San Francisco Top 10

View Album --hundreds of pics from our trip!

First and foremost, Samuel is allergic to cashews. We found this out only two hours away from our destination (and after ten hours already in the car), and subsequently got to experience emergency room care in Auburn, California. We were there for four hours; we figure one hour per cashew. His reaction consisted of constricted breathing, vomiting, whole-body hives, and hot, itchy skin. We're grateful for the GPS that we bought for the trip, because it led us straight to a hospital in about 5 minutes.

Oh, and driving across country was much more enjoyable for me this time considering that for all the other road trips we've taken in the past few years I was pregnant and puking in the gravel on the side of the road. Soooooo much better when you're not puking!

TWO--Sam is a graduate! The core of our trip was to cheer for and support Chris's cousin Samantha, who just graduated high school and celebrated her 18th birthday. She is the next oldest grandchild after Chris and his brother, and the only girl of their generation. Filipinos sure know how to party!

THREE--Chris has moves. He really got to bust out his break dancing and popping during Samantha's big birthday party. He complained of foot pain for weeks afterward, but he said it was worth it. The kids had some moves too. As soon as I'd put them down to dance and they'd start crying instead of dancing I knew it was time to put the kids to bed.

FOUR--Leah is not shy. She treated the entire party to a solo of Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star by microphone, then lectured on flowers and lights and houses and cameras and other unconnected random things that only make sense in the mind of a three year old..

FIVE--Great food. Chris got a full dose of seafood at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. (at Fisherman's Wharf) and I managed to find something on their menu that wasn't fishy at all. We spent $60 on one lunch--the most we ever spent for two on one meal. Ouch. Chris's friend Rebecca Hamburg from his high school years in Japan treated us to some authentic Japanese food. We also got lots and lots of Filipino food!

SIX--The Sights! Rebecca also gave us a guided tour of San Fran and drove us down Lombard Ave (crookedest st). Chris and I spent a day at Fisherman's Wharf, enjoyed the sights, entertainment, and of course, the shopping. We scoped out the seals, and for the love of chocolate, ventured over to Ghirardelli Square. We also spent an afternoon at Golden Gate Park for a picnic with Lola and to give the kids a chance to ride the carousel and run amok at the park. The kids playground in Golden Gate Park is a definite site to hit if you are in SF with kids. This park had just about everything you could want: sand, swings, slides, climbing, water--you name it.

SEVEN--Alcatraz. They let us out. Whew! By far the best self-guided audio tour we've ever done. We highly recommend the Alcatraz tour to anyone visiting SF. Plan to spend several hours there, and you'll definately enjoy it more without kids in tow. Chris wants to do the tour again at night next time, after he reads his new book "The Ghosts of Alcatraz." OOohh...

EIGHT--The kids got to see (and pee in) the ocean for the first time. I didn't expect it to be quite so cold and windy!

NINE--Lola loves her grandkids. She was a ready babysitter and took 10 pictures per minute! She was so great to play along with Leah's "I'll race you to the potty" game...

TEN--Family. Chris got to spend some much needed one-on-one time with his mom. We were graciously hosted by the Rafaels, and CJ even gave us his bedroom. We've decided that we are not going to wait for another 10 years to pass before seeing his extended family again!

Here are a few video highlights we managed to capture. I'll let you figure out which one goes with which description (I think you'll be able to do it...)



Transcription of Leah's first public address:
So everyone has flowers on their table so they can help their lights be comfortable.
Because at their house they have cameras and toys and they have lights.
You’re welcome.

What you can accomplish on a rainy day

Leah likes to be a fairy, prefers to sleep in a nest of blankets next to her bed, continues to recite movie lines, has had great potty success lately, and reasons her way out of perplexing conundrums like "We're all out of popsicles" and "It's too rainy to go outside." ("I know, an umbrella can help us!"). She has absolutely no concept of "patience."

Samuel has had18 poopy diapers (and counting) in the last 52 hours, and consequently used an entire tub of wipes and half a tube of Desitin. Sir Poops a Lot can climb onto the kitchen counter and halfway up Leah's ladder. He can say two dozen words and hams it up when the camera comes out. He has learned that climbing into the dishwasher and playing in the garbage can will earn him a spank. (Oh, the tears!)

The air conditioning is up and running, the sprinklers are sprinkling, (the weeds are growing), my compost is composting (I hope). We are enjoying season 4 of House (although I am lost without LOST). Chris got a calling teaching Elders' Quorum, I had a Discovery toys party yesterday and made new friends (hence, the cleaning of the house...), decided its just not worth it to take two kids to the water park by myself, and am working on matching dresses for Leah and cousin Jessica. Prototype L:

And the living room and kitchen have not been this clean since we moved in! Here are the final views of projects completed. Notice the new chic paint and completed curtains, new microwave in the kitchen (I guess 6 years was enough for the $40 one to call it quits...) and yes, that is freshly baked bread on the counter :)

Stay tuned for an accounting of our trip to San Francisco, the zoo, the carnival, bike rides, and everything else we've done in the last month.

Sparking Pots and other "darndest" things

The latest from Leah's lips:

"My grandkids call me Tinkerbell. And Ariel."

"Is Samuel going to grow up to be a Chris?"

"Dad, you're still Mr. Incredible."

"Mom, did you find a sparking pot yet?"

"Mom, will you say 'Oh, look at those tears' because you're a good mommy?

"Eyeballs are for blinking."

Mom: "I love you Leah."
Leah: "I love you too sweetheart!"

Ode to Dad

Here are a handful of things that I love about my Dad.

• Little green basketballs (peas).
• Moldy fly speck, and pond scum ice cream (mint chocolate chip, and marble fudge swirl respectively).
• Chocolates on your pillow.
• Colorful pancakes (and mom's green oatmeal).
• Demonstrate and explicate (show and tell).
• Smiley face food, including bologne and assorted fruits.
• "Bologne sandwhiches!" instead of "Geronimo!"
• Floppy-arm-itis and its companion disease stiff-arm-itis.
• The bathtub song.
• He thought my coupon for "two free jokes" was for me to tell him two free jokes. It was a coupon for him to tell two free jokes.
• Dad's bright red sweat pants.
• Dad kept waking me up for seminary for all those years.
• Dad's inflatable "pool" in the backyard those few years when it was the only choice.
• "Don't take any wooden nickels".
• One time on a campout, I accidentally drenched my pork chop in salt and thought it was too gross to eat. I gave it to Dad without telling him about the salt and thinking he wouldn't notice. He ate it without saying a word about it.
• As a kid his Sunday school teacher took the class to get ice cream cones--they were a dime apiece. Dad's trained frugality led him to say, "I'll just take the dime".
• Dad's trademark "I'm home" whistle, also effective as a "where are you" whistle in grocery stores.
• Dad's cheerful whistling anytime and anywhere. He'll also unknowingly switch tunes if you start whistling a different song.
• The state border song. "Happy Utah to you! Happy Utah to you! Happy Utah dear family..." Definately a tradition we are continuing.
• Dad's explosive and contagious laugh.
• Dad's integrity.
• Dad was secure enough that he would skip with me across the parking lot into the grocery store. I didn't realize how big a deal that must have been until I had a husband and tried to skip with him. I stand corrected: I am lucky to have a husband who will do this with me and our daugther.
• Dad was an expert hair-braider when there were two grade school girls in the house.
• Dad's parents always gave him the choice of helping with the dishes or practicing the piano. It is because of this that he is an accomplished pianist. Whenever he practices, the house is filled with cheerful music. He is always willing to be my pianist when I join him for showtunes.
• I remember when our little blue Omni was about to turn over 100,000 miles. It was such an event to celebrate that Dad took us all to Dairy Queen. We drove back and forth in the parking lot until we reached the momentous mile and we all cheered and then had ice cream. Going out to ice cream every 100,000 miles makes ice cream a very special treat, indeed. I think I might do the same someday.
• Dad does all the ironing. On top of that, he has the patience to endure fuzzy, static-y basketball on TV while he does it.
• One time Mom was out of town and so Dad was getting us all ready for school. One morning he was especially goofy and tossed a banana peel over his shoulder onto the floor in the kitchen. I don't know why it was so hilarious, but I still remember us all laughing.
• Dad has always been a righteous, honorable man. He is a great example of forgiveness and Christ-like living. Thanks, Dad!
• Siblings--please comment with whatever I have forgotten to mention...

Love you, Dad! I miss you!

Happenings

Okay, there are a million things to post about: our trip to San Francisco, a visit to the ER on the way to San Francisco, the zoo, progress on the house, etc. But all I can really think about right now is

KALEIDOGARTEN

Never heard of it? That's because I created it today. I'm going to start up a Children's Museum in Provo. Click the link and watch the progress of me attempting to write a business plan and start a non-profit organization. It will be so much fun! You can also make a donation!