Today Christine completed the San Diego Rock N’ Roll Marathon – it was the culmination of countless hours of training and a goal (“run a marathon”) she has had for as long as I can remember. I brought the girls down to San Diego to watch. Now a marathon isn’t a super easy thing to watch, we caught her around the 10K mark and then again at the finish. Maile made a great sign all be herself and they both had fun yelling and cheering and watching Mommy run. They definitely didn’t totally understand how far Mommy ran (I tried a few different ways to convey it to Maile, but not sure it stuck).
For the girls, this is one of those accomplishments that will gain meaning over time. I couldn’t be happier that Christine is the role model they see day in and day out of what a mom, wife, friend and, most importantly, woman is all about. It doesn’t need to be a marathon. But the fact that Christine took the time to train for this, to raise money for Leukemia via a phenomenal Team In Training experience and that she pushed herself on the day of to go further than she ever had before — and that she did all of this while still doing all of the very many things she does for our family. Well, that’s the part I’m excited to tell the girls about. And that’s why I’m so very proud of Christine!
We first caught Mommy right around the 10K mark. Well, she techncially caught us. Things were a little slower than anticipated getting the girls in gear, so she ended up ahead of us, but she doubled back to say hello.
Maile and the sign she made for Christine all be herself...
Shockingly, we enjoyed cheering on the runners...
After the earlier 10K timing debacle, I might have gotten us to the finish line a little too early - so the girls had some time to kill...
And then all of a sudden, there Mommy was!
So happy to see Mommy at the finish!
Mommy and her girls - somehow they gave her 2 medals - lucky for us 🙂
All of us celebrating Mommy's first marathon!
(Click here for the video.)
Mommy capped the weekend of adventures by taking the girls out to the Oakland Zoo on Monday morning. They had a fun girls day exploring the zoo and playing on the rides!
The animals are cool. But the map is awesome!
And if Maile has a map, Lauren has a map too.
Cheeks in full effect!
Maile likes going on the merry go round solo now...
... Lauren prefers to be right next to Mommy.
Mommy, Lauren and Maile on their girls day adventure to the zoo
Mommy was on a roll this weekend with the fun activities. On Sunday, we headed down to Stanford to check out the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford. It actually re-opened while I was at Stanford back in 1999 (it had been damaged in an earthquake) – but I’m actually ashamed to admit I had never actually been to it before. It’s a pretty fantastic museum and on certain Sundays they have a family day where they give the kids art kits and they have special tours and art classes. Right up our alley!
You'll sense a theme in these pictures - Maile does something, Lauren checks it out...
... and then gets involved!
Maile working on her first piece of art for the day - a very colorful gumball machine.
Lauren LOVED her art kit. She pretty much loves anything that can carry things.
We've seen Maile do this before, but a first for Lauren - working on her art projects in orange, of course, her favorite color!
Museums that let kids lie out on the floor like this and create are awesome - kudos to Stanford for a great family day!
We stayed local this Memorial Day weekend, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t have some fun adventures. Things started off on Saturday morning when Mommy planned a trip out to Point Bonita Lighthouse. It was just a short drive over the Golden Gate Bridge near Sausalito. We had fun hiking down to the Lighthouse with the girls – unfortunately, we didn’t time it right, so, as you’ll see, we didn’t make it to the lighthouse proper – but we still had fun!
Mommy, Maile and Lauren at the start of our mini hike...
Not sure what started the head tilting...
Hey, what are you doing?
Nailed it! If Maile is doing it, it must be cool.
Still rocking the head tilt.
Sister love with the Golden Gate in the background...
And here ends our visit to the lighthouse. This door doesn't open until 12:30 PM and it was about 10 AM when we got there. Ah well, a reason to come back 🙂
Lauren has the beginnings of a little cough, so we decided this morning to give her the nebulizer. She was not pleased with this decision and kept saying “no tank you, no tank you” over and over. She was clearly scared.
Cue Maile Girl who offered to help. She had Lauren sit next to her and then she held the nebulizer while the girls watched a show together. Definitely some big sister bonus points were earned – Christine and I were quite proud 🙂
Don't worry, big sister won't let anything bad happen to you...
Those giggles are the ones your remember…
Thank you Grandma and Papa Boston for taking good care of Lauren these past few days 🙂
(Click here for the video.)
Ever since Maile started dancing, Grandma Jill has wanted to see her perform in a dance recital. Well, she finally got her wish on Sunday as the stars aligned for Maile’s second hip hop dance recital at Nagata Dance to take place while Grandma and Papa Boston were visiting.
I’ve mentioned before, but we really love the vibe at Nagata Dance. Maile had all the fun of a dance recital, but in a relaxed, cool, family-like environment. For the final number, Lauren even got to join Maile and dance around a bit. Good times!
Here’s the video from Maile’s number:
The proud dancer with flowers from yours truly...
A recital Grandma Jill (nor the rest of us) will soon forget 🙂
(Click here for the video.)
Grandma and Papa Boston arrived on Saturday. Maile and I picked them up at the airport and took them right over to the Maker Faire. We had a great time last year and both Maile and I were excited to go back and also share the fun with Grandma and Papa.
This year Mommy and Lauren stayed home on account of Lauren’s nap schedule (not as easy to just get her to crash in the stroller these days). We missed them for sure! We explored much more of the fair ground this year taking in drones and robots and all types of strange, weird, cool things…
Maile showing Papa how it all works...
These are cool glasses designed by some Stanford students - you can come up with your own designs and snap them right on to the frames...
Speaking of glasses, thanks Google for the kid-sized protective goggles!
Maile and Grandma hard at work on a copper bracelet.
Taking in some glass blowing...
Maile met Russell the Robot Giraffe!
Maile Girl and I had a blast!
Thank you Maker Faire – we’ll be back again for sure!
Last Friday Maile didn’t have school, so she hung out with Kelly and Lauren for the day. Kelly took the girls down to the Creativity Museum and, shockingly, Maile found an exhibit to give her some screen time for a performance 🙂 Lauren was a little intimidated by the setup – she’s more of an old school solo artist, no need for the fancy gimmickry. But Maile was in her element. I was mostly impressed that she knew the words to both songs so well – although I guess I shouldn’t be.
Maile and Lauren on the mics against the green screen
(Click here for the first video.)
(Click here for the second video.)
For Mother’s Day Maile made a book for Christine. Reprinted here without further comment (because as you’ll see it speaks for itself 🙂
