Happy 8th Birthday Luke!

Luke turning 8 is so surreal. He is my baby! Eight seems way too old for him but nevertheless here he is turning 8. What a great kid he is! I mean seriously, this kid is just plain awesome!
Just like last year, all the kids in his class that had January bdays (8 of them, his friend Dillon Dunn actually has a bday on the same day as Luke) went in together for a party. Geez, this is so easy for me. All the other moms really take over and I just bring snacks. So EASY! I am going to miss this next year!
This year we rented out a theater for the kids. It was great! We brought in subway sandwiches, orange slices, and a cookie cake. The theater provide popcorn and a water. Outside on the marquee was this welcome sign to the St. Brendan birthday kids:

They had the whole theater to themselves! Luke loved it! He felt pretty cool in front of his friends:)

Luke,
I can not describe very well how much mommy is amazed by you. You are so unique to our family. You are soft hearted, hilarious, athletic, so so smart and so so handsome! But the thing I am most proud of is how much you love your family and how compassionate you are to other people. You are inquisitive and I hope you stay that way. You that curiosity to answer some of our world's biggest problems. You have such great potential that I imagine you will do just that. I love you so much Luke. There is absolutely no boy out there I would rather call my son. You are fantastic!
Love,
Mom

Women's March

The election of our new President in November of 2016 was a rough one. I can not remember ever feeling so scared, angry, betrayed over an election before. I can barely even now talk about it. I can not even bring my self to type his name. I fear so much what he will do to this country, to women. Inevitably, the kids heard lots of what went on during this election. They heard the terrible things that were said about women during this time by the man this country chose to be our leader. It was disheartening to have to try to explain this to my daughter and son when I could not make sense of it myself. This man is disgusting, rude, selfish, dangerous, racist, sexist, violent and a bully, all the things we tell our children are wrong. Yet somehow this country thought it was best to elect him. They have all been fooled. This country will pay for this election in terrible ways.
I wanted to show Ella that she was loved by more people in this country than she thought at this time. That being a woman meant she could do powerful things....she was not meant for only one thing as our president has suggested. She is more than what she can do for a man. Her life means more and there are so many out there who feel this way and will support her. So, I was over the moon excited to take her to the Women's March here in San Francisco that was taking place a day after the inauguration. Marches like this were taking place all over the country...my sister Julie went to the big one in Washington D.C. They were not only happening in the US but all over the world. People standing up for women, minorities, truth and justice. Over 5 million people marched here in the states alone, with hundreds of thousands more around the world. It was amazing....the spirit there. Gave us hope for the future. Most importantly, my daughter got to see what women can do when they join together. She got to see men there supporting and protecting their wives and daughters. Luckily for Ella and Annabeth, they have a father who shares their feelings of concern for the future of women and supported this march. He knows as a father of two daughters he is going to have to fight this battle as well, a battle so many people deny is there. How? I truly don't understand. Sex trafficking is higher in this country than any first world country in the world. Electing a president like this after the damaging remarks he said about women, how he has spent his life discarding women, only further encourages those who are involved in sex trafficking...selling women or those who buy them. It encourages them and tells them they were right after all. That women are only good for one thing...that our daughters, granddaughters, nieces are only good for one thing.
I hope my daughters will have the confidence and support they need to keep fighting for rights in this country so that we may set the example for other countries where women do not have the right to even speak in public, where a husband can beat his wife whenever he chooses. We forgot about them didn't we in this election....the example our country is showing them. 
Ella and Annabeth,
Your father and I will always be here for you. Always support you and push you to be wonderful mothers, doctors, teachers, scientists, encourage you to make a difference in this world. You are so so much more! Believe in yourselves, stay true to yourselves and stay close to Jesus.
We love you.
Mom and Dad

We rode the subway with some friends down to the Civic Center, it was so crowded. So exciting!

Tea Parties

Tea Parties, Tea Parties, Tea Parties! They are the most exciting thing happening in our house these days...at least a certain little two year old thinks so. After she got her new kitchen from Santa this year, I started showing her how to have tea parties with guests. And just like her older sister, she absolutely loved it! We play tea party at least once a day! I love how she gets so serious about it and sets everything up exactly like I did that first day. It makes my heart melt. We drink tea, eat shortbread cookies with cream, exchange recipes and have good conversations about our families and the daily news:) I love having tea parties with you sweet Annabeth!

Turning 37!

Well, I am starting to feel old...I mean 37 really. I'm basically 40 which means 50 is right around the corner! I still don't even feel like an adult! How can this be?? Regardless of how I felt about my birthday this year, the kids were excited to celebrate it with me. Luke and Ella woke me up with a sweet breakfast before school. These kids are the best!

Later that night Lyle took me out for dinner. With Ella being older, we feel comfortable letting her babysit so we have been having more date nights! Its amazing!! Well, I guess, 40 here I come!

A fun Twin Peaks Hike with Friends

Our neighborhood is very close to Twin Peaks and there are lots of hiking trails you can walk from our house. After the Christmas break and the kids started back to school, Annabeth and I were itching to get back to hanging out with our neighborhood crew so we were so excited to go with them on a hike. It was a nice walk talking to friends about their holidays and seeing the little kids again. Here are a few pics. Milo is in the navy jacket and Ben in the plaid jacket.

Happy 11th Birthday Ella!

This year on New Years Day Ella turned 11. Geez, that feels really old! Her teenage years are right around the corner and boy can we tell they are coming! Ms. Independent in the house! We celebrated with cake and ice cream in the morning and then letting her pick out the restaurant for lunch...she picked Park Chow in Inner Sunset.

Dear Ella,
11 already huh. I will never understand how that went so fast. I remember so clearly bringing you home from the hospital....your daddy and I nervous as hell with our first child. Being the first you get to be our tester. We are learning right along with you how to do this parenting thing. We are so lucky we get you to learn with. You are a dream come true for us! I am serious when I tell you that your father and I marvel at your sweet heart and kind spirit. You are so positive about life and just as determined. These past two years you have really come into your own and I think are starting to figure out what kind of person you are and want to be. You are so confident and smart. People naturally gravitate to you because you radiate joy and fun! I hope you always believe in yourself as much as we do. Daddy and I don't always do things perfect but if you continue to work with us we will figure out these teenage years together. Please stay as wonderful as you are now. I love being with you and hearing your aspirations for the future. You are my best little friend....always my side kick! We absolutely adore you! And one more thing..... don't try to grow up so fast!!!
Love you with everything we have! Thank you for being our daughter.
Mom