Laowai

Are you ready for a big batch of photos? Each day I meant to post during our vacation. But then evening would come and we would turn the lights out and stay quiet, waiting for Bea to go to sleep and what do you know, I would fall asleep too. We had a terrific time. Here’s what we did:

We ate lots of yummy food. Bea likes eating out and is usually good. Only a little food was thrown.

After Bea put her blankie in the tub (with water) we had to take a detour to the laundromat. She likes to take her blankie everywhere so I guess she thought it was a good idea for blankie to join her in the tub. Not sure how she got the blanket in there so quickly because I do watch her carefully around the tub.

We stayed at a beautiful old YWCA camp that was built starting in the 1920s. It’s called Asilomar and it’s now a state park. It has beautiful arts and craft style architecture and it’s right on the ocean. Here I am with Bea at sunset.

Bea walked along the boardwalk to the beach and then discovered sand. I discovered that if she kept her pacifier in her mouth she was less likely to eat sand.

We visited the Monterey Aquarium. I remember being impressed with the aquarium when we visited last time and I was even more impressed this time. The exhibits were all interesting to Bea – she could walk right up to the aquariums and peer in at the fish and otters. There were a couple kids spots that were great fun for her too. If you are in the area make sure you go to the Monterey Aquarium!

I was sad to leave Asilomar – here’s one of the buildings. The original 15 buildings were designed by Julia Morgan. She was California’s first licensed female architect. The buildings all have exposed beams inside, natural shingles on the ouside and great big fireplaces that are often lit to ward off the cool sea breezes. Asilomar is such a cozy and relaxing place – I hope we can return someday.

We had a picnic on the beach before leaving and heading to San Francisco. (Note to Gramma C. – The picnic blanket you made was well used.)

Bea chased pigeons near the Ferry Building in San Francisco. Then for the rest of the trip she made sure to pointed out every pigeon she saw.

We saw the Golden Gate Bridge. This was the warmest day of the whole trip. This day was also spent with Aunt Annie, Brian’s former co-worker. She was a great tour guide, just like in Beijing. She showed us around Sausalito in the morning and then gave us the grand tour of San Francisco in the afternoon – it was lovely. Thanks Annie!

In San Francisco we spent most of our time walking around the city. Then when Bea needed to burn off some energy we found a great little playground behind a church in Chinatown.

We went to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Bea enjoyed wandering around and babbling. Brian and I took turns following our wandering Bea and enjoyed some great photography exhibits.

Suddenly it was the last day of our vacation.

And time to get back on a plane.

Vacation with Bea is a little less like vacation than the vacations I used to know. But she was so good everyday. She was up for anything we did and she was quick to smile and giggle and flirt with strangers. So of course we had a great time. And yet it feels good to be home.

I’ll spare you the nasty details. I’ve gotten a sore throat and annoying cough. Bea and Brian seem to have a similar tummy disorder that is making them very uncomfortable and a little tired. So this is not turning out to be a great weekend. We really need to get well because we leave for our vacation to California in just a few days.

I hope to post lots of beautiful California photos next week but in the meantime here are a few pictures of us enjoying the spring weather.

Bea is getting to be a great little walker.

It was so warm Bea wanted to take her sweatshirt off.

The next time we went out we left our sweatshirt behind.

We couldn’t, however, leave our blankie behind.

Today we ventured out to the Chicago Botanic Garden. Dang it was chilly – so we made a quick tour and then hopped back into the warm car.

Isn’t this container planting beautiful.

No Bea photos today. I’m knee-deep in laundry because Bea has a bit of a tummy bug. Luckily it’s the cutest laundry I’ve ever done.

First we went to the farm and saw horses, chickens, cows (kissing baby cow included) and geese.

Then we went to the playground.

After all that fun we had to have a bath.

Thanks for visiting Jennifer and Jenna we had a wonderful weekend with you!

Pleas join me in remembering the great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes to the belly. He was 71.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Butterworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch. The grave site was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at time he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.

Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, two children, John Dough and Jane Dough plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.

The funeral was held at 3:50 for 20 minutes.

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Grandma Dice passed this on to me earlier this week. It seems just up Grandma and Grandpa’s comedy alley. It reminds me of the time Grandma had a good giggle when we told her that Brian’s new nickname was Pecorino (after visiting the Pecorino cheese making region of Italy).

Thanks Grandma.

But at least we have this bit of sunshine:

Sometimes at night, when I should be cleaning up, I arrange Bea’s toys. I tell myself it’s because it offers her some diversion first thing in the morning. If the arrangement is interesting enough it sometimes gives me two minutes to go to the bathroom or make a cup of coffee before she realizes she’s hungry and melts into a puddle on the floor. But is that really why I do it? I think I must admit that I like to play with the toys and line them up around the house because it amuses me.

So here are most of Bea’s stuffed animals. Three of them are from my childhood or Brian’s childhood. Most of the others are gifts from Grandmas and Grandpas. Bucky was the first baby purchase I made way back when I was pregnant.

Meet the gang.

It’s playground season – yippee

Bea is choosing some music from Daddy’s collection. She can’t wait to listen with him.