"Nancy and Shelly Visit" video

This video created for fans of both overzealous hugging and running in circles...

Aunt Shelly and Nancy Visit SF

We got a very special visit from Aunt Shelly and Nancy from Chicago only a week after we got to see them in Chicago. Aunt Shelly takes special weekend vacations with each child individually. This time Nancy got to go with her momma to San Francisco. We had a great time seeing them.

Shelly and Nancy on Kite Hill near our house.

Maya and Nancy.

Bathtime is 90% better with Nancy!

A little coffee before an exciting ferry ride to Sausalito.

On the ferry.

This trip inspired a lot of hand holding.



Enjoying the gentle sea breeze.

At the park in Sausalito.

No trip to San Francisco is complete without a trip to the Yoda fountain at Daddy's work.

After a yummy dinner.

Maya finds this visit acceptable.

"High Comedy" video

Paper + head = hilarious...

"Swim Lessons" video

Maya is just about to finish her first session of swimming lessons. Normally, Mommy goes with Maya on Fridays, but since Daddy was still off work, we all went together. The classes are held at the Herbst Pool at the Pomeroy Center. Since the pool is for rehabilitation purposes, it is a very comfy 90 degrees. The class is for 6 month olds - 5 years and includes song time at the beginning, various early swimming activities, and play time. Maya thinks it's great!

Maya swimming with Daddy!

This video gives a little idea of what a class is like and showcases Maya's amazing swimming ability...

"Adventures in Potty Training" video

This may be too much information for those of you without small children, but we thought we'd share a part of Maya's development that is going slower than we hoped. A couple months ago we thought we would try to do a diaperless weekend to see if we could jump start the potty training process, since Maya had been showing signs of being 'ready' for potty training. Intially, things went well; we got some poop and pee in the potty. But then things went a little... funny. Maya decided that she didn't want to go poop anymore... ever. Sooo... now we are left in a strange land where poor little Maya tries to 'hold it' as long as she can. After about 48 hours, she gets pretty cranky and runs around the house yelling 'potty!' Sometimes she wants her diaper, sometimes she doesn't. Sometimes she poops when she's sleeping, and sometimes she'll poop after dancing or jumping a lot. So, this little video demonstrates what life is like at our house around the 48 hour mark. Jealous?

Happy Birthday Daddy!

For Daddy's birthday, we headed over to the Academy of Sciences which is one of his favorite places too.

Happy Birthday Daddy from Maya, Mommy, and two stuffed zebras.

Back in SF

Enjoying Daddy's vacation time back in San Francisco with a trip to Golden Gate Park with Coco.

Maya does her Kim Jong-il impersonation.

Chicago: Father's Day

The last day of our Chicago adventure was Father's Day. To mark the occasion, the whole family went to the Grammy and Papa's beautiful chateau on Lake Michigan. Maya was very happy to spend time with three great dads...especially at the beach!

Papa sets up our beach headquarters.

Maya and her daddy. Happy Father's Day!

Grammy and Papa supervise the digging of a large hole.

Here come the cousins!

Alas, the next morning we had to leave bright and early to get back to San Francisco.

"We had a great visit. Hope to see you all soon!"

Chicago: Water + Summer = Fun

Maya had more great times with her cousins at the local 'splash pad,' testing out the Slip 'n Slide at the cousin's house, and riding bikes. Yay summer!

Maya and her cousins explore the fountains and spraying water at the local park's splash pad.

Slip 'n Slide anyone?

Nancy get's ready to slide.

Maya's first bike ride.

Lookin' good little lady.

Chicago: Remembering Grandma Josie

Grandma Josie passed away recently and we decided to visit her grave during our visit. It was very special to spend some time remembering the wonderful person that she was.

Grandma Josie and Grandpa Joe are both buried in a cemetary near Daddy's hometown, Homewood.




Maya looks at Grandpa Joe's gravestone (the flowers on the right are where the Josie's gravestone will be placed).

Maya and Papa.

Chicago: Millennium Park

Mommy and Daddy haven't been to downtown Chicago in about ten years. Sooo...we were very excited about our adventure to Chicago to visit the not-so-new Millennium Park. Completed in 2004, it's a wonderful combination of nature, art, and fun in the heart of the city. A lot of pics to look at, but the day was so great, we couldn't help ourselves.

Waiting for the highly anticipated train.

Shelly and family arrive on the platform.

Sitting with her cousins on the train.

A force to be reckoned with.

In Chicago...hooray!

The amazing super-reflective jellybean shaped sculpture called the Cloud Gate.

Maya and Matthew.

Ryan, Matthew, and Maya.

Enjoying their reflections.

Daddy, Maya, and Mommy.

Frank Gehry's beautiful band shell in Pritzker Pavilion.

We wandered over to the pavilion because we heard classical music playing. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra just happened to be rehearsing on the day that we were there. Delicious.

Ryan and Maya return after watching the orchestra.

Matthew, Nancy, Andrew, and Ryan.

Daddy and Maya in the gardens.

Matthew, Andrew, Shelly, Nancy, and Ryan.

Next stop, Crown Fountain. Water cascades off two large obelisks with a large wading pool in between. Videos of faces play on opposing sides of the two obelisks and every once and a while they spit at each other. Bizarre but awesome!

Maya enjoys fountainy goodness.

Mommy gets splashed by her niece and nephews.


Cutie.

Maya and Daddy.

Train ride home made much more exciting thanks to lollipops.

Inspired by tickle-master, Uncle Mike, Maya finished the day being tickled by...everyone.