1/29 - Rhino is a pedal pusher

Today, Rhino and I kept Mama company when she went to get a minor surgery.  (Mama declined to be photographed.)  Rhino found these pedal pictures amusing.

Now we are busy packing for our trip to see Grandmother for her birthday.  Speaking of birthdays, happy birthday to David!!

1/28 - Rhino charges the snack cart

We took the elevator up with a snack delivery guy.  I joked that this was the right elevator car to be in if the elevators got stuck.  The office people thought I was really funny, but the delivery guy confirmed he got that joke a lot.  Rhino wanted some juice.

OK, so David’s birthday is tomorrow, but we won’t be at work…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVID!!!

1/25 - Little Puppy: a self portrait

We saw lots of work by my work today.  Little Puppy wanted to take a turn taking pictures, so here’s what he found.

I told Little Puppy that you would want to see a picture of him, so here’s what he sends you.  He looks very handsome, doesn’t he?

1/24 - Dino peeps at some peepers

I bet you guys can read this sign! (But can you tell me what it is selling?  I have no idea…)

Parking meters must run on batteries – this one was lying on the ground far from its base, no wires to be seen.  We watched it flash “Expired Expired Expired.”  Very appropriate.

1/20 - Angry Birds Birthday Party

My little guys are not so little anymore...  This weekend, the twins turned SEVEN (7) years old.  They are fast-paced gangly people with strong opinions and fierce imaginations that still let me hug and kiss them up at will.    #love  This year, they wanted an Angry Birds Star War party.  Super cool, but there isn't much merch out there to buy yet.  Not that this was going to stop me...

Nor was their teacher's request to only send healthy snacks (no cupcakes!)...  Inspired by the post at bentology, I made piggie spinach tortilla sandwiches with garden cream cheese spread and not-healthy candy eyes.  The birds were crackers and provolone cheese, with carrot beaks, not-healthy candy eyes, and seaweed eyebrows.  Crouching Mother, Hidden Toddler's tutorial for painting cheese is here.

For the party, I built a live action Angry Birds game.  I covered boxes with butcher's paper to make them look uniform, got some piggie stuffies from the party store, and ordered some new Angry Birds Star Wars stuffies to throw at them and knock them all down.  The kids worked as a team to build up the structures and took turns hurling the angry birds.

Next, I wanted to make an Angry Birds bowling game, but my attempts with the paint I had were not successful.  Happily, Mama had some plastic bowling pins on hand, so we used those and a ball I meant to draw a bird face onto, but I ran out of time.  The kids never noticed the lapse in theme and loved the game, so I'm going to count it as a win.

Our last game was a variation on Hot Potato -- Pass the Angry Bird.  Whoever was left with the bird in hand when the music stopped "got exploded."  We played three rounds!

Then, it was time for cupcakes!  You can use my cupcake topper template.

Happy birthday, my sweeties!  I love you!

1/23 - Dino likes the new arrangement

There are new flowers in the lobby and Dino wanted to eat sniff them.

Remember when we went to see the monarch butterflies?  And they explained how a caterpillar changes into a butterfly by shedding its skin to turn into a chrysalis.  Inside there, it turns into caterpillar goo, completely dissolving and somehow reforming into a beautiful butterfly, with all its caterpillar memories intact.  (Um, wow.)

Who remembers the word for that process?  Go ahead…  Raise your hand if you know it… Metamorphosis!

Not sure what this drab painting has to do with a transformational miracle, other than having the same name, but Dino liked it.  Good enough for me.

1/22 - Dino's friend has a headache

This poor hand truck seems to be having a bad day.

Unlike the jugglers at the BART station.  While their skills may not be improving (to the casual bystander's eye), their membership seems to be.

1/21 - Redemption

“Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, "Love your enemies." It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. Just keep being friendly to that person. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love, they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love. There’s something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your enemies."

― Martin Luther King Jr., Loving Your Enemies

1/18 - Green Jack is not a dog toy

We were delighted to learn today that packing peanuts come in the same color as Green Jack.

This little doggie wished Green Jack were bigger and a squeaky toy.  Green Jack wished to move along…

Speaking of green, how do you like the snacks I made for the twins' school birthday celebration?  They can forbid cupcakes (srslywtf), but they can't forbid fun!

This is what happens when I have helpers for cupcake baking...

1/17 - Ghostie and Creature Power Disk get artsy

What exactly do Ghosties eat? I don’t think Creature Power Disks do lunch either.  More cheese for me, then!

They liked this statue in Justin Herman Plaza, maybe because it looks like it’s made up of power disks?

I put CPD on me and used the Super Mommy Power to fly to the top of the statue!  But people were looking at me and I got shy, so we came back down.  What a view, though!

1/16 - Ghosts like ballet too

Maybe Ghostie's next sheet will be a tutu!

It's that time of year again....  Derby!  Derby!  Derby!  So excited for this season!

1/15 - Creature Power Disk and Ghostie like it organized

Creature Power Ghostie found a basket full of flowers.  A bike basket, that is.  How pretty! Best basket case I’ve seen in a while.

We found someone’s to-do list at lunch time.  The first item should have been “don’t lose to-do list…”

1/14 - Beaver Creature Power Disk, now with super invisible Mommy power

Ghostie thought these canisters in the back of a truck looked like ghosty friends.  He wanted to go for a ride with them, but we were already late for work. And we do not get into vehicles with strangers.  Silly Ghostie.

Lil' Guy gave me this power disk, which gives me Super Mommy Powers.   (Bwahahaha!) It can also make me invisible, which I thought would be good for avoiding meetings.  And look!  I think it works!  Here I am in my desk chair – can you see me?

1/11 - Luke Skywalker Angry Bird finds a sign of the times

There were some good signs around the city today.  Can you read them?

Luke Skywalker Angry Bird found a spider bigger than the Force.  Or perhaps just much hairier…  Luke….  I am your spiderrrrrrr….

1/10 - Ashley can pick Danger out of a bunch

Danger pretended he was a grape, but Ashley picked him right out.

We found some interesting art that looked like a fish.  Danger said he felt like bait, so we rushed away from it.

This fire call box seems to have an owie.  (Danger didn't do it.)  Danger wished it a very speedy recovery.

1/09 - Danger's Doppelganger

Someone drew on a sticker and it looks just like Danger!

Hermit Crab Update:  Last night, I gave the hermit crabs some blueberries, carrots and fresh pellets.  Sheldon/Herb at some of the pellets and walked around for a little while with a blueberry stuck on one of his legs like a big bracelet.  Herbert looooooved the blueberries and spent a lot time scooping out and eating one.  They love you guys and can’t wait to see you tomorrow!

1/08 - Danger does not pose with pretty pink flowers

His name’s Danger!  He’s a really tough dude!  He’s…  posing with pretty pink flowers.  Whoopsie.

1/07 - Danger goes below ground

This Bok Choy Boy wanted to pretend he was molten lava at the Earth’s core.  The best I could do was this succulent on the table…

Introducing…  a street car named Danger. (Yes, he thinks the D.C. stands for Danger City.)

1/04 - Red Angry Bird finds the other renegades

Apparently, they take BART just like the rest of us.  #stealthmodefail

Red Angry Bird saw a pile of boxes on the street and before I could stop him….  BLAM!

1/03 - Rain and the Cart of Safety

Who ordered a cartload of fire extinguishers?  Hello?  Um - did you need them in a hurry?

David and I were not very good with the self portrait mode on my phone.  At least Rain’s smile looked good.  Oh – I guess the camera cut it off.  Sigh.