First Trip to The Bay Area Discovery Museum - Sausalito

Making music at the Bay Area Discovery Museum

View of the San Francisco skyline from Sausalito

The Bay Area Discovery Museum's Bay Hall is fun, fun, fun!

The cute kids art at the museum

Outdoor play time at Lookout Cove

Climbing through the giant tree trunk

Elise and Grams enjoyed dressing up and green screen fun

Several weeks ago, we made our first trip to the Bay Area Discovery Museum in Sausalito and this place was serious fun for the kids (as well as Mom, Dad and Grandma). There are plenty of fun/unique kids activities, but perhaps the best part of this place is the idyllic location with lovely views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline. I know I say this all the time, but thank goodness for Groupon deals because we got half off admission for the entire family. The girls favorite part of the museum was the Bay Hall, which is basically a play set version of San Francisco complete with a mini grotto and fishing boat that rocks back and forth. The girls enjoyed fishing for toy crabs off the boat.

Sausalito is one of our favorite places to visit. We spent our anniversary here a couple years ago in a scenic hilltop vacation rental overlooking Richardson Bay. It really is as quaint and charming of a city as one could imagine (especially being so close to the crowded and bustling San Francisco) and there are plenty of fantastic restaurants in the area. Being the girls first trip to Sausalito, we wanted to make sure it was special, and while I think that they were happy enough after a fun day exploring the Bay Area Discovery Museum, afterwards we treated them to a nice dinner at Scoma's Sausalito overlooking the San Francisco Bay. We plan to visit again soon.

Exploring the wave workshop and outdoor play areas

Mom joined in on the green screen fun

Gears, gadgets, and gizmos

Cuties posing by The Golden Gate

Enjoying dinner at Scoma's in Sausalito

Beautiful sunset view in Sausalito

Elise's First Day of Kindergarten

Elise's First Day of Kindergarten - August 13, 2014

Elise started her first day of Kindergarten just over two weeks ago. Truth be told, I was far more nervous on her first day than she was. I tossed and turned the entire night before school. I wondered, would she like Kindergarten, her teacher and her classmates? Would she cry when we left her and miss being at preschool with her little sister? The day finally came and she woke up happy and excited that morning. She picked out a very cute outfit and matching headband, and carefully placed all her school supplies in her shiny new backpack (which she was thrilled to carry). She brought a bright red apple as a gift for her Kindergarten teacher, and was all smiles walking to class that first day with mom and dad by her side. We got to stay for the first half hour to meet her teacher and visit her classroom. The second Elise met her new Kindergarten teacher, she warmed to her immediately. Elise offered her the shiny red apple, and got a great big hug in return. Her teacher loved it! When it was time for us to leave, there were no tears or looks of concern, Elise just gave us a big smile and waved us off. We were so proud of our brave girl on her first big day, and the best part was getting to hear all about her first week. She has already made a few little friends and loves to share stories from home with her teacher. We call tell it will be a great year. Here's to new beginnings and plenty of special milestones.

Elise's Kindergarten Favorites

California State Fair 2014: Part I - Art & Exhibits

The candy exhibit at the California State Fair 2014

Candyland - with plenty of lollipops and gumdrops

Two mouthfuls of candy yet still posing, hah!

The girls enjoyed the art exhibits

They especially liked "Mr. Skinny Bun"

Photography exhibit

Checking out the quilt and craft exhibit

Elise checking out the Rubes cartoon exhibit

Elise loved walking on water in her air bubble, so cute

Ending the evening with Queen Nation. The girls danced along!

Happy Mother's Day 2014! Preschool Celebration & Berry Fest

West African drum and dance performance at preschool

Strawberry shortcake cuties

Momma with her favorite girls at Berry Fest 2014

Mother's Day 2014 was such fun. Momma got spoiled by the girls at their preschool Mother's Day celebration. They made me adorable gifts, sang me a song and showered me with plenty of hugs and love. Since the girls are learning about Africa at school, we were treated to a very fun West African drum and dance session and even invited to dance along. It was a nice surprise and despite my blatant lack of rhythm, I gave it a shot. We also headed out to Berry Fest in Roseville on Saturday. The girls love to go every year, and I mainly tag along for the fresh strawberry smoothies, strawberry salsa and to take home a case of locally grown strawberries.

While I love to lavish in a little extra affection on Mother's Day weekend, I certainly can't forget to mention the two most special moms in our lives; Grandma and Nana. We owe our family to them and they are loved and adored beyond belief. The girls love spending time with them and we are so fortunate to live so close and see them on a regular basis. Happy Mother's Day to all the hard-working and loving moms of the world!

Slide, bounce house and hula hoop play time

Miss Elise picking out a crate of fresh strawberries

Two adored moms and two special little girls. Happy Mother's Day!

Preschool Winter Concert 2013 - Santa has Arrived!

The cuties performing at their preschool winter concert

Alina was so excited to greet Santa, she ran to his lap

Sweet moment with Santa, she asked for "Minnie Mouse toys"

The girls had their annual preschool winter show last Friday, and we were really taken aback by how much they have grown and matured over the past two years. They both performed great in their winter concert and dance routines. Elise was up first and she sang, dance and caroled on cue, all the while flashing big smiles and plenty of proud giggles. When little Alina's toddler class took the stage, we weren't quite sure what to expect. Alina did amazing; in fact, she was the star of the show. All the other kids in her class were in tears or froze up on stage, while she followed all the moves and melted like the perfect little snowflake. Watching our sweet little star shine on stage was certainly a very proud parent moment for us. Her dance teacher even commented, "she was my only performer; she did fantastic!". I can't praise these two enough (it's my job after all), but at the same time they make it pretty easy by doing so well. 

After the performances, the next big highlight of the day was meeting Santa Claus himself! In years past, the girls haven't exactly had the best track record with Santa. In their past meetings with Santa there has always been a bit of uncertainty and hesitation. This year, they embraced the opportunity to meet Santa. Alina ran right up to Santa eager to hop on his lap, and express her wishes for, "Minnie Mouse toys". She flashed some of the sweetest and most adoring expressions toward Santa. Expressions that had my heart melting, because I saw the genuine sparkle in her eyes and once again felt the pure magic of the holiday season. When it was Elise's turn to site on Santa's lap, she ran up told him she wanted, "a Disney princess castle" and had the biggest grin the entire time. She had been talking about meeting Santa for weeks, and even wrote out her very own Christmas list, which she mailed directly to Santa. The girls left school that day feeling fulfilled; Christmas is right around the corner and they both are officially basking in the spirit of the season.

Story time with Santa and their Christmas book exchange

Elise was thrilled to meet Santa, look at that huge grin

Watching the Little Red Riding Hood puppet show

Glass Beach & Museum plus the Skunk Train - Fort Bragg, California

The scenic views on the hike down to Glass Beach

Gorgeous Glass Beach in Fort Bragg, CA

The girls loved discovering all the colorful pieces of glass

Elise sought after the emerald green glass

We easily could have spent all day at this unique beach

A trip to The Glass Museum

Glass, pottery shards, electrical insulators and much more

Glass Museum detailing the origins of the sea glass

Daddy and the girls ready for our first train ride!

Stunning views from the open air train car

Enjoying the Skunk Train in Fort Bragg

Beautiful day for a train ride

Elise at the train station after a fun Skunk adventure