Friday, April 24, 2015

San Diego Vacation

Last week I had a conference in San Diego. We decided to make a vacation out of it, and Dave came out on Wednesday (no kids!). What an amazing city and what a wonderful vacation. We were there for 3 full days after the conference and we packed them with activities, but the mentality there is so chill, it didn't feel like we were rushing to do anything. 


On our first full day there we did two hikes, one along the Sunset Cliffs, and one call Ho Chi Mon trail, which is really a path carved by surfers, beginning in a very fancy neighborhood in La Jolla and ending right at the beach. It was no joke. Pictures cannot fully capture how steep and uneven the path was. It was all made of sandstone, so occasionally crumbled under our feet. At one point we had to walk across a very thin plank and at the end it was so steep that the surfers tied a rope to shimmy down on to the beach. 
Here's a shot of how narrow it was in some places


While we slowly meandered down, tripping and slipping, we were passed several times by agile surfers in bare feet, wet suits and surf boards. It was a little embarrassing. I also think they were a little surprised to see us on their turf. But it's San Diego, so of course they were very laid back about it.

That afternoon we rented sea kayaks and went out into the ocean. No pics for fear of getting wet, which was wise because both Dave and I flipped over. Loss of sunglasses, but luckily no phones or cameras. We got up close with some sea lions, which was really cool. 


The next day we rented a sail boat and went out into the San Diego Bay. It was windy and Dave had a blast. I was admiddely nervous. It's been a while since I've been sailing on anything but cushy, pleasure sail boats...


That night we went to a fancy dinner atop one of their highest buildings in the downtown area. The highlight was watching the sunset. It was lovely. 


On our last day we went to the famed zoo and saw this guy. He was very happily munching on some bamboo and was not interested in turning around to smile for the camera. But cool all the same. I've never seen a panda before. 

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Daddy Daughter Dance

Last night Dave took Sophie to the Union League Daddy Daughter dance. They both had a blast. Although the theme was "Frozen" Sophie wore one of her fancy, sequence dresses (so many to choose from!), but still danced among the Elsa and Anna's. 
Dave and Sophie

Pre-School Pics

Our beautiful girls. Sophie in her last year of pre-school and Lauren in her first.

Easter 2015

This year we spent Eastern in Rock Hall, Md. The girls did an easter egg hunt in the back yard of the Sharp's house and made a killing. Only in the Eastern Shore can you find eggs in crab traps! Candy all day! 


Sophie in Disney

This very lucky girl got to go to Disney for her birthday, thanks to her Nana and PapPaP.  From the hundreds of pictures I have, here are just two...
Sophie and Ariel (the joke she's telling her we will never know)

Jasmine, Aladin & Sophie

Happy 5th Birthday Sophie!

This year we celebrated Sophie's birthday in the same venue we did last year - Philly InMovement - a kids gym.
Rachael and Sophie

Sophie blowing out her candles, next to Claire. 

Sophie's "big" present this year was gum! She wasn't allowed to chew it until she was 5 and she got a big pack of bubble gum in her birthday bag. 


Sophie Skiis

This winter Dave took Sophie to Spring Mountain (more of a hill) to try skiing. She got the hang of it pretty quickly, with Dad as a guide, and enjoyed 2 days this winter skiing down the mountain.

Sophie Skiis 



Sledding

One of the best things about the new house is the sledding hill in the back! Sophie's friend Drew came over during one of the first big snow falls and took full advantage. 
Sophie and Drew

Top of the hill

Sophie and Drew


Happy 2nd Birthday Lauren!

Our happy girl Lauren turned 2 at the end of December. Before the Christmas break her class had a birthday celebration in her honor. 
The birthday girl

The Montessori Globe circle (2 times around the candle to represent her years of life). 

The birthday girl
The cousins (Lauren sans pants)

Ariana came up to Philly to celebrate her first and Lauren's second birthday. 


Merry Christmas 2014!


This year we got a Christmas tree for our house - the first in the new house - but spend actual Christmas in Virginia. Here's a shot of the girls decorating the tree.  Many ornaments, very low. 

The girls in a loving Christmas moment. Perhaps they were moved by the prospect of presents... 

The cousins Christmas morning. Poor Ariana was sick and very unhappy.