6/14 - BART has a meltdown and Sneep tries to catch the bus

Between my safety alert lists and my wonderful friends, I became aware this morning that BART was not running.  It was the twins' last day of school and our morning routine does not have minutes to spare, so we kept calm and carried on and got them out the door.  I'd just missed the last morning bus into the city, but there was a chance I could overrun it...  Mama and I hopped in the van and gave it our best, but we did not succeed.

Silver lining?  I got to go to the twins' kindergarten graduation.  Thank you, universe!

5/23 - Jewel finds another bird on BART

There was a new poster at the BART station today about a famous book called The Maltese Falcon.  Jewel flapped her wings at the falcon, but he did not flap back.

Jewel likes things that are blue.  She loved Elizabeth’s pretty blue dress.  Squawk!  (We are cooped up today – busy day!)

Speaking of blue...  It was Crazy Hair Day at the twins' school.  Lil' Gal wanted her hair to look like a unicorn horn.  Given seven minutes and a pipe cleaner, here's my McGuyver creation.

This photo will not be right-side up, no matter what I try.  I surrender.

5/20 - Weekend fun: Eclipse edition

We kicked off this weekend at the school carnival, where much fun was had by all.

The weather was nice, so we went to the park by our house and climbed trees and had a snack at Picnic Rock.

At home, we played in the sandbox.

And checked out some new friends in the garden.

Oh!  And there was an eclipse!  I knew it was coming, but got distracted and forgot to prepare for it.  "Kids!  The sun is going to do this really cool trick... DON'T LOOK AT IT!  You see, the moon goes in front...  DON'T LOOK AT IT!  Here.  I've poked a tiny hole in this cardboard.  Look at this tiny projection on the fence.  That's the sun and that's the..."  At this point, the kids wandered off to jump on the trampoline.  Oh, well.

How was your weekend?

5/18 - Yellow Yoshi sings happy birthday to Maranda

Yellow Yoshi saw these escalator stairs waiting for repairs and decided to climb up them.  It was good exercise.

Today was Maranda's birthday, so we took her to lunch.  We saw a cupcake truck on our way to the rooftop garden, and had to take a picture.

Then, on the rooftop garden, someone took a picture of us!

Tonight was the elementary school carnival.  We had so much fun and won all kinds of prizes.  The twins picked up mad hula hooping skillz, and I was pleased to discover I still had 'em.

 And now... on to the weekend!  What do you have planned?

5/08 - Blue Ball and the big blue sky

We are having such nice weather in the city this week!  Here, Blue Ball is tempted to race the taxis down California Street.

Blue Ball tried to phone home. The sign told him sternly this was not the time or place. So we’re sending this email instead.  Hi!!

Here are the flowers the twins picked from our garden for tomorrow's teacher appreciation event.  Lil' Gal picked the yellow one and Lil' Guy picked the rose.

11/03 - Pine cones that look like roses

We found these cool pine cones on the way to school, and picked up a bunch on the way home.  Now what do we do with them?

Here  here are some nifty art projects -- Lil' Gal with her stick mummy and the spiders she and Lil' guy made at school (his is the cyclops).

Scrabble update: Grandmother and I finished our game from last night.  I won -- 356 to 205.  Can I get a "booya" up in here?

10/24 - Sally takes an easy nap (while the twins take a field trip)

This napkin holder said “Easy Nap,” so Sally laid down and started sleeping, right there at the salad bar.  Whoopsie.

While Sally and I were chasing meetings that were on-again/off-again, Mama went with the twins on their class field trip to the pumpkin patch.

10/17 - Firefighter Dalmatian Dog likes the bling

Firefighter Dalmatian Dog and I found these shiny silver things when we went out to find soup at lunch.

I was hoping to go to my morning meetings and come home early, but one of the meetings got moved to the end of the day.  Phooey.  And sniffle.  It was a day where my work ethic was stronger than my voice.

Kindergarten update:  Today was parent/teacher conferences, and both twins are doing well and are on track.  They are popular, even!  I'm so proud of my big kids!!

9/27 - Toodles the Ball is an optimist

Toodles the Ball had a rainbow zebra ride.  Whee!

Yes, Virginia.  There are rainbow zebras.
They live the next block over from the unicorns.  Now go to sleep.

An optimist is someone that tries to find something good about everything and everyone. We saw a gloomy lion and Toodles the Ball thought maybe he just needed a friend.  Do you know what?  He was right.

How was picture day?  Did you guys have nice smiles for the photographer?

Picture Day Update:
It was a pleasant surprise when Lil' Gal let me get a cute shirt for her at the store.  Even more pleasant when she put it on this morning without complaint *and* let me put bows in her hair.  We were sure this was all going to be a lovely backdrop for a photo of her pouting or refusing to smile.  Typical Lil' Gal?  She loved picture day.  Go figure.

9/26 - Parasaurolophus and the bluest eye

Lil' Gal has been asking for granola bars, like the ones Grant has in his lunchbox.  (And apparently, like the ones have in my desk drawer at work.)  I liked how the blue wrapper brought out the blue in Parasaurolophus’s eyes.  Purty.  We’ll have to bring some granola bars home!

Here, Parasaurolophus nibbles on the tender leaves of a giant cauliflower. NOM!

9/16 - Loose Cannon says, "Now THAT is a kaboom!"

I wore cowboy boots today to kick this Week of Mondays to the curb.  POW!

Jenifer was my manager #5 and #8 at my last work (or something like that).  Her new job is right by my new job, so we had lunch today to catch up.  On the way, we found this piece of art. It looks like it was done by one of Cannon’s friends!  KABOOM!!

The kids' school hosted an outdoor Movie Night tonight, featuring the movie "Rio."  It started right at their bedtime, so we weren't sure how it would go, but it was a success!  Both kids were mostly awake for most of the movie!  What big kids I have.  :)

8/30 - Dad Alien thinks he found his spaceship

He was ready to go home to his planet, but the spaceship was really a fire hydrant… So he’s still here with me at work.  Zorp.

We had lunch with new work friend Kari today. She has a cute little doggie at her house named Fido!

Kindy update:  The twins are still loving school!  Yay!!

8/29 - First Day of Kindergarten (and a few Very Important Birthdays)

Pink Frog wanted to go to school too.  She liked the train ride in and thinks my desk is nice, but she wants to be a kindergarten kid like you guys. Hope you’re having fun today and learning new things!

Hey, those are not flies! (Pink Frog thinks the poppy seeds on my coleslaw are flies.)  Silly.  I would not pick flies at the salad bar!

A Very Happy Birthday to Grampy and to Linda!  We love you!