when you marry on mother's day

When you marry on Mother's Day, a whirlwind of little celebrations ensues every year at your anniversary.

There have been so many little sublime moments this weekend, it's been really fun.


Because David and my special day got pushed out a week, I wasn't sure what, if any, sort of acknowledgement there would be of our anniversary on Friday. I was more than surprised when I woke up and was presented with the most beautiful card and gift from David. It's not easy being married nine years, at our "advanced" age with two young children. The card is one of those types of cards that I'll keep by my bedside probably for the rest of my life. So reaffirming and thoughtful. And the gift was unlike any I've ever been given before.

Yes!

 Stella's uncontrollable laughter during her end of the year performance. She couldn't

contain herself while the boys sang "I Feel Pretty". Neither could David and I. It was

a moment to remember.

 Oliver suddenly ran a sky-high fever and became lethargic during the performance. He's spent the whole weekend sickish, but always in good spirits (that's his M.O.). The fog rolled in fast and heavy Friday night, we were caught off guard.

 David's coffee dripper arrived from Austin way sooner than expected, and only one day late post-anniversary.

 Our friend Mike threw in a new mug as well to go with the one-of-a-kind coffee dripper. Both so beautiful.

 I love spending Mother's Day alone with Stella. First, sleeping in, then a shower, and the whole post-shower production without having to change a diaper or make a breakfast. After being bestowed with many homemade gifts from Stella, on to the nail salon. I asked for my Band Aid to be painted, too, and they obliged. Pretty cool!

 The Indian buffet Stella has owed me for three years, since refusing to go

one day when I was starving and pregnant with Oliver.

Of course sicky needed my immediate attention when I got home, which is why

I'm stuck on the bed writing this right now.

The mister and me. Like he said, here's to nine times nine more years.

xo

red dress

Winter break is on! All four of us are home for the next two weeks, and we have been really looking forward to this time. We stay put every year at Christmastime. It's such a good time to recharge our batteries for the new year. Very little on the agenda this next week, besides a few parties to attend and another performance at The Uptown in Oakland this coming Monday night for me. 

Oliver is playing Santa as I sit here typing, delivering a load of toys to my lap. I guess he gets it now! Stella woke up and started cleaning her room this morning, and fed her fish, in an eleventh hour attempt to get a dog or cat for Christmas, which isn't happening. See "crying", below.

The walk to school on Friday. I couldn't edit enough of these out, they are so darling.

Oliver enjoying some borrowed lunch, Stella negotiating the terms of her performance in the talent show. Her act got bumped to the lunchtime crowd showing only.

Oliver enjoying participating in his sister's performance, uninvited.

Hot chocolate and stollen for breakfast.

A ladies' date! On our way to the A.C.T. downtown to see A Christmas Carol. 

David's Delicatessen across the street from the theater for a quick lunch. Terrible Jewish food. Good grilled cheese.

Nosebleed section. Dizzying!

The Macy's holiday windows at Union Square, with their pet adoption displays, turned a great day into a mess, with Stella crying the most of the way home on the bus because she wants a pet SO badly. Poor dear.

She chippered up by the time we got off the bus. 

The fun didn't end there! I had a wonderful dinner with some old mommy pals, Jeanette and Melissa, at the delicious Ragazza right down the street (too dimly lit for good photos), and then some drinks at The Page, my old stomping grounds from my single days (when it was Chances). What a dump! It was so nice to reconnect with a few of the moms I was close with when Stella was born. We have a lot of memories and a lot of advice for each other. It was so necessary for me when Stella was a tiny baby to have a group of people who could take care of her occasionally, and more importantly share all those new mommy troubles with. I didn't need that much help the second time around, but it made all the difference the first time. I sometimes miss those days when we didn't have school on the brain, just innocent meetings at playgrounds and each other's houses. Good times!

a perfect saturday in san francisco

Meanwhile, all the way across town.....

Later, back at the ranch.....