Posts tagged as:

grandma_jill

(Dad note: I guess it’s safe to say I am officially out of the habit of posting on the blog 🙁 I will work to see if we can get it back in the mix!)

The girls had their spring break this past week and we headed to New York City for some fun in the big city! It wasn’t the girls’ first trip – they each had been before – but it was our first as a full family. Overall, the girls were a great age to run around the city – and we definitely took advantage of that. (Truth be told, I wore Lauren on my shoulders a fair amount – so maybe another 6 months for her would have been perfect – but we really covered a lot of ground.)

Grandma and Papa Boston joined us for the first few days and we had a blast exploring and eating with them. As you’ll see below Grandma took the girls to the American Girl Store and that was indeed the highlight of their trip – they are still talking about it. It blew their little minds. (To be clear, we also went to the top of the Freedom Tower, visited the Statue of Liberty, went to the Met and Whitney museums, saw Blue Man Group and The Lion King … but yes, the American Girl Store was the “blew their minds” event 🙂

Here are some pictures of our adventures…

Christine found a list of a bunch of cool graffiti down in the Lower East Side so we wandered around and found a bunch of them...

Christine found a list of a bunch of cool graffiti down in the Lower East Side so we wandered around and found a bunch of them...

Grandma Jill with the girls at the American Girl Store

Grandma Jill with the girls at the American Girl Store

I mean look at those smiles - they are in heaven!

I mean look at those smiles - they are in heaven!

Lauren and Mei Mei ready to eat Lauren and Mei Mei ready to eat
One last pose at the American Girl Store cafe

One last pose at the American Girl Store cafe

Goofing around at one of our many eating stops with Grandma and Papa

Goofing around at one of our many eating stops with Grandma and Papa

We spent a morning up in Central Park and started it off with a horse carriage ride - don't worry, we didn't let Maile and Lauren drive :)

We spent a morning up in Central Park and started it off with a horse carriage ride - don't worry, we didn't let Maile and Lauren drive 🙂

We're walking through Central Park and all of a sudden Maile yells - It's Balto! - she remembered this sled dog from one of her books at school.

We're walking through Central Park and all of a sudden Maile yells - It's Balto! - she remembered this sled dog from one of her books at school.

We checked out the new Museum of Mathematics - it was a fun couple hours, but not amazing - has some potential though

We checked out the new Museum of Mathematics - it was a fun couple hours, but not amazing - has some potential though

Family shot on Liberty Island

Family shot on Liberty Island

Maile Girl ready to get her art on at the Met

Maile Girl ready to get her art on at the Met

One. Big. Dinosaur.

One. Big. Dinosaur.

Maile and Lauren taking in some more grafitti

Maile and Lauren taking in some more grafitti

Watch out - 4 tyranosaurs!

Watch out - 4 tyranosaurs!

Hitting up Gray's Papaya for some hot dogs and papaya drink!

Hitting up Gray's Papaya for some hot dogs and papaya drink!

Papa and his girls

Papa and his girls

We had a blast at Blue Man Group - the girls loved it!

We had a blast at Blue Man Group - the girls loved it!

We did a lot of street walking - hardly took any cabs - mostly subway and walking - got our steps!

We did a lot of street walking - hardly took any cabs - mostly subway and walking - got our steps!

High jumping on the high line!

High jumping on the high line!

We met up with one of Maile's classmates, David, to check out the Freedom Tour and Statue of Liberty

We met up with one of Maile's classmates, David, to check out the Freedom Tour and Statue of Liberty

Lauren is so over the Freedom Tower

Lauren is so over the Freedom Tower

Maile Girl and I high, high above NYC

Maile Girl and I high, high above NYC

Maile and Lauren meet the Fearless Girl down near Wall Street

Maile and Lauren meet the Fearless Girl down near Wall Street

Before we headed out to the Statue of Liberty, Christine took the girls on the Sea Glass carousel

Before we headed out to the Statue of Liberty, Christine took the girls on the Sea Glass carousel

4 lovely ladies...

4 lovely ladies...

Lauren enjoying some seriously good ramen at Ivan Ramen

Lauren enjoying some seriously good ramen at Ivan Ramen

Striking some poses at the Met

Striking some poses at the Met

We hit up Koreatown for some seriously good Korean BBQ cooked right at the table

We hit up Koreatown for some seriously good Korean BBQ cooked right at the table

We ate and wore a lot of ice cream!

We ate and wore a lot of ice cream!

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Okay, so it was a couple weeks ago already – but A LOT has happened since then 🙂 This year for mid-winter break, Grandma and Papa Boston came out to San Francisco to spend the week with the girls. The girls had a blast running all over the city and keeping Grandma and Papa on their toes…

When they weren't running, they were cuddling and reading...

When they weren't running, they were cuddling and reading...

Checking out the scene down at Pier 39

Checking out the scene down at Pier 39

Say cheese!

Say cheese!

Showing Papa our furniture climbing skills...

Showing Papa our furniture climbing skills...

One of the many good eats

One of the many good eats

Maile and Lauren getting their dentist training in with the play doh set...

Maile and Lauren getting their dentist training in with the play doh set...

Grandma and Papa always take the girls on adventures exploring the city...

Grandma and Papa always take the girls on adventures exploring the city...

Papa steps out from behind the camera with his girls!

Papa steps out from behind the camera with his girls!

And yes, the girls showed Grandma and Papa every corner of the playground...

And yes, the girls showed Grandma and Papa every corner of the playground...

A special treat getting a pedicure with Grandma

A special treat getting a pedicure with Grandma

It was cold, but that didn't slow them down...

It was cold, but that didn't slow them down...

And, of course, a trip wouldn't be complete without some baking :)

And, of course, a trip wouldn't be complete without some baking 🙂

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Thanksgiving Fun 2016

by Papa K on November 29, 2016

For only the second time in my life, I didn’t head to Boston for Thanksgiving. After our big trip to Minneapolis a few weeks ago, we decided to stay local and Grandma and Papa Boston along with Auntie Elyssa and Uncle Stephen came to us. We rented a house up in Healdsburg and had a California-style Thanksgiving.

Grandma and Papa with Maile and Lauren on the deck outside our rental house

Grandma and Papa with Maile and Lauren on the deck outside our rental house

Mommy had the great idea to kick things off with a full family turkey trot. 1.5 miles and the girls did awesome. Christine and Maile ran ahead. Lauren and I followed behind – and Lauren ran the whole way – didn’t stop once! I was very proud of her.

We're bundled up and ready to trot!

We're bundled up and ready to trot!

The whole family got involved in the trotting!

The whole family got involved in the trotting!

Maile Girl at the finish line

Maile Girl at the finish line

Maile came back and ran the last yards with Lauren

Maile came back and ran the last yards with Lauren

Very proud of my little runner!

Very proud of my little runner!

After that we cooked up a storm at the house – it had a huge kitchen that was perfect! The girls loved having so many people to play with, read books, play games and goof around with.

Cooking with Grandma

Cooking with Grandma

All in all, it was a fantastic extended weekend and a nice start to the holiday season. We hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving as well!

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(Dad note: Apologies for the long delay on posts! Maile and I traveled back to Boston last Wednesday and over the weekend I was riding in the PMC. Between the ride, work and lots of travel, I’ve been behind on my posts – sorry!)

Maile is spending a couple weeks in Boston staying with Grandma and Papa. Its quite an adventure for Maile Girl and so far she is doing great and having a blast. When Grandma heard that Maile went to cooking camp earlier this summer she had the great idea to have Maile throw a dinner party when she came to town.

They sent to work soon after we arrived, picking out recipes, making centerpieces and placemats, and then, of course, all the prep and cooking. They spent two afternoons in the kitchen getting everything ready – including vegetable crudite appetizers with an herb dip, sloppy joes and a crumble for dessert. Grandma even showed her how to make radish flowers!

Prep, prep, prep!

Prep, prep, prep!

Showing off her radish flower!

Showing off her radish flower!

Sloppy Joe, Slop, Sloppy Joe...

Sloppy Joe, Slop, Sloppy Joe...

The chef with her guests, Nancy and Andrew

The chef with her guests, Nancy and Andrew

At the dinner table, ready to dig in!

At the dinner table, ready to dig in!

The funny thing about this chef is while she loves cooking, she still sometimes is picky when eating :)

The funny thing about this chef is while she loves cooking, she still sometimes is picky when eating 🙂

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Grandma and Papa Boston have always loved taking the girls to museums. In fact, here’s Maile on her first trip to the MOMA with Grandma Jill and Papa Mike.

The new MOMA just re-opened a few weeks ago – so was a perfect chance to check out the new digs. Its a pretty amazing museum – one of the nicest art museums I think I’ve been to. Excited to have it here in SF and I’m sure we’ll be back again.

Here are some shots of the girls and the rest of us exploring…

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Grandma and Papa Boston flew in to town for the long weekend and we packed in lots of fun while they were here. They arrived Saturday afternoon and left Tuesday AM, but along the way we went to a BBQ, played some bocce with our old neighbors, ate some delicious meals, went to the new SF MOMA (more on that trip later), went to the park with some old friends, went bike riding, walked all over, read, introduced Grandma to Totoro and just had a blast. Whew, I’m tired just thinking about it. And that doesn’t even count Grandma and Papa’s visit to Lauren’s classroom on Tuesday morning, which by all accounts, was pretty epic!

Grandma and Papa Boston with Maile (almost 7) and Lauren (3.5)

Grandma and Papa Boston with Maile (almost 7) and Lauren (3.5)

It was definitely enough to tied us over until later in the summer when we all get together again!

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The best part of our vacation to Cape Cod was that we were joined by Grandma Jill and Papa Mike for the first part of the week and Auntie Elyssa for the whole thing!

Only thing better than family time? Family time + ice cream!

Only thing better than family time? Family time + ice cream!

And yes, plenty of time playing with Auntie's old dolls with Grandma Jill...

And yes, plenty of time playing with Auntie's old dolls with Grandma Jill...

Swinging with Grandma Jill

Swinging with Grandma Jill

All the ladies on the see saw...

All the ladies on the see saw...

Selfie time with Auntie Elyssa!

Selfie time with Auntie Elyssa!

Family Picture (Maile 6, Lauren 2.5)

Family Picture (Maile 6, Lauren 2.5)

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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...

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...

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!

Speaking of glasses, thanks Google for the kid-sized protective goggles!

Maile and Grandma hard at work on a copper bracelet.

Maile and Grandma hard at work on a copper bracelet.

Taking in some glass blowing...

Taking in some glass blowing...

Maile met Russell the Robot Giraffe!

Maile met Russell the Robot Giraffe!

Maile Girl and I had a blast!

Maile Girl and I had a blast!

Thank you Maker Faire – we’ll be back again for sure!

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Thank you Grandma & Papa Boston!

by Papa K on February 19, 2015

Grandma and Papa Boston left tonight, but not until they had a wonderful week with the girls. Maile was off of school this week, so she joined Lauren and Grandma and Papa and they went all over the city. Lots of playground time, a trip out to the Jelly Belly factory, legos, art projects, a trip to the library and culminating in a ferry ride out to Sausalito today! Whew, I’m exhausted just thinking about it…

Papa and his girls (Maile at 5.5 and Lauren at 2)

Papa and his girls (Maile at 5.5 and Lauren at 2)

Getting goofy with Grandma Jill

Getting goofy with Grandma Jill

We'll miss you Grandma and Papa!

We'll miss you Grandma and Papa!

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Lucky Guys

by Papa K on February 16, 2015

Papa and I are lucky guys to have these 4 pretty ladies as our lunch dates!

Papa and I are lucky guys to have these 4 pretty ladies as our lunch dates!

Grandma and Papa Boston escaped from all the snow and are here visiting us for the week!

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