Monthly Archives: February 2012

Valentine’s Day ’12

14 Feb 2012

Happy Valentine’s Day! Oscar and Lucy have just Gorged on chocolate and cookies, and now they are shredding the living room while I escape the sugar madness, and write this post. Crossing my fingers I can get this done before Lucy runs out of candy hearts. (Considering how many she shoves in her mouth at once, my chances are slim.) Here we go:


This was a couple nights ago, but it was a blockbuster when I posted it to facebook. iPhones get all the best moments.


Cookies on the agenda! Nanu took the day off from work (yesterday) and we baked together!


The recipe was, ah, a fun adventure


Manual labor, and another recipe where we just winged it.


Midnight photo


Oscar’s valentines – 25 3-packs


Kristi’s goodies made the morning! K – you are a True Fairy Godmother!


Lucy is 100% infatuated with the tiny Dora lunchbox, with candy hearts inside


Must eat some cereal.


Our parrots joined us


okay – go get dressed!


Oscar made this for me and Dad.


What time is it?


“It’s Love Time!” – yes he actually said that.


Lucy and I got matching tats.


The Whitman Sampler, in mini, for Lucy! Thanks Nettie!


Georgia investigates


The smell of plum blossoms is in the air (“Pink Trees!”)


The loot Oscar brought home

And the best Valentine of all:

Chief cleaned my kitchen!!! XOXO

A Week In February

12 Feb 2012

I often wonder where the early months of the year go. Ours are low-profile, and mixed with an odd assortment of things. No big parties or trips. Here is last week, roughly: an assortment.      (click on any to enlarge)


The Niners missed the Superbowl by one game. We distracted ourselves with Kiera’s chicken wings (the only wings I’ve ever loved) and Mark’s Superbowl Squares, which kinda sucks these days ’cause I don’t know enough of the players/winners.


Lucy loves Peeky-Boo, and Karen.


Cereal Beautification.


A rare Play-doh moment (I don’t like the way it smells, so I hardly ever bring it out)


Room 103 does Art for the Auction. I read this book to Oscar (over multiple nights) and had warm fuzzy flashbacks.


Opi says, “Kids, sugar is bad for you”…

…Then serves up the ice cream.


The neighbor’s shower curtain art that is driving me crazy, and Lucy sleeping, which I always love.


We make brownies, and decorate Kiera’s cookies for UJ.


Lucy’s first soccer practice, followed by playground time, with her friend Taj.


We babysit Eloise for the first time, so Lachie can take Izzie out for her birthday.

XOXO!

Tulip Tree in Golden Gate Park

03 Feb 2012

Click any of these photos to see them larger.

Yesterday was my first sighting of a tulip tree in bloom. I didn’t have my camera, so I made a point to come back today. These trees are my favorite, in the whole world, along with Redwoods (duh) and Cypress. And Ginko, and Japanese Maple. And Fig, of course, and Meyer Lemon. Can I say White Oak too? But really, how can you top hundreds of giant pink flowers in trees, all around the city? For the month of February, Tulip trees are my favorite.

I just looked at Wikipedia – the common name is Tulip tree, and they are a member of the Magnolia family. This one is right out side the front of the arboretum, on JFK.

Oscar & Lucy didn’t mind the detour after school. The weather was really warm. They could have been in short sleeves.

We walked down a path behind the Japanese Tea Garden. Lots of Rhododendrons (are those trees? if yes then they are on my list too,) but they aren’t blooming right now.

Here’s to more afternoons wandering around Golden Gate Park.