A day to explore....

The new Exploratorium is out of this world. 

Seriously blow your mind cool.

Taylor, Anna, and Hudson, 

Our city, is pretty cool.

We split up.  Hudson, we split up because you ran around like your pants were on fire and 

we couldn't keep up.

Daddy and I took turns chasing you.

His strategy was to try to direct you around the museum. (tee hee hee)

I just followed your crazy self and got a good amount of exercise.

Each exhibit was engaging in a different way, 

and you each interacted with the exhibits in different ways.

THIS!!!  A model of the city built from TOOTHPICKS!

Scott Weaver's story was amazing, and this was my favorite part of the day.

Look kids!  The Palace of Fine Arts where Daddy and I got engaged.  

I could have admired this all day.

The level of detail was outstanding.
Can you imagine the concentration and patience it took to build this?

Buddy, we spent a lot of time at this fish exhibit. 

These fish were so funny looking, and so huge, but you LOOOOVED them.

From there, we went up to the roof deck.

Another stunning day in San Francisco.

Love our pretty city.

xoxo

mom

Friendships

My Sweet Girls,

We have talked about the importance of life-long friendships many times.  Your dad is the master of this.  He is such a great friend and maintains friendships for decades.  

C.S. Lewis once said:  

"Friendship is born at that moment when one man says to another: 

"What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . ."” 

― The Four Loves

We had such a special day in the city with our wonderful friends.

First, we had a quick lunch at our favorite place, Cheese Plus.

Next, mani/pedis for everyone!

From there, we headed to the best part of our day... afternoon tea.

There is a fantastic place in SF, Crown and Crumpet. 

They do an incredible job with afternoon tea, and we loved every minute and every bite.

I think you girls had a pretty good time too.

I mostly loved the day with my girls...

Daddy spent the day with Hudson, doing my normal Sunday "stuff."

Laundry, Costco, etc.  :)

I GOT TO BE THE GLITTER!!!!

xoxo

mom

The Perfect Day

Dear Hudson,

Today, we spent the day in the city and you were in charge. We parked and started walking (um, you ran, I ran after).

You saw the park and were so happy you started roaring with laughter. You had your favorite hose spray thing (lots of sideways glances from the other parents at the park).

You loved the climbing dome from the safety of the ground:)

The slide is amazing....especially with the hose head along for the ride.

From there we walked to the Ferry Building. We watched the "ocean", the birds, the boats (really the empty dock for most of it). Then....... we found the bookstore. You grabbed a book from the cart, sat down on the walkway and started reading . Passerbys thought this was the most adorable thing they had ever seen. Some poor guy was definitely talked into having children after seeing you sit silently "reading." (If he had only seen you ask me "what the f*^k I was doing? when I tried to stop you from flooding the girls dance class they would be childless. Sigh.

We had a great lunch at Gott's. It was such a perfect SF day buddy.

The flowers at the farmers market were amazing!

Loved our day together buddy.

Xoxox

Mom

Sublime Saturday

Dear Kiddos,

It is ski week here, which is silly but makes for a nice break between Christmas and Spring Break. 

We have been trying to have a bit of fun and bring new experiences to you three during this time off. Well, since Saturday, we have been doing quite a bit!

Saturday started slowly! Very slowly. Breakfast, chores, laundry. When Hudson and Daddy went down for their nap, we hit the road...1 mile away. We escaped for lunch at Cheesecake Factory. It was so nice to catch up with you girls and chat about all the most important things in your mind: upcoming birthdays, who you might get for teachers NEXT YEAR, thoughts on travel, how loud Hudson is....heavy.

I met up with some preschool mom friends that afternoon and daddy said he would take you to do something. HORSEBACK RIDING! All of a sudden, I got a picture of Hudson on a horse. Kids, your dad is amazing when it comes to motivating for great activities! 

From there you went to downtown HMB to stroll the downtown and have dinner. Hudson, you were terribly behaved so the meal ended abruptly.

Next up, remembering how to discipline a 2.5 year old.  So far a losing battle of wills. 

Xoxo

Mom

Waterlogue

Loving this app !!

Xoxox

Mom

Heart Attack

My dear sweet kiddos,

I sure do love this part of Valentine's Day!

We love so so many things about each of you, and so many things about our life as a family.

This is a quick snapshot, and doesn't even cover what you love about each other.

 You girls were sitting eating breakfast this morning and 

were getting excited to "heart attack" eachother.

 You started to talk about what you would say about one another.

What you each might say about your brother.

 I posted the picture on Facebook and my sister immediately said, "where am I? Am I lumped with the cousins FaceTime heart?"

We made her an extra special, extra big heart so she knows how much we love her.

xoxoxo

Caitlin

Dear Anna

Dear Anna,

When I was pregnant with you and we were told you had a club foot.  I really had no idea what the future would hold.  I will say, I have underestimated this damn foot and your incredible spirit, every.single.step of the way.  Some day, I will write about the story of the ultrasound, that windowless room where everything changed, and the few weeks that followed before we saw the bright light at the end of the tunnel.  

Today, I write to you for one reason only.  With every medical diagnosis, there is the actual diagnosis, and what the carrier does with it.  I imagined that this would be easy.  I realized it would not very quickly.  During one of our routine ultrasounds I asked the tech for a picture of your club foot.  She quickly responded, "we don't give patients pictures of birth defects and deformities."  Um, ok.  I left the hospital and cried.  I was so sad that this label was attached to my baby girl.  Furious is now a better description.  (I cry when I am so mad I don't know what to do with myself.)  My amazing OB thought that was the most ridiculous thing she had ever heard and promptly snapped this shot for me.

Through your various treatments, people have said so many stupid things, and asked SO many stupid questions. (life lesson kids: there is such thing as a stupid question)  Other children have whispered, they have asked questions, but kids have never been cruel.....until now.  

Anna, we have NEVER EVER seen you as anything but perfect.  We know you are perfect.  Because of this, it never crossed our minds that your foot, or brace, or shoes, would be a thing......and now they are. 

This makes me so so sad.  I wish others could see you for all the amazing parts of you.  Your tenacity, dedication, kind heart, giving spirit.  ANY of these things.  Not your one difference.  I watched this Ted talk this evening by Aimee Mullins.  

 One of my favorite parts is that in any diagnosis there is an X factor.  

That factor is the potential of human will.  

Anna Davis, the world better watch out, because your potential is infinite.  

You are stronger and braver than anyone we know.  

We love you, we are proud of you, and if you are having a hard day, we will cry with you.  

But never, ever let some kid on the playground tell you that you are not these things.  

Believe in you, believe in what you have accomplished.

xoxo

mom

Hudson

Dear Hudson,

I had a terrible dream last night that Daddy and I were on some strange escalator moving away from you and you were standing on the street screaming, and I couldn't get to you. 

 I woke in such panic I could feel tightness in my chest and couldn't go back to sleep.   

When you woke up this morning I hugged you so tightly and gave you so many kisses.  

I wanted to remember your soft milky skin, and your sweet groggy face.  

You are thrown into busy mornings with your girls.  

Some days  you fall into place, 

others you retreat to my room to have your eggo waffle and a show in peace while I get ready. 

You love trucks and your cars.  Blocks and books (especially when your sisters read to you), and your basketball and baseball when you are in the mood.  You sit at your little table and eat bowl after bowl of cereal, and it is the cutest thing.  You wear your underpants and a t-shirt most of the time, and looking at your little legs pressed on the chair almost makes me weep.  As you know, you are my special buddy.  My last baby.  My only boy.  I have relaxed the rules with you.... a lot.  

Maybe because I am growing wiser with age, maybe because I am too tired to push, maybe because you know just how to make sure you say, "I wove you mom.  I'm so sowy" at just the perfect moment before I put you on a time out and lose my mind.  

You love a bath more than almost any activity on earth.
It seems to settle you.

We are gearing up to get you started with swimming lessons soon. Your dad is going to brave that with you as he did with your sisters.  We will enroll you in preschool soon too.  You have been ready for ages.... I am not.  When we take your for your first day,  I will cry.  I am not ready.  We are clearing milestones in the child rearing phase of our life and I can't stand to watch time march on.

Last week we were at Hubbie's house. Just the two of us.  

You wanted fishy crackers in a dish.  

When you poured them you happily looked at me and said, "It is perfect." 

I thought, "yes, that is exactly perfect."  

So, my sweet boy, I just want to say that: 

I love you.

You make me a better mom.

It is a joy to be a part of your life every single day.

You have brought light and life to our house in the most unexpected way.

While you shirt says it, we know it will be so.
You are remarkable.

xoxoxo

mom