Cora's Visit

After Cora's visit last Halloween when we put her to work making fabulous Halloween costumes for us, we were surprised that she was game for coming out to visit again. True to form, we put her to work playing with the boys, providing gardening advice for our decript front lawn, and helping us prep for some insane mega-parties that weekend.

There were some fun and relaxing moments thrown in as well - reading with the boys (Cora got them some great new books), taking long afternoon naps, eating (and eating and eating), getting pedicures at White Orchid, and spending time out in Half Moon Bay. Thanks for coming out again, Cora - we look forward to your next visit... and have some projects lined up for you already!

Concert at Emerald Lake

Our best night out with both boys ever? Probably! An unexpectedly wonderful night at this random place called "Emerald Lake Country Club" in Redwood City... basically a tiny lake nestled in the hills where they dammed a creek on its way to the bay.

Our good friend Corey's band had a gig there that night, and we decided to make an evening of it. The best part? The band literally played ON the dock, floating on the lake, while we all hung out on beach chairs and watched the sun go down. It was a rare balmy night in the Bay Area, and what could be better then swimming in a lake, playing in the sand, eating a picnic dinner, drinking some chilled white wine, dancing with our toddlers, and listening to some great covers of rock classics? Not much, especially when everyone is in a good mood.


The photos only begin to capture it... you've GOT to check out this video of the boys dancing. Spencer starts things off, but is soon joined by Theo and his fancy footwork. Hudson finanlly decides to get in on the action as well. Fantastic night... as good as it gets!

Click here to see a slideshow of more photos from our evening on Emerald Lake.

We Love Alanas!

Its official-- Alana's Cafe in Redwood City is our favorite place to grab brunch with the boys, especially in the summer. The restaurant is on the ground floor of a historic Victorian house. The place next door is an art gallery, and they set out tables in the garden between in the summer.

We always order the same thing: a combination of oatmeal pancakes, fresh fruit, and their fantastic quiche. They give "wiki sticks" out to the kids to help keep them entertained (see photo below), but when Spencer or Tyler get squirrely, they can run around on the grass and the porches while dad continues to enjoy a cup of coffee and mom finshes off her tasty scone.

Father's Day 2009

Eunice put together this great collage of me with the boys when they were just born in honor of my 2nd real father's day. What better day to reflect on what I've enjoyed most about being a father? These photos of them as little ones start to capture it-- its the one on one moments when they look at me with a dependence that no one has ever had on me before. That, and afternoon naps on the weekend. Those are pretty great too.

As far as father's day itself went, it was a pretty typical day of highs and lows as a dad. Great morning cooking omlettes with the boys, horrible attempt to take a hike out at Seal Point (they boys were not at their best... but we're glad we made the attempt), excellent nap and afternoon hanging around the house, dinner and a movie with Eunice after the boys went to bed. About as perfect an end to the evening as it gets these days!

Susan's Surprise Visit

Susan made a surprise weekend trip out to the Bay Area to meet her new granddaughter, Lilah. Though her stay was way too short, she was able to squeeze in some quality time with Spencer and Tyler as well. Here are some photos we captured with Nai Nai at Seal Point.

Overnight at Pigeon Point Lighthouse

Just an hour's south, north of Santa Cruz, there's a hostel at the base of Pigeon Point Lighthouse. They have ocean-front “family rooms” ... perfect for a Friday night getaway! We didn't get there in time to do much other than eat dinner at the picnic table outside of our room and watch the sun set over the Pacific....but we were all excited for the change of pace.


We had a room full of bunk beds and a bathroom all to ourselves, and a great kitchen and family room that we shared with a small group of girlscouts (more interested in movie night than in babysitting the boys, unfortunately!). Tyler was up at 6am while the rest of our house was still sleeping, so he and Ryan went off for a walk and some breakfast down the road at a surfer's cafe. We spent the rest of the morning on a walk down to sheltered Whaler's Cove, where the boys threw rocks into the tidepools while we all relaxed in the sand. Lunch at our favorite Chez Shea in HMB and naps on the drive home... not a bad overnight trip!

Click here for a slideshow, including a fantastic series of Eunice and Spencer playing a silly game called "I'm Spencer, You're Mama" in the midst of the flowers in front of the lighthouse...

Introducing Lilah Beth Nichols!

What a thrill to meet our new niece... Lilah Beth Nichols! She was born on June 16th at 2am after 18 hour of natural childbirth, weighed in at 7 pounds 2 oz, and already shows off a shock of white blond hair. Adam and Rachel are doing great-- they're back from the hospital as of Thursday and getting used to life as parents. Fantastic to have them just down the street!

Hiking Seal Point

Seal point might be one of the prettiest places we've never even heard of in San Mateo. Nevermind that its built on a landfill-- stroller friendly trails on a hill with drop-dead georgeus views of the bay? Hard to beat. Grandpa Nic and Abby came down to join us for a little walk.


And of course, Spencer rode his bike. Fantastic on the way out, not so great on the way back as we approached nap time.