Monday, January 25, 2016

Snowpocalypse!

Snowpocalypse! We enjoyed a ~25 inch snow show Friday and Saturday.
Friday Night
Saturday
Saturday night
 It snowed and snowed and snowed and today we were left with a beautiful puffy powdery snow.  Pedestrians used the roads as there were no cars in sight and every kid on the Hill made there way to the Capitol for sledding. Last year sledding wasn't allowed on the Capitol grounds, but after various "sled-in" protests they changed the rules this year.  We tried to get an early start to avoid the crowds, but it took nearly an hour to get everyone out the door and even then I had to bribe Sofia with a cookie to go outside.  When we tried to get her outside she would say "I'm not going to the freezer."  I don't really blame her. But a chocolate chip cookie got her out into the freezer and through a few sledding rides before she demanded to go home.

Sofia with a cookie in the "freezer"

 She took a long shower and ran around naked indoors the rest of the day. Meanwhile the boys and I headed up to X park to play around and it took about 30 minutes to walk two blocks; the kids wanted to slide down every embankment and throw every compact chunk of snow they could find. Carlos rode his BIKE three miles to the other house with a snow shovel attached to his back to shovel the sidewalk.


It's been cozy so far, but we'll see how we do with cabin fever after tomorrow which will be the 4th day at home (no school Friday or Monday). My favorite part has been playing Clue with boys by the fire after Sofia goes to sleep. I bought an old school version of Clue and taught them how to play this weekend and I love that they love it! 

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

New Years

We headed to San Francisco for New Years and had such a fun time that the boys said they wanted to spend the summer there. I think that is largely due to how much they adore tia Veronika.  We rented bikes one day and rode along the Embarcadero and Crissy Fields to end up at a trampoline park and then back to the Ferry where we crossed the bay for a (mediocre) meal at Guaymas.  The kids went rock climbing and got to stay up late catching up on Star Wars movies. What's not to love? 




Is this just a Bay Area thing?

No visit to SF is complete without dental day with Tia Veronika
The one downer was battling Sofia over the holidays which, unfortunately, seems to have become a common occurrence. Over the last two weeks I've had to exit the homes of 5 different friends because of her screaming. While I can't stand leaving with a screaming child she goes on for about 15-20 minutes and I don't like subjecting anyone to that torment. I feel terrible for Sofia that she gets herself so worked up about things and can't control herself, but after awhile I am sick of the screaming that I have to just put her in her room and wait it out.  She'll be charming and sweet and then as soon as the boys arrive she starts either defending her ground or going on the offensive trying to take their toys and it isn't long before the screaming starts.  She also can't stand being in a car seat so she battles every single time we get in the car - like it is a negotiation??!  I suppose I should read some parenting book, but I'm not even sure how to classify her behavior and realistically I never end up reading parenting books....

Let's hope 2016 brings good things and many more adventures....without screaming....

Here is from the Renwick Wonder exhibit - super cool: