Flyin' High

They grow up so fast, don't they? Em had a blast getting a tour of the cockpit. The hubs was equally stoked.
When we left the plane, Em brought the pilot his hat and the pilot said, "Keep it, it's yours". Mouths agape
we said, "REALLY?" and he responded, "No, I could get fired for that, but it sounded cool".

Bay Area Bliss

>

> Back in our old city by the bay, this time with both of our boys!
> Planning on having breakfast with Fred at the Buena Vista Cafe on
> this typical San Francisco day; cool, overcast, nostalgic, perfect.
> Had dessert last night across the street from our hotel at
> Boulevard, gorgeous flavors! I was at my Mom's in E Bay & I drove
> across the Bay Bridge toward the city the other night, late, and
> My chest hurt. It was THAT beautiful.
>

Sing-a-long

Last night the Hubs, Grandpa, the boys and I went out to the new Bing Crosby's restaurant (at Fashion Valley)

and saw our dear friend David Patrone sing. He has an amazing voice and if you haven't seen him in person, you must.

Anyhow, David just got back from hiking the Appalachian Trail, he had a hernia for the last 400 miles, mind you!

What an amazing man, huh?  Check out his adventure here. He is a much better writer than I am, so read on!

Wish us luck, we are taking the fam. up to San Francisco for a little vacation and visit with Grandma B.

I'm not ready for this...

Genius

Have you ever seen the beginning of something and you just know it is going to be grande? The hubs is working on a new piece and I just know it is going to be groundbreaking. A master work. It is so exciting to see a painting in its beginning stages and just from the first thin coat of underpainting, you can tell that it is going to be magnificent. My hubs is an artistic genius and his movement of paint on canvas, of capturing light and reflection is extraordinary. See for yourself, go and google "Michael Flohr, artist".
Here is one he painted of me:

Train Trip to Solana Beach

Saturday we gathered up the troops and braved the rails with our friends and neighbors! The kids woke up early and the hubs and I grabbed what was necessary for our trip
1.) coffee
2.) bagels.
We barely made it onto the train before the doors closed and phew, we found our seats, "ALL ABOARD" called the conductor, and we were off. Adriana was waiting to greet Em at the end of the aisle and help him to his seat. Karen, Ed and Cory saved the seats and we were off on our adventure. The kids were so excited and the parents were happy to be able to have a half hour of basically uninterrupted conversation! (Amazing, I know). When we got to our stop, the beach was a short walk down the hill and we had a great morning in the surf. Em did not want to leave the beach. He howled like a professional, but when we got to the pizza place and the hubs introduced him to video games, that all changed. Pitchers of beer for the parentals and pizza down the hatch we made it back to the train and headed home just in time for naps. It was a great day indeed.

Naps

Do you remember how soothing falling asleep in the car was when you were a kid?
I do.
I recall road trips with my Dad and Stepmom, heading home I'd be exhausted. Seems the best sleep I've ever had was as a kid in the back of the car, getting lulled to sleep by the song of the tires against pavement and the breeze of the wet Texas air.

These are ADORABLE!

I just saw these bloomers on the purl bee blog and I have to make them. They are so divinely cute. Evs will love them. Once I finish my scarf (pic below), this will be the next project.

Scratch

Today was a lovely day here in San Diego. Well, when is it not? Anyhow got some great news about my little Evs. Took him in to be re-tested for having a peanut allergy and this time he came up negative, phew.Life could have become much more complicated, which definitely goes against my "big-plan-for-how-it-is-all-supposed-to-work-out."
Is that strange, I thought everyone had one of those?

I've Bought a Trailer!

Well, ever since I sold my glorious, celeste green Bianchi road bike, I have been in mourning. However, recently I purchased a trailer and I have a renewed sense of hope. Anyone who knows me well, knows that I have a buy-and-return problem with strollers. I am always looking for the perfect one and it is one of my obsessions. My newest acquisition is a Chariot double trailer, which holds my two kids and not only acts as a bike trailer, but converts to a stroller, a jogger, if you wish a cross country ski trailer and yet one more thing, you can lug it while hiking. Amazingly adaptable to all sorts of adventures. The verdict as a bike trailer, AWESOME! Have yet to try it out as a stroller. My vision for reclaiming some of "me time" has evolved into a compromise, lug the kids along and get some biking/skating in along the way. For instance, bike to the zoo, lock up the bike and turn it into the stroller. Or bike to Mission Bay, lock up the bike, turn the trailer into a jogger and start roller skating with the kids in the trailer.Oh the possibilities!

Well, yesterday I went for a ride with the kids in tow, our virgin voyage. We rode up to the coffee shop for a smoothie and hung out there for a while and then continued on to our neighborhood park. At the park we played for a good 2 hours. Was such a blast. Rode home just before it started to get dark and felt such elation. I can't wait to have more of these kinds of adventures with the kids. Will keep you posted.