Thanksgiving at Ritas

Fun times

The Academy of Science

Whip Cream Monster

Movie Night

Aunt Ritas!

Play Time at the Library

Tennesse Valley

We did a beautiful hike in Marin at Tennessee Valley today.  The original plan was to hike to the ocean but Miguel saw a sign for a peak and up the mountain we went.  It was a big hike for the boys and I was proud they did it with little complaining.  There was complaining but not a lot.  Not like when Tonio cried the entire hike in the rain.  That was horrible.  Today there were the I am tireds but they did it.  Tonio and I sang while Brian, with Arrow on his back, played 20 questions with Migs.

Funny quotes from the day:
- "Tonio it smells like Pop Pop and Terrys' up here"- Miguel

- "P-o-o spells Poop."  Tonio
    "How do you know that?" Miguel
    "Because I am smart" Tonio

- "Here are some flowers for you mommy.  I kissed them and give them love for you" Tonio

At one point, Tonio and I looked out over the hills on the golden dry grass.  There was a cluster of these tall plants with the whitish feathers blowing in the breeze with the Pacific sparking in the background.  That golden fall sunshine kills me everytime.

To keep the troops motivated, the treat at the end would be a banana split at Toms.   

Of course there was no way for the day to end but with lots of tired tears especially with Tonio but that was once we got home. 

Miguel the teenager

Miguel my little 15 year old in a 6 year old body. 

He loves to say things like "I dont like you- I hate you".

He is curious about the middle finger.

I caught him sagging his pants twice yesterday.

He likes flare:  he had a friendship bracelet, a live strong like bracelet, and his spidy watch with his hipster jeans on the other day.

My little hellion.  

4 More Years

Yesterday was our big election day and whooo Obama won.  It was a relief.





The boys had a great time filling out the electoral maps- making me proud.  Tonio, around 5 ish, sat down with me to watch the results and quickly figured out that red was Romney, blue was Obama and that they were trying to win each state.  It was a perfect game for Tonio: races, maps and numbers.  He loved it.

Halloween

It was a crazy day in San Francisco- a celebration of the city's favorite things- costumes and a parade for the Giants winning the World Series.

Tonio was a police man, Migs a vampire and Arrow a bat.

It was an exhausting day because we had to walk to and from school, navigating the parade that was in the middle of our route.  By the time we got home from school, I was so exhausted I didnt know if we could trick or treat.  We did- in the rain.  The boys were all business- going from house to house on Grove, walking home and then doing the candy dump.