Birthdays

I LOVE children's birthday parties ... in fact, it is a selling point for me on having children, birthday parties and you get an excuse to go to all the cute kid movies. We've been to a couple great ones recently.

Three Little Pigs (how appropriate for a pink 3 year old birthday party!) - complete with puppet show, the kids were spellbound.

Firetrucks - these are the actual firemen who delivered Sophie, unexpectedly in her apartment, one year ago! Way fun.

Luck made us sister... Love made us friends.

Ella embraces "big-sisterhood."

There is nothing she would rather do than tell Anne something in the kitchen is too hot and not to touch it, or a knife is too sharp and "really dangerous" ... even though Anne is nowhere near the items or the kitchen.

Ella likes to be in charge.

Fortunately, Anne is a very amiable "little sister" and takes all the orders and directions in stride.

In addition, Ella loves to play with Anne ... show Anne her "baby-belly," give hugs, and even try to learn new tricks from Anne, like thumb-sucking.

Fortunately, Ella isn't really interested in sucking her thumb.

Most important, however, is that Ella LOVES to hold Anne's hand ... especially in the car. It melts my heart every time we go somewhere and I look back and they are holding hands. Sometimes Anne resists and Ella gets really frustrated.

But for the most part, Anne acquiesces and the two girls hold hands in the car.

Gap-eteria

Ella, Anne and I continued our "corporate lunch appreciation" series and tried out Gap Inc.'s menu. With two babies, two car-seats, bags, the stroller, and Ella walking beside we made our pilgrimage to the retail mecca. If Adam was embarrassed he didn't show it.

Thanks to the Chipmans for having us as guest at Gap headquarters on the Embaracadero. We ate outside - great view, great Turkey burgers and great friends.

Adam entertained Ella on the roof-top park.I've never felt more loyal to Gap, BR and Old Navy.

Google and Genetech's food service have various benefits ... but Gap's view is unparalleled!

Aunt "Mimi" & Uncle Adam

Benj's sister Amy and brother-in-law Adam visited over the Valentine/President's Day weekend. We had fun doing the standard touristy things like Lombard street: , the painted ladies:
, Baker Beach:, Coit Tower: on Telegraph Hill , The Legion of Honor:, and the Marin Headlands:
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On Valentine's Day we went to dinner at the Slanted Door, . Over-priced and over-rated, a big bummer since I loved it the first time we went. If you go - the shaken beef and chicken stir-fry are great, the dungeness crab noodles are o.k. and the mung-bean dumplings, grapefruit salad and beef carpaccio are to be avoided. After dinner we went to the View atop the Marriott for dessert, but they weren't serving dessert. So we enjoyed the view and went home.
Mostly we just loved having Adam and Amy around to read books with and play matching card games together. We love you - thanks for visiting!

(Random dog walking guy - sometimes you see them with a whole pack leashed on to their belt!).

beach buds