gigi and pop pop visit

in the month of may, gigi and pop-pop came to visit for a few weeks.  uncle john and aunt kerry came out from new hampshire and stayed for about a week.  it was great to get to spend time with them and to get to know them better.  i think they liked the bay area.  we had visits to the beach where we met up with cousin masao, enjoyed nice evenings in our backyard, visit to the monterey aquarium and much more.  we had a fun time and miss them all!

 

 

beach time

pop pop and the boys

lunch time!

ice cream!

at aquarium

touching sea stars and other cool creatures

sweet boy

favorite shirt..

missing teeth

presenting a business idea

mother's day

on friday, may 9th, max's class had a mother's day celebration.  we were invited into the classroom and sat at our child's desk.  all the kids sat on the carpet and one by one, they stood up and read out loud to the group about why they love their mom.  it was so sweet.  after that, we ate the blueberry muffins the kids made for us the day before together with ice tea or lemonade.  

why i love my mom - by max

max reading about his mom in front of the class and all the moms

drawing of me by max



about my mom



me and my sweet boy

later in the day, STM held their annual walk-a-thon.  i helped out at the 1st grade booth for a while and saw my beautiful child and his friends have fun and walk lap after lap.  they had such a great time walking to the DJ playing their favorite music and earning prizes as they went.  great times.




max at his school's annual walk-a-thon

on sunday (actual mother's day) we drove to thomas fogatry winery in woodside with picnic in tow.  gail and dom met us there and so did todd and shauna.  we had a great time, nice picnic and took in the beautiful views!  i had a lovely mother's day! 

beautiful views at thomas fogarty winery - mother's day

while in the car today, finn says; "mom, when i was a baby i couldn't say fran sancisco but now i am a big boy and i can say fran sansisco"

easter

easter 2014 was great.  max's last day at school was the thursday before good friday and he attended an easter egg hunt put on by the extended care staff.  so fun!  on good friday he hung out with dad and just relaxed.  the following day we baked cookies that we shared with our closest neighbors together with home made easter cards by max.  and we colored eggs.  we spent a beautiful easter sunday with the uffelmans as we often do.  it started off with an easter egg hunt in their amazing backyard.  brinn and finn got half a minute start on the boys to ensure that everyone got eggs.  we had a fabulous brunch including mimosas and bloody mary's.  the weather couldn't have been better.  days like these remind us of how incredibly fortunate we are - to live in this amazing place with our healthy and beautiful kids and the best of friends.  so thankful!

ready to go easter egg hunting!

coloring eggs

silly

concentrating

exhausted...

seattle trip!

last friday, i flew to seattle for a girl's weekend.  carin flew from austin and met up with me there and together we visited ingrid who lives in seattle.  i had not seen ingrid in five years.  much too long!  we had an amazing time!  sightseeing, eating great dinners and catching up over wine.  i miss my girls already!

the pretty gals carin and ingrid

all of us in front of the space needle

chihuli art 

at top of space needle

molly 

selma and molly

the first starbucks 

the gum wall.  where lots and lots of visitors have attached their chewed gum to the wall...gross!

The boys

silly finn

lunch with boys at free birds

my beautiful boys in our beautiful backyard

picture by max - from open house at school