berkeley parks

getting outside is a trusted and true way to maintain sanity with a baby.  pent up energy and a small apartment can make for a headache for both mom and babe, so we try to leave the house twice a day.  usually we stay around our place because we have three parks in walking distance, but we also love to meet up with friends.  

 here are roxanne and eliza at Cordornices park.  this park is one of my favorites because it has lots of shade and lots of baby swings.  it is also across the street from the berkeley rose garden which has a beautiful view of the bay.

 here is baby stephen at the park inside my apartment complex.  this park is not my fave because the black bouncy floor gets really hot during the day so baby stephen cannot crawl on it.

 here are baby nolan, baby eliza, and baby stephen at live oak park.  i've only been there once, but i really like the shadyness and the little stream that goes through the park.

 baby stephen loved the ducks and geese at the berkeley aquatic park.  this park is beautiful.  it is along a track of water filled with ducks and geese.  the play ground is really awesome, and there are a bunch of cyprus trees (my fav.)

 i had to post this picture of baby stephen at totland!  this is a great park because it has shade, sand, and best of all, tons of abandoned toys!  baby stephen can entertain himself here for hours.

 baby stephen loves blake garden in kennsington!  this park is owned by UC Berkeley and does not have a playground, but it is a great place to feed some koi fish or lay out in the grass and enjoy the views of the bay.

 here is another picture of baby stephen at totland, pushing an abandoned toy.

baby stephen's favorite activity at parks is swinging in the swing.  the swing makes him relaxed, sleepy, and sometimes silly.  since he isnt walking, i will hold his hands while he walks around the park. if he spots a swing he will walk over to it and stand there getting really excited.  if i don't put him in or if i try to take him away from the swing he gets sad.  i dont blame him, i would love to have someone push me in a swing. 

mission district

one of our favorite area's in san francisco is the mission district.  it is known as the hipster district in san francisco.  i definitely do not consider myself a hipster, but i can't resist the amazing restaurants and shops in the area, and of course, mission dolores park.

we first discovered the mission district in 2009 on our honeymoon.  as per usual, we planned our trip to san francisco around art museums, shopping, restaurants, and architecture. stephen read about a restaurant called delfina pizzaria in GQ magazine and had to try it.  ever since then it has become one of our favorite places to dine in the city.  we also love tartine and bi rite.  

while food is very important to us, parks have become a new priority when exploring a new area.  mission dolores park does not disappoint!  it has an awesome play ground that even adults can enjoy, amazing views of the city, and plenty of crazy san franciscians that make for good people watching.

 the mission is known for street art and murals.  i love this building.

baby stevo at the playgroud at mission dolores park

the park can be crowded on the weekends.  we love laying out a blanket and enjoying the view of the city.

Bay Area fun

Stephen and I love living in the Bay Area! The weather is perfect. There is so much to do. And lots of good restaurants! We have lived here almost two years and hope we can stay once Stephen graduates.

We love Muir woods!

Beautiful Muir beach. 

San Francisco 

We love swings

Checking on the animals at little farm

Bay views from Berkeley rose garden 

Ici ice cream is the best

Stephen and his friend max

Stephen and his girlfriend Gemma 

Stephen and baby Nolan

Visiting uc Berkeley 

Afternoon at sf moma

Berkeley marina with Roxanne and Kate 

Yummy cupcakes from the sweet treat cupcake truck

Bay views from my friends roof. 

Ibrahim and dini. 

Out to dinner at gather 

With Megan in napa 

Wire sculptures at uc Berkeley

Beignets from Angeline's Louisiana kitchen. 

Playing in our friends backyard. 

The little town I live in 

Quiche from the albany farmers market.  My fav. 

Visitors!

We love having visitors! Ever since we came back from Singapore we have been busy with visitors. My sister Emily had a class trip planned to the u.s. so I flew back with her and spent time with her and some of her classmates. Since my brother doesn't get many opportunities to see my sister he drove out here with Heidi. It was nice to spend some time with them as well. We went to the Golden Gate Bridge, golden gate park, he California academy of science, shopping, and out to eat.

A few days after they left Stephens parents came to visit. It is always nice to have them in town. We went to eat at some of our favorite places, muir woods, muir beach, and to the girl with the pearl earring exhibit at the de young museum. It was a good time.