Hot Chocolate All Around!

We were looking forward to a hike at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve with Will's friend Zoe and her parents last Saturday, but the first rain of the season took us by surprise, turning from a drizzle to a downpour!

After giving it a go, we thought it best to retreat and come back another time, so we headed to Piedmont Ave. for lunch.













What was the best part? Zoe called it right: "Hot chocolate all around!"

You Can Get Anything You Want, at Will's Restaurant

Mount Saint Helens

Enjoying Summer's End with Mimi and Poppie

Mimi and Poppie joined us for a fun-filled Labor Day Weekend. We headed out to Point Reyes National Seashore to check out the Earthquake Trail along the San Andreas Fault. You can see the effect of the 1906 earthquake on this fenceline: it once was connected, but in a matter of a minute or so, it jumped 16 feet apart!


 

We headed a bit further north to explore Limantour Beach.















We had to hike in a little bit, and it turned out to be a little bit windy...










...but we found a delightful spot nestled in amongst the dunes.












 Will and Poppie had a blast playing in the waves...













...and excavating.

We all accompanied Will to see his first movie in a theater, Planes!


















Captivated. Yep, a success!

Bass Conversion

Will decided that he wanted his guitar to serve as a double bass (string bass) this evening, much to my enjoyment as I prepared dinner.

Slip 'n Slide Rocks...Pass It On!

Good times with the Cole Valley Crew: Hazel, Beatrix, Theo, Lily and Sami B!

A Laugh Between Friends

Descriptions

Today Will described something as follows: "One of those tall boxes that when you squeeze it, it has a pointy nose." Yep, that would be a milk carton. (15 August 2013).

Like many kids his age, Will describes his age in quarters. As in, "I'm 4 1/4" or, "I'll be 4 3/4 on August 17th." But I like how he describes the age before you get to be 4 1/4: "My friend at school is younger than I am. She's Plain 4, but I'm 4 1/2." (8 August 2013)

This morning, I mentioned that I lost a favorite pair of green earrings that Will happens to like a lot as well. He shared my disappointment, asking, "Was it like when a bird is looking for a grasshopper and it hops in the grass and the bird can't see it anymore?" (February 27, 2013)

Will farted this evening and said, "That sounded like someone plucking a violin!" (February 12, 2013)

A favorite quantifying phrase Will uses is, "A little bit of a lot," which he employs when he is describing a little bit of something that is in many tiny pieces. For example, if he is cutting out paper snowflakes, there are a zillion teeny tiny pieces of paper everywhere. Once he gathers those pieces into a small pile, there is "a little bit of a lot." One could also say that a teaspoon of sugar granules is "a little bit of a lot."Come to think of it, I don't actually know of a better description! (2012)

Fun in the Tubby with TJ!

Back Home Again in Indiana

Mimi and Poppie headed to Bremen, Indiana to attend Poppie's 50th High School Reunion at the end of June. Little did they know that we'd all be joining them, too! We surprised Mimi and Poppie progressively (first Aunt Katie and Cousin Alex, then Aunt Karissa, Uncle Matt, Cousin Lydia and Cousin Violet, and then us!), celebrating Poppie and Uncle Dave's birthdays as well. Will met Poppie's sister and brother-in-law, Aunt Kay and and Uncle Dave, Poppie's brother Uncle Terry and brother and sister-in-law, Uncle George and Aunt Andy, for the first time. We also met the Comer family and Aunt Kay and Uncle Dave's daughters, Tori and Tonda, Tonda's husband, Rob, and Tonda's daughter, Tristan, and her family. (Did you keep track of all that?) You can see their beautiful faces in the slideshow, below!

After our Indiana reunion, we headed visited Notre Dame's campus in South Bend before heading to the Windy City. Chicago highlights included Sue the T-Rex at the Field Museum, the view from the Hancock Tower, the elevator ride to the top of the Willis (Sears) Tower (it was a little foggy at the top), Giordiano's stuffed pizza and Ann Sather's cinnamon rolls!

Here are a few favorite photos from our trip, as well as the slideshow.

  

 

Roaring like Sue the T-Rex!