Thanksgiving Weekend

Perry has a new friend from school whose family is from Russia, so we invited them over to try a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. They brought a honey cake and we made 5 pies.

The kids played the whole time and barely ate, but it gave the adults time to visit.

The next morning we went to hunt for a tree.

Our favorite place to go has hot chocolate and cider, isn't too far up the mountains, has a tree wrap and ties you can use, and sells tamales.

Found a winner.

It was not small.

Amanda is a Perry magnet.

Taking turns with the saw

Jane offered to help carry the tree to the van.

She quickly let her older brothers take over.

Grapes for people trying not to get carsick, books for the unafflicted. 

Hey, where's Perry?

I got Buddy and Jovie pajamas for my matchie buds.

The perfect kick off to the Christmas season!

Tech Interactive

 Family day at the tech interactive. We hadn't been in years, but got tickets from the classical radio station and I thought the boys would be the perfect age.

We tried the space simulator. I was the only one who could navigate to all 3 spots in time. Too bad my skills are wasted because I'm terrified of space.

The museum is more geared to the older kids, but Jane had fun watching.

Jonah bravely participated in a radio announcement recording.

Perry was not interested in the body world room other than the tablet they used for the exhibit.

Roller coaster simulator

They all rode each others to compare and see which would crash. I couldn't even watch them because they made me motion sick.

The interactive games are always a hit with Scott.

Walking back to the parking lot, dodging the sprinkles.

We all enjoyed the museum and would consider getting passes there next year when our aquarium ones expire.

Wendy's Visit

While I picked Wendy up at the airport, the kids each had a chore to do in our quest for more self-sufficiency with household responsibilities.

Jane made herself a pb sandwich. On the floor.

Our first outing was the SF zoo.

Spent some quality time with the koalas this time. 

Zoo-appropriate shirt choice.

Trying to be a "flamenco."

Big muscles

Cool kid

Showing Jane the cutest prairie dogs

Riding the tortoise

and the merry-go-round

Our membership came with 4 tickets, but the older boys said the little guys could use them twice instead of everyone going. 

They were the best cheering squad and Jane yelled and waved every time we went by them.

John and I took advantage of the in-house childcare and went out on a date. We tried a pizza place downtown that we've been wanting to go to and it was amazing. They didn't have indoor seating open still, so we ate in the car.

It was a hot day, so we went to the cool library, but the playground drew the kids in.

Morning walks at the park

Crashing hard after an early morning.

These kids are so big.

While they were at school, we went to lunch at Happi House and Jane tried a fruit-by-the-foot.

We took her to story time, where she bravely sat on the rug on her own.

Then on the weekend we went to the aquarium. 

Amanda came as well, so it was a nice 1:1 adult to kid ratio. 

Perry was mesmerized by the wave tunnel. He didn't remember the aquarium from before covid, so it was all new for him. 

It was a really crowded Saturday, but we bought a membership so we can come back again. 

The jellyfish exhibit is so soothing, I could go there by myself for an afternoon.

We saw the cute little otters out playing in the bay.

My kids were not cooperative for a photo, but we tried.

Perry loves being babied by Amanda.

Scott was a baby in egg in the kids play area.

Jane stole all the starfish from the water section.

Perry said "all we did was look at fishes all day," but clearly enjoyed himself.

Babies in the penguin egg.

We went to the nursery to get some plants, which promptly died in the heat wave the next few days.

Wendy was a good sport playing with Jane; lots of play-doh, books, and puzzles.

When we dropped Wendy off at the airport, Jane cried the whole way home. 

It was sad, but I thought it was sweet, too. She said, "I wanted to go with her on the airplane!"