Hello Summer!

While it has been nice getting some use out of our long sleeve shirts and jackets in the middle of August, we're glad we got to see a beautiful San Francisco summer day. So we hit the beach and I took about a gazillion pictures with the bridge in almost every single one. It's just so, so pretty.

Gus put his little piggies in the Bay for the first time.
He really didn't like it.
Max took to the waves.
And had some pretty awesome jumps before the waves took him out.And Jack wanted nothing to do with the waves.
He preferred the sand and tide pools instead.

Thank You Grandma and Grandpa!

I'm so happy Grandma and Grandpa suggested bringing out Max and Jack a little later, not only because I didn't have to fly with the three monster by myself, but also because that meant one more visit! We really packed it in!

After we went to Alta Plaza, we ate lunch at Mama's. Blake polished off everyone's leftovers. Oh, the goodness...

While I wait in line at Mama's, Blake usually takes the rest of the troops up to Coit Tower. While they were up there we realized my parents had never been to the top and neither had any of the kids. So, after lunch, we waited in line for the cramped elevator, hiked some more steep stairs and made it to the top! Such beautiful views.
As we were leaving Coit Tower my dad mentioned that the birthplace of TV was somewhere near there. So, we looked it up and he was right! My dad is an endless fountain of knowledge!
And while we were thinking of things that we'd never done, I remembered the Fortune Cookie Factory. We found it down an alley and I thought it was going to be something much more grand than the little hole in the wall that barely fit five people. But we did get some yummy samples.
When Max got here, he said the first thing he wanted to do was go to Alta Plaza. And then he also said that the next day he wanted to go to the secret park, then the next day to Stillwell Park, and then the next day to the park by the library (Moscone Park), and the next day to...So, while they were here, Grandma and Grandpa also got to go to the secret park. We lunched on In N Out, played on the playground, played an intense game of HORSE where the obviously most skilled player won, and went down the dirt hill on the sled. Love this park.

Next we went to Lands End and hiked out along the coast--another place we'd never been. It was so, so beautiful.

And continuing the theme of places we've never been, we also went to Sutro Baths, which is super, super cool. The boys loved climbing, running around, and playing hide and seek in the ruins.

Thank you Gram and Gramps for everything--for the perfect summer and perfect visit to San Francisco. We love you so, so much!

Alta Plaza Park

First on Max's agenda after arriving in San Francisco, was Alta Plaza Park.

I love this park and I actually get quite teary thinking about leaving it. It's been our backyard while we've lived here. It's where we'd meet friends and have playgroups. It's the place my babies first went on the swings, first ate sand, and first went down a slide. I'm really going to miss it--even walking up the super steep hill to the playground.

MAX--13 months

JACK--10 months

GUS--6 months

Back in San Francisco

Gus and I are back in San Francisco living it up in the chilly weather with Blake until Grandma and Grandpa bring Max and Jack out this weekend. We've been eating at fun restaurants and I've been going on walks to the park every day with my sweet baby. Sometimes I forget what my life was like when I had only one baby. Max and I would play in the morning, I'd clean while he napped, then we'd go on a walk or to the park and be home just in time for his second nap and General Hospital. I know--what a life, right? San Francisco really is the perfect city to have little kids. And I had THREE! I never want my mooshy mommy brain to forget.

August Misc.

It's hard to believe we've been in Utah for two months. Here's a little Utah August in review.

One morning when we went outside to play, the temperature was in the 80's instead of 90's. Max insisted it was chilly and that they needed their jackets.

But don't worry, every day, including that day, the temperature HAS gotten above 90 and we've been able to enjoy some fun outside time. Backyards are so nice.
Max set up the pool at the bottom of the slide all by himself and then filled his mouth with pool water, climbed the ladder, spit the water down the slide to make it wet, then slid down. Grandma's slide is already super fast, so this was CRAZY fast!
I've really loved going to the Heights Ward every Sunday. I feel like I should have marched right into Beehives with all my old leaders around. I love that these same people got to teach my kids. Max said he liked Grandma's primary better because he got more treats and Jack even started going to nursery without crying. But the best Sunday was when Grandma got Gus to sleep, Max was quietly reading a book, and Jack fell asleep on the floor. Usually having Sacrament last is so hard, but that day, it was really nice.
After Max so tactfully pointed out that I "have a water belly, like Grandma has a water bed," Tony took it upon himself to whip me into shape and we've been doing P90X every day. Sometimes even Grandma joins in, but most of the time she is our A+ babysitter. Jack took this picture of us on a yoga day, even though Tony insisted on no pictures (sorry Tony). But it's too bad Jack was the one taking the picture since now what this picture doesn't show is him crawling under our downward dogs. But really, spending time with Tony is so much fun and he has even given me a nickname after P90X all-star Pam the Blam. I am Ad the Blad(der) since I am always frequenting the bathroom.
We really have enjoyed being around so much family. We love our Sunday dinner at Dawna's house. So many fun people to talk with/about. And it's so funny to see how much Max and Jack have changed since we first started going to dinner in June, especially toward Tucker the dog. At first Jack was pretty nervous around Tucker, but by the end Tucker couldn't get away from the boys fast enough.

Another good thing about Utah is having Ashley here! Ashley always erases the pictures before I get to them, but luckily Jack snapped this one to document our time together in Utah. Ashley is so fun for adventures. Like the whole process of getting her new mattress (finding the location, getting the mattress tied down, and finally hauling it up the steep stair in her house), getting yummy food, and going to the early morning showing of super cool movies! I love Ashley!
And this is a picture of our Tuesday dinner group. Every Tuesday we all had dinner together. It doesn't get much better than this. But it came close when this same group had a National Dance Day Party. My family is so much fun!

While we've been here Max started shortening everyone's name. (Except Jack who became "Jacky.") He even calls me "Ad." I love how familiar he is with everyone. So, a big thank you to everyone who made our time in Utah so fabulous--And, B, Ton, Ger, Cind, Dawn (or if she's lucky, Dawny), Gramps, and especially Gram for spoiling us rotten and taking such good care of us. We love you so, so much!