Save me, San Francisco

Please pardon the interruption as we take a small break from Lilypalooza's usual subject matter. As some of you may recall, my husband thought it prudent to give me a rolling pin for my birthday last year when I turned 39--earning each of us a weekend alone with the girls one year later for my 40th. He with Lily and Amalia; me with friends in San Francisco. 

The San Francisco contingent had a wonderful time at a restaurant called Spruce. Our waiter was quite talented at describing the items on the menu. He literally took 10 minutes to explain all the ways one could prepare truffles (the evening's special)--shredded over tagliarini pasta, paired with a nice salad, etc. Unfortunately one of us arrived late (ahem, Kelly) and we got to hear it all over again. 

I don't usually drink, so I selected my cocktail based on its alliterative name (Bubble Berry Bramble). It was lovely.

 Amy, me, Shannon

 Kelly, Nancy

My specially prepared dessert plate of beignets. It's really too bad how my thumb accidentally brushed against the plate and ruined that nice writing.

After dinner, we headed over to the Boom Boom Room to see a local band called Con Brio. The drummer is the former drum tech from Guster.

This car was in the parking lot. I love San Francisco. 

I owe a world of thanks to Amy and Nancy--the weekend's conspirators/planners. I couldn't have had a more amazing celebration of my 40 years on the planet. So many wonderful memories. Your turn next year!

Getting a rolling pin was totally worth it. 

Higher authority

Tonight after dinner:

Amalia: Look! I have gum!

Me: Did you ask me if you were allowed to have gum?

Amalia: I asked myself!

Not that kind of dribble!

We signed Amalia up for an indoor soccer class to let her run off some energy during the cold winter months.

 Here she is showing off her new soccer gear/hamming it up.

The class is for 3-5 year olds. Mostly controlled chaos. 

Like Pavlov's dogs, Amalia caught on pretty quickly to what she was supposed to do when the coach blew the whistle.  

They pretty much ran the kids ragged. So much so that Amalia came over to us halfway through, handed us her soccer ball, and declared that she was done with soccer. And one got the sense that she didn't just mean for the day. And when we made her go back out there, she promptly started running, fell down, and busted her lip open. Should be interesting getting her to next week's class. 

As you can see from this video, Amalia is not quite grasping the feet-only aspect of soccer. And every time the coach told them to dribble the ball, she would pick it up and bounce it. 

Here's where we started to get hopeful. See the concentration! What balance! What skill! Right up until she lies down on top of the ball. 

Janet Evans, here we come

 Lily had her first ever swim meet today. Seriously. 

SDS=Sea Devil Swimming

Getting ready for the 6 and under backstroke event. 

Don't they look tiny!?!

1/3 of Lily's cheering section got tuckered out. 

Back in street clothes after her last event.

Tis the season

 Even Dana is getting in the mood. 

 Must be time for the yearly Glover Park holiday party. 

I believe this is the third year in a row Lily has worn her red velvet Christmas dress. And Amalia purposely put her birthday shirt on backwards "so the flower wouldn't scare [her]." 

 Our "jolly" neighborhood Santa. 

 Amalia really enjoyed the cupcakes we brought to share. 

Zoolights

We took advantage of the 60-degree weather yesterday to visit the lights at the National Zoo. As you can see from the above picture, it's free.

Interestingly, they didn't have any lighting in the zoo other than the holiday lights, so it was a bit of an adventure (see video at the end of this post).

 Lily somewhere in the zoo. 

Amalia did manage to find the one costumed character at the zoo to deliver her customary hug. 

See how dark it is? 

The kids' table

My friend Beth graciously invited us to her home for Thanksgiving again this year. We had a wonderful time.

 See what Amalia's got her eye on? 

Claire kept trying to take her shoes off all evening. Unfortunately they were attached (tights with Mary Janes painted on them)--just cruel. (Here she is trying to put on her brother's shoes.)

 

 Matthew and an unhappy-looking Amalia. 

Colleen and Lily. 

Awaiting the food, I believe. 

Amalia loved Matthew's train set. 

The piñata was budget-friendly this year: a Trader Joe's paper bag filled with leftover Halloween candy. 

No one seemed to mind.