A little R&R away from the kids ...

Ryan and I had the opportunity to re-kindle the flame this past weekend as we went to San Francisco SANS the kids for a little 5 year anniversary celebration. My oh my - can I tell you how wonderful it is to have some down-time without kids fighting over toys, sippy cups, books, crying for no reason ... yadda yadda yadda? Really, it's a little bit of heaven on earth and we had such a fabulous time that I am hoping we can make it a regular habit (meaning once a year) to get away from the kids for a weekend.

We got in Thursday afternoon and after checking into our hotel (The Sir Francis Drake on Powell Street) we shopped then took the trolley down to the Wharf for dinner. Friday we went on a bike ride thru the waterfront park, over the Golden Gate bridge, into Sauselito, then into Tiburon (16-miles in all) and took the ferry back to the make Ferry Building. It was awesome and the weather was perfect. Then we went to the Mission district ate YUMMY ice-cream from Bi Rite creamery (Honey Mint Lavendar - yum yum!!!) and ate some fish tacos with this amazing fresh mango salsa at Weird Fish. Then back downtown for a movie: Ironman (it was alright for an action movie). Saturday we went to the Farmer's Market down at the wharf on Embarcadero and had one of the best bacon blue-cheese hamburgers I've ever had, fresh oysters, sampled cherries, apricots, peaches, tangelos, chocolate and pretty much anything you would find at a Farmer's market. Then to Coit Tower and little Italy for some yummy Tiramisu and pastries, into Chinatown for dim-sum and of course super cute outfits for the kiddos, next was Japantown for some sweet finds (Ichiban Kan dollar store RULES!!!) then back downtown for a romantic dinner at Morton's Steakhouse (delicioso!) and finally off to another movie: Son of Rambow. Sunday was low-key as we were going home that afternoon so we just got up and did some last minute shopping. It was great and with all the walking/biking we did, I am happy to say I didn't gain the 10 pounds that I thought I would. All I can say is that Ryan is the best to travel with because he researches before we go and finds the best places to eat, shop, and check-out. I just love my hubby!!!

Getting ready for our bike ride.

View of the Golden Gate bridge on the bike ride.

Relaxing by the water as we wait for the ferry at the end of the bike ride.

The View of the Oakland Bridge looking out from the base of Coit Tower.

Of course, none of this would have been possible if it weren't for Ryan's sister Teresa and her family taking the kids. A HUGE thanks to them for putting up with them (especially since I found out on Tues that both of them had ear infections while we were gone - and still have for that matter). Finley loved being with his cousins so much in fact that he didn't want to come home with us, and for 2 days after being home, he kept asking when we were going back down to Tissie's house.


So here's to looking forward to the next trip without the kids.

Out with the old, in with the new ...

Finley has been attached at the hip to his blankie since he was born. Seriously, this was his paci. If ever he was sad, tired, upset or just needed comfort or something familiar, this is what he went to/asked for. It's been to Hawaii, California, Bear Lake, Germany, Austria, the park, the pool, the zoo, hiking, the children's museum, the train ... pretty much everywhere that he went it went too.

Unfortunately, blankets just aren't meant to last forever (3 years is pretty good) and his blanket has been starting to show signs of wear & tear for months now. Around all four sides are holes in the fabric where he rubs the edges while sleeping. Then I noticed the holes started popping up all over the blanket and not just the edges. But once the batting started coming out (thanks to Finn's little fingers picking it in his sleep) I knew it was time to retire the old blanket and replace it with a new one. Luckily Babystyle still carried the blanket (and on clearance!!!) when I went online a few months ago. So last week we switched out the old one with the new one. Here are the pics of Finley saying goodbye and giving his beloved "cool blanket" loves. It took a couple days before he fully accepted it, but luckily the new one has worked it's way into Finley's little heart and has won his affection.

giving loves to his old blankie

a couple tears were shed when he saw the new blanket. He said the new one wasn't cool.

Finally allowing us to tuck him in with the new blanket as I put his old one away upstairs.

15 month Photo Shoot

I have to say that I'm grateful the warm weather has finally arrived. 80 degrees is perfect weather for all the cute sundresses, tank tops, and bathing suits that have been patiently hanging in the closet. Berlin was so cute yesterday I just had to take some pictures. She is such a ham for the camera.

Today we had her 15 month check-up and immunizations. She's officially 30 inches tall and 18.11 pounds (fully clothed). She's my itty-bitty girl. We switched her carseat to front-facing a little while ago, however, my Dr. informed me I should switch it back to rear-facing since she's so light. I think he heard my guffaw because he said that there are some folks at the hospital (and safety folks I guess) working on getting the law switched so that all kids 2 years and under have to remain rear-facing. Are you kidding me???No offense but do those people have kids? No offense, but it's hard enough to keep a 1 year old happy in a carseat, let alone have to face the rear for a whole extra year. Needless to say, I'm not cheering that proposal on. But she's healthy and happy considering that all 4 molars are cutting through and she had 3 shots in the leg.

"I did it, Mommy - I did it!"

These were the words coming out of Finn's mouth as he was sitting on the potty Wednesday night. At first I thought he was humoring me, but when I went into the bathroom and checked, sure enough he had gone pee in the potty for the first time ever! I was so proud of him that the cheesy high school cheerleader inside me came out. I was clapping and cheering and jumping and giggling. I was so happy and he ate it all up. He even got to open the long-awaited talking Muck toy (the poor thing has been sitting in the windowsill in the bathroom for the past oh, 9 1/2 months or so).

After 2 accidents today, I was about ready to throw in the towel and put the diaper back on. But I thought, what's 3 accidents at this point? So on went another pair of Thomas the train underwear. Imagine my surprise when I came back in from watering my flowers in the backyard and asked Finn if he was ready to sit on the potty and he responded with a "Yes, I'm ready now." So on he went and sure enough a few minutes later he peed AGAIN! Twice in one week? Again, the inner cheerleader came out and we cheered, clapped, and giggled.

I'm beginning to feel optimistic about this whole potty training thing. I'm sure that will wear off when I look at the laundry that's piled up over the past week from all the accidents, but I'll take the few successful moments he's blessed me with this week and pray for more.

Sooooo close, but still no go

Berlin is 15 months old as of yesterday and she still isn't walking. Not that I'm worried about it, but I am a little tired though of people commenting on the fact that she's 15 months old and not walking yet. Give me a break. Every kid is different and I'm not going to stress about it - unless of course she isn't walking by 18 months. Then I might kind of worry a little bit. But she is getting soooooo close. She loves to stand up & down all by herself and hams it up anytime she does. I think she learned this from Finn because he cheers her on anytime she does so. We also practice walking together inside and outside with her just holding one of my hands. All I know is that she's the cutest stinkin' 15 month old little girl I know. When she's happy, she's happy and is so much fun to be around. Finley's been a little under the weather with a cough, so while he napped yesterday she and I had some fun together time playing with her barking puppies and the kitchen.

This last week we also had the opportunity to go to the Real Salt Lake soccer game. It was lots of fun and the kids were both so well behaved. I think it was good for Finn to see big guys playing soccer amidst all the chaos because he's a bit intimidated by it all at his own soccer games. And after the fiasco that was last weeks soccer game & team pictures (that's a whole other blog), we are just hoping that he'll get on the field this Saturday without tears.