to the car.  We then went to the grocery store, but folllowed it with a visit to Starbucks, where they had a snack while we all lounged in a huge chair and read books together.  It was great. 

She's a Saver

Lee is definitey beginning to show signs of being a saver.   She's recently started telling me that she's going to save something for later.  She had some M&M's on our second flight to Florida, and she decided to save several until after takeoff (Clara's were gone before we began to taxi).  Today she told me she wanted to save a particular video for her birthday.  

Being able to delay gratification at 4 is pretty impressive to me.  I'm certainly not there yet! 

Birthday Wish

Tuesday was my 43rd birthday.  When I was younger I often had to think about my wish.  This year I wished simply that we all be together and healthy a year from now.  That's all I want.  And it should carry me for many years to come.