Boy's 1st trip to SF

During Popo and Yaya's trip with us, we decided to go to San Francisco for a day trip. We thought that the boys would really enjoy seeing the big bridges, the tall buildings and hopefully catch a glimpse of a trolley car or two. We help up fairly well during the trip there - even mom who managed to squeeze into the car's 3rd row seats (we all know how spacious those are).

For those of you who have been to San Francisco's chinatown - you all know its a bustling place. Lots of people, lots of cars, and lots of little shops and restaurants. The running joke in our family when German's parents are in town, is that they insist on going to the same restaurant every time they come. Its been nearly 25 years since his parents first ate there, its likely changed ownership and even names many times, nonetheless its the place we always end up going to. Yes - even when its just us, we somehow find ourselves eating there too - guess we're just carrying on the tradition

Here are a picture of Lucas snacking on a bun.


And on Monday, it was Popo's birthday. We celebrated with a surprise cake (anytime we tell the boys we have a surprise for them they say "birthday cake?". A few pics of the boys helping to blow out Popo's birthday candles.

Home Depot Project

For the 2nd month in a row, German took the boys to Home Depot's kids project day (1st Sat of every month). Popo went with him and they helped the boys to make wooden fire trucks (pretty cool!!)

Pumpkin farm

Spent the morning at Bishops Pumpkin Patch - thinking we'd beat the weekend rush only. Turns out weekdays are a good time for the little kids to take field trips as you can see from the numerous yellow buses in the background. Here's Lucas enjoying the tractor tire play area and Noah spending quality time with "Popo"

We also got a chance to go on the train and hay rides through the pumpkin patch to pick our very own pumpkins. When we told Lucas last night that we were going to see pumpkins today, he said "at the grocery store?" - absolutely adorable.














Of course - we're always looking for a photo-op with the boys and trains.

And lastly, some good 'ol horsing around in the hay.

See you next time...

Meeting Up With An Old Friend

German convinced me to get on Facebook about a month ago and I have since become reunited with friends from both Jr/Sr High as well as college. I was thrilled to hear from my dear friend Monika Delson who I knew from elementary/Jr/Sr High. It was fun to learn that she has twin girls who are about 8 months younger then my boys.

Last Sunday we stopped by her house in Orinda and met the family. The kids had fun playing why Monika & I caught up on what we had been up to for the past 15 years or so since we last spoke.

Pictures of 2 toddlers is hard and trying to get a pic of all 4 of them nearly impossible, this is the best we got (from l to r, Charlie, Sammy, Noah, Lucas).

Trains, Trains, Trains

After getting advice from our friends the Kornaks, we went ahead and became family members of the Railroad Museum in old town Sacramento. We took the boys there for the first time today, and let me say it was $50 well spent! The boys loved both the museum and excursion train ride (all of which was included in our membership making us $32 closer to paying off the $50 annual fee). German & I were amazed at how HUGE the engines were, which means they must have seemed twice as big to our boys.
Here we are on the 6 mile excursion train ride along the Sacramento river, we even got to see the engine go by to re-attach to the cars when we reached the midpoint and had to turn around.

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All Aboard!!

The boys obsession with trains continues and we lucked out and grabbed some cool Thomas the train stuff at our neighbors garage sale, one being a cool conductor's hat, though they only had one, we were happy the boys cooperated and took turns trying it on.

Conductor Noah with Thomas (that makes chugging sounds when you roll it).
Conductor Lucas.
The boys also had fun with their buddy, Brandon (our Intel friends, Dave & Katrina's oldest), at a labor day BBQ we hosted. We didn't quite get the camera quick enough because all 3 were sitting in the sandbox, here you can see Noah making his exit.

Summer Fun

I know I haven't posted in forever... sorry.

Here is a pic of the boys playing in our blow up pool in the backyard, they love it!
For some reason one morning they both wanted to get in the porta-crib and I wasn't gonna complain, it was actually a good place to take pictures.

The first week in Aug we went on our 2nd annual trip to Capitola with my parents & sis and her family. The boys LOVED the beach! Notice the tongues, they were really concentrating!

Grandma (forever the preschool teacher) led them in a sand castle art project. Their favorite part was painting on the glue.