Friday, April 17, 2009

Vacation

Just a little quickie while the kids are having their picture taken by their photographer father.
It is Easter vacation for us and we have been having a lovely time.
First of all, my oldest boy turned 13 last week. I will write about that when I have more time. It was a little bit mind blowing for me.

We have spent the week being tourists in our city. San Francisco is a fun city and we just don't get the chance to do the tourist thing...so we did it this week.

We went to Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park and rented the paddle boat. That was so much fun. It was so beautiful. We often walk there, but have not rented a boat for many years. They used to have motor boats, and that is what we used to get. Now they have row boats and the paddle boats. When our hour was done we fed the ducks and sat on the shore where this older Japanese gentleman comes and feeds the huge carp and turtles. We sat near him and just watched. It was so peaceful and beautiful.

Another day we took the street car with some friends to China Town and just roamed around all day. The kids were starving and I could not remember where the dim sum place was that we had gone to with the preschool. One does not usually to to China Town to eat, so I am not familiar with the restaurants, so I had to ask. We went into this little bakery/restaurant. It was a nothing, hole in the wall. The fool was mediocre at best. When the check came I thought it was a mistake....$139!!!!! YIKES! Next time, I will ask friends in advance and know where I am going!

The next day, my sister-in-law and her kids came to the city from Novato and we went to  Fisherman's Wharf and Ghiradelli Square.  My oldest boy had a party to attend so all the boys decided to leave at about 3, which left my SIL, my 17 yr old neice and myself. We shopped and then went to Macy's in Union Square to find her a prom dress. I actually loved shopping for her. It was a lot of fun. When we finally got home, we ordered Chinese food, because they love it and she never gets up in Novato, and then she stayed until, oh, I don't know,  midnight.
It would have been fine had I not had work the next day.

Today was pretty mellow. I took the boys for haircuts. They were pretty scraggly.  They two younger ones were SO mad at me. But they can't have long hair in their school. It is not uniform! NOT my fault boys! But I am glad all the same. They look great, even though they were soooo pissed. 
After I took them to Noah's for some lunch, they seemed OK. I think they had low blood sugar, which is always a bad thing for my kids.
When we were done, I drove to the Haight. They did not want to get out, but I made them. I just wanted them to see the tourists and the cool stores. Once they walked into a store that had the coolest athletic shoes, they were sold! They loved it!!! Turns out, Mom was right. It was a pretty cool thing to do for an hour, afterall.

My favorite part, I have to say, was when my oldest boy walked into one store that had all kinds of drug paraphernalia and looked around. As he walked out of the store, he says to me" That store is messed up, Mom!"
I said,"What do you mean?"
"It has all kinds of things..."
He was totally disgusted!
Yay! Drugs are stupid!!!!

Tomorrow we are off to Sacramento for a basketball tournament and maybe our last rugby tournament, if we can fit it in. It will be a LONG weekend of sports with my boy. I will miss the other boys, but it is always nice to have a couple of special days with my oldest boy.

XO