Benson's Birthday and My Husband is #1!

My work of art.

This picture makes me laugh because whenever Ryan gets a new surfboard or a new car part or something he says that I better make room because it's coming to bed with us--like father like son. PS In case there is lingering doubt, nothing has ever come to bed with us...

On his ACTUAL birthday on Monday, he requested Cheeseburgers (his favorite) for dinner--here he is basking in the glory of some of his favorite foods.

And finally, my husband is #1 because also on Benson's actual birthday, he brought these home for ME--he said because I gave birth to his son on the exact day 3 years ago--Suave, I know;)

For Moms

So, some time ago I ripped a great screensaver off of Josie's blog--I'm pretty sure it was an Ann Taintor--it said, "A clean house is a sign of a wasted life" with a 1950s pristine wife cleaning a sparkling bathtub. It really irked Ryan every time he had to look at it--I'm pretty sure he hated it, but nary did I waver, until...my computer crashed and I lost it. So naturally once I got it up and running again, I went to the Ann Taintor website and took a few for your viewing pleasure--I can't wait to see Ryan's face when he sees one of these on my desktop;)


Now tell me, why can't husbands see the humor in these?

The Next First Dog?

Apparently Malia Obama is allergic to dogs, but as you might recall was promised a puppy on election night...if you've been following then I'm sure you know that choosing exactly which dog will suit her needs has proved to be a more daunting task than one might think.
Alas, the good people of Peru have offered a gift of their national breed:
the Peruvian Hairless Dog.
Now I ask you:
Is it an international faux pas to refuse a gift from a whole nation? Did I mention they are also often toothless?

So sleepy

Since he's been resisting his nap lately, these are some of the positions Benson has been falling asleep in late in the afternoon when he absolutely can't function any longer--and yes, he is sleeping, out cold.

This is Funny

Campin'

So in my marriage book that I am reading for book club it says that one of the keys to a happy and durable marriage is one in which each partner helps the other realize his or her dreams...that's the only reason on this blessed earth that I go camping! (Well, that, and the s'mores.)

Here are some highlights from last weekend (these are the moments that make camping tolerable):

Campfire

A little midmorning walk out to the tidepools

Kayla and Charlie picking blackberries in their jammies just a hair after sunrise

Benny and his laaaadies (except for his sister...eew gross)

Kayla in her beach hut

And of course all 3 families (Watsons, Williams and Fishes) who agreed to come along with us and share in the joy and splendor of coin showers, freezing nights and children covered in filth from head-to-toe!

So I'm wondering, what kinds of things do you do (that you may or may not enjoy) to help your spouse or significant other "realize their dreams"?

My daughter is freaky

Baseball

I really am not a fan of baseball. I have always hoped that my children would not want to play it because it is so boring to watch. Ryan and I have been to a few Giants games, A's games and even a Padres games once. Most of the time I will spend people watching rather than game watching, and that's actually pretty fun. So last Wednesday Ryan's boss gave us his season ticket seats because he wasn't going to use them, and I have to admit, from seats like this, even baseball can be entertaining:)

Long Time No See, Baby Jaguars and Pineapple Surprise (or as we Japanese say it, "Suplise!")

...and who's your little friend?

This is what happens when I turn my back for one second. I'm amazed that he sat still long enough to let her paint whiskers. Kayla said they were baby Jaguars, but strange how they still meowed like annoying house cats all day...

And finally, Lisa, Josie, Sara and I went out to lunch on Saturday to celebrate Lisa's birthday--PS: Thanks to Sara's husband, it was on him;)
When I ordered the Pineapple Fried Rice, I didn't realize that it would be served in an actual pineapple!
SUPLISE!

My Big Girl

Kayla had her first day of Kindergarten today! (sniff sniff)
I feel compelled to reminisce just for a moment...

Newborn

1

2

3

4

And here she is in her Kindergarten class--age 5! Oh how the years have escaped me!
And as a sidenote, Kayla really wanted these in her lunch for her first day of school--they are little rice balls with seaweed for the whiskers and eyes:) Yes, I made them, and yes, it was a teensy bit tedious getting those little pieces of seaweed cut and placed just right! I so admire all those Japanese moms who create Bento Box masterpieces!

Half Dome

So, last week my husband and his friend, Anthony, decided that they were going to hike Half Dome ...in the middle of the night...because it was a full moon. Okay.

If any of you are not familiar with this hike, it is in Yosemite, it is 17.2 miles round trip, extremely steep at parts, and difficult enough in the daylight.
This is Half Dome.

They left San Jose at 7:30 PM, got to the trail head by Midnight, I got a text message at 4:30 AM that they had arrived at the summit...

Here's Ryan at the summit in the dark.

Sun is rising....and lots of crazy folks who also hiked all night!
Sun's Up.

6 AM: Back down the mountain.


Waterfalls...

Back at the car by 10:15 AM, then drove home and arrived in San Jose at 3:30PM!
He smelled and I immediately threw his socks in the trash, but he did it! Congratulations Ryan! 28 and still got it!

And PS when Ryan told Kayla that he was going to climb a mountain, first she gave him her little bunny to take with him (and I mean little--as big as your fingernail), then she wanted to make him a card.
Here's Ryan (who incidentally looks like Tarzan) on top of the mountain.

And here's pink bunny, also on top of the mountain!

Book Club Party

Kayla's friend Abram had a "Book Club Party" on Wednesday. Each kid got to bring their favorite book and sit and read it to each other in the special reading chair. Kayla chose her favorite, "Wet Pet". She was pumped on all the kids clapping after she read her book--Very cute idea! Then afterwards I guess they drew some pictures and played some games:

Thanks Michelle (Abram's Mom) for being so creative and throwing such a fun little party!

Must Read

Ryan's Mom gave me this book to read and Wow, she was right! An amazing read! Picture South Africa, 1940s-60s roughly--if you are anything like I was pre-this book, you can't picture it, can you? I knew NOTHING about South Africa during this time, and now I know a little!
My prerequisite for a book is that it grabs me from the first sentence--I have no loyalty to a book I've not read and therefor have no qualms about closing it and setting it right back down where I got it. You'll have to pick up this book yourself to discover that first sentence, but here is my favorite paragraph from the book:
(read this to yourself in your best German accent--and old man's German accent;))
"Peekay," he said, "in this world are very few things made from logic alone. It is illogical for a man to be too logical. Some things we must just let stand. The mystery is more important than any possible explanation." He paused for a moment and tapped his fingers on the edge of the piano keyboard. "The searcher after truth must search with humanity. Ruthless logic is the sign of a limited mind. The truth can only add to the sum of what you know, while a harmless mystery left unexplored often adds to the meaning of life. When truth is not so important, it is better left as a mystery."
For now, all you need to picture is a white boy, a Zulu nanny, WWII, an enchanted and yet bitterly divided country...you won't regret it, happy reading!

4th of July and Mom's B-day

My family came up for the 4th of July and my Mom's 60th Birthday, which was on the 5th. We had a super fun time. On the 4th, we went up to the city and went to Pier 39...

When we yelled "Pose!", this is what they all did--really don't think Kayla knows what the word "pose" means...
We also went to the aquarium at the pier, which has these sweet fiberglass tunnels--take a look!

And we pet sting rays...
And we went on the Double-Decker Tour Bus!

And swimming at Grandma's Hotel of course!


It was so fun having them all up here, can't wait to do it again!