San Francisco Zoo

Project #56 Day trip to San Francisco Zoo

The weather is getting nice and I was itching to get out of town. The brilliant idea came to me to get my two best friends from high school together and let's get outta here. The three of us used to travel and have the best adventures. I bet you didn't know there are hip-hop skaters that dance in the middle of Golden Gate Park, neither did we until one of our adventures lead us there. Well now that two of us are mothers we sure were in for an adventure when I suggested a day trip to San Francisco Zoo.

The six of us piled into the Highlander with toddlers in the 3rd row seats coloring and eating snacks, which worked well until Angelo bonked Julianna in the forehead with a cup. Its okay we solved that problem with some "quiet time" as I like to call it; Angelo took a nap and Julianna never made a peep.

We made it with only one potty break and no Bay Bridge traffic! Unheard of, right? We stumbled upon rockstar parking, ie. free and close to entrance. Tip #1 Search for street parking before pay $8 for parking lot.

As we continue our journey pushing two strollers, three lunch coolers, two diaper bags, backpack, and the three little ones, we arrive to see the gracious giraffes. I think on my next list I will be to see giraffes in the wild, as in go on African Safari Tour. The giraffe exhibit has hills and tall trees as well as other giraffes to interact with, gorgeous but must move on. Tip #2 Try to resist spending 2 hours in the African exhibit.

The zoo starts with the Africa exhibit there are gorillas, lemurs, zebras, and others. We looped around and stopped for an unexpected delicious lunch at the Lemur Cafe. Even though we had enough food to feed a small classroom we forgot the staple items as in sandwiches. I would suggest the cheese pizza as a yummy giant slice to share. Tip #3 Lemur Cafe--pricey but money well spent.

Now after potty break, we stopped at the Children's Zoo. There is a petting zoo inside with goats, sheep, and chickens. The goats did bully their way to some snack pellets, but that was nothing compared to the squirrels we found rummaging through the strollers when we returned to stroller parking. Tip #4 When leaving your stroller unattended at petting zoo, the squirrels WILL chew through lunchpack zipper to get your cocoa-covered almonds.

Tip #5 The zoo closes at 5 pm. Your day will fly by, please keep an eye on the time.

Leaving the Children's Zoo we realize we have about 45 minutes left so we buckle the kids into the strollers and run to the other side of the park. We are proud to say it was worth it. In the very back of the park is the Australian Outback and bears, polar, grizzly, and black, and brown.

Tip #6 Don't forget to take pictures. My camera never left my diaper bag. I had a great time enjoying the zoo with a few of the greatest people in my life but a couple pictures are needed to document. I do believe we did capture the work of the squirrels; I'll have to check on that.

The ride home wasn't bad considering tired, grumpy toddlers in the back and exhausted baby in the middle of it. We pulled out the DVD player and "Bolt" saved the day! Tip #7 Bring a movie player.

The day was marvelous and I hope we can do it again. 13 years later, marriages, kids and we are still three women that are loving, warm, kindred spirits, brave, and silly. That trip was perfect for Project 622.

Next stop--San Diego Zoo.

Sidney's Legacy

In reading Sidney Poitier "The Measure of a Man", the chapter titled Legacy, I expected to read about the actors, screen writers, directors, producers all the people that Mr. Poitier has had the honor of meeting and befriending. But it was the very last paragraph of the chapter that touched me the most. It reads:

I must ask myself what I've done to support that vision of the future. I know that one can never do enough. "To whom much is given, much is required" the Bible says, and I give money to this and to that and lend my name to certain causes. But where I've invested most in the future of this planet-- unreservedly, and from the deep heart's core-- is through the lives of six talented and intelligent young women, truly beautiful human beings, whom I burst with pride to call my daughters.

Every parent should have that perspective that their children are their legacies. I want to provide for my children so they have a better world to live in and are capable of improving the lives of the next generation. I hope to have the strength and support that Mr. Poitier carries with every word in the book.

Even though the world views Mr. Poitier as a legacy through the work he has done in and out of the entertainment industry, he views his legacy through his children. And for that I believe I love Sidney Poitier.

I could be done reading the book at this point and think it was one of the greatest books I've read, but I have three more chapters to complete.

Here's to happy reading!

"It's My Heart", so we ran

Early Saturday morning Feb. 27th, my girls and I woke up to support a friend of ours, Melissa and her family. We woke up ready to walk in the rain for "Its my Heart" in Fresno but Mother Nature came through for us because despite my pancho covered double jogging stroller, the rain stopped just in time. The five of us, Melissa, Courtney, Julianna, Amaya, and I (Amy called to check in on us several times and totally there in spirit) walked that Saturday morning to support children born with Congenital Heart Defects, including Alyssa.

This Saturday morning was such an adventure, nevermind the 3 hour drive with the 2 kids, but supporting someone for something completely unselffishly. Congenital Heart Defects effect 1 out of 100 children, we weren't 1 but still effected in another way. I want to help make Melissa's voice louder, so I tweet about it, run for it, research it, and talk about it.

Melissa is a kindred spirit and each time I see her it feels like I am seeing my best friend. Melissa's daughter was born premature and with CHD, I urge you to read her stories at http://happymom4life.wordpress.com

Update on Project 622

Working on Project 622 has been so much fun. I have had several people close to me that want to help in some way to accomplish completing my list. Kellie wants to train with me so we can run that mile (#42 Run a mile), Cynthia offered to give me a bike (#33 Buy a bike), Tony and Monique promised to buy my shoes and babysit for that date (#24 Buy new pair of black stilettos, #25 Dinner date to wear new shoes); I absolutely love the support I've received.

So far, I have put working out into my daily schedule so for 3 weeks I've been in yoga and cardio(#4 workout 4 times in a week). I started that book, The Measure of a Man, (#11), that is an incredible man Sidney Poitier. A great read, thanks Oprah Book Club! I haven't lost all the weight but I'm happy about the way I feel (#6 be happy if I don't).

This is an amazing adventure and its not over. I am looking forward to crossing more off the list but until then I feel fabulous.

Have you started your list? Figure out what you want and write it down.

No YELLING; I accept the challenge

I yell. Not often but I do yell at the kids on the rare occasion. I do not think of myself as a bad mom because I have resorted to raising my voice when my kids are out of hand. In fact, a couple of moms have shared yelling is a great pastime of motherhood and the children would be robbed of proper upbringing if it were removed. I assume screaming and cursing would be considered taboo however yelling as a means of coercing desired behaviors is acceptable.

In my week of "no yelling" I realized I raise my voice when I've lost patience. My patience threshold is something to be noted as I've been told; so those rare times patience is not my friend are the times that I did not spent enough quality time with my pillow, also known as exhaustion. So comes the challenge to get enough rest so that I don't introduce myself in the morning as "Grumpy Mommie".

Right, sleep. Okay so how do I get enough sleep. That is another story but it just so happened my nursing baby started sleeping through the night when I accepted this challenge. Three cheers for Amaya!

I decided that the technique of coercion is not my greatest joy in life and especially when it hurts those I'm supposed to protect. From what I can recall, I made it the one week challenge to not yell at my kids as suggested by Veronica Webb on her blogsite.

At the end of the week as I reflected on this challenge I realized that yelling is easy because we use it as a source of power. Yet, this power that we derive seems to be primarily used on children, our own children. Not the grocery store clerk that charged our ATM twice, the telemarketer that calls at the perfect time, driver that cuts you off at the stop sign, bank teller that won't reverse that fee.

Why is it acceptable to yell at our own children?

I want to find another form of communication with I speak with my children. Most importantly, I want children that respect me and love me as I do love them.

Give it a try, you might surprise yourself.

Love and Respect.

Toddler-hood to Preschooler

As of Saturday, my baby girl is now a preschooler. We celebrated Julianna's 3rd birthday at Art Beast Studio with family and close friends. The kids were painting, molding moon sand, making ornaments, and running. We ate delicious custom cupcakes from Courtney. Overall, the day was a beautiful success.

Now I've realized, although its just another year, she is growing up and not slowing down. My mind races as I imagine the upcoming milestones ie. kindergarden, high school, prom, graduation, college, grandkids; does life ever pause, wait I wasn't ready for it to happen so fast. I just want to hold her tight and protect her forever.

So I have heard it a million times to cherish the days of when they are young "cause they grow up so fast." Every day is special but so are the milestones. I have never wanted to hold my children back selfishly; independence, strength, and adventure I foster in my kids in hopes they become admirable, happy, productive members of society. Julianna first crawled at 6 months. There was no magic to it I got down on the floor with her to cheer her on, her courage was astonishing to me. I wasn't disappointed I couldn't carry her around everywhere or that I would have to chase her. In fact I was elated, Julianna trusted me to always be by her side, herself and her strength, and her world around her.

So this new desire to hold her close is silly of me since I've always been the woman by her side to support her and encourage her curiosity of it all. I know I'll always be her best friend, I just happen to remember her first smile.

Project 622

I would have a much easier time writing a to-do list of 1001 things to do in 10 days. But the goal isn't to do things I do everyday. I must remain focused as we know this list is for me not the mom in me. In creating a list of things to do for me, I have discovered how important it is to never lose focus of that person that makes me the loving, fun, nurturing mom that I am and consistently try to remain.

So I have come up with 60 things to do before 6-22-2011; hence Project 622. These things are the things I have done in the past and have a strong passion for (#1) or things I've never been able to accomplish (#40), even those things that I can never seem to find the time for (#11).

I hope that you will enjoy reading the stories as I mark things off the list. I know I will thoroughly enjoy sharing the many adventures ahead of me.

Project 622

1. Take horseback riding classes
2. Compete in a horse show
3. Renew my passport
4. Work out 4 days in 1 week
5. Lose that 30 lbs of “baby” weight
6. Be happy if I don’t
7. Get 8 hours of sleep for 1 week
8. Go on girls’ vacation
9. Join the community garden
10. Join a book club
11. Start by reading “The Measure of a Man” Sidney Poitier
12. Finish the baby albums
13. Have 3 month of living exp in savings
14. Unpack all boxes in garage
15. Take a ballet class
16. Get credit score
17. Improve credit score
18. Create album of Great-Grandma’s favorite recipes
19. Get another tattoo
20. Knit Amaya a baby blanket
21. Take photography class
22. Take a family portrait
23. Take a Polynesian dance class
24. Buy new pair of black stilettos
25. Dinner date to wear new shoes
26. Buy shelf for office library
27. Complete a puzzle
28. Host an elegant dinner party
29. Take a peaceful bath once a week
30. “Beautification day” once a week
31. Grow backyard strawberry patch
32. Celebrate Mardi Gras 2011
33. Buy a bike
34. Take my bike to Angels’ Island
35. Go hiking
36. Bake and frost a birthday cake from scratch
37. Renew CPR for infant/child
38. Spend more time at the beach
39. Volunteer
40. Buy a set of Egyptian cotton sheets
41. Spend a morning in bed
42. Run a mile
43. Book a vacation from TravelZoo’s weekly deals
44. Learn how to play Poker
45. Get a massage
46. Organize game night
47. Brush up on French language
48. Write a letter in French
49. Finish a cross-stitch project
50. Tour State Capitol
51. Play a game of 9-hole golf
52. Ride San Francisco’s cable car
53. See a 3-D movie at IMAX
54. Eat at a new restaurant
55. Trip to Vegas
56. Day trip to San Francisco Zoo
57. Ride in a yacht
58. Host a bake sale
59. Celebrate when list is complete to this point
60. Start a new list that includes trip to see Great Wall of China