Ayie
Every year we go to San Francisco to do our taxes. It's quite a drive to go there but we have our trusted Tax Preparer there who's been handling our taxes for the longest time. We take our tax day as a reason to go somewhere special around the bay area. This year we went to Pacifica, located just 12 miles south
of San Francisco along the scenic coast of the Pacific Ocean. Known for
its natural beauty, Pacifica is filled with numerous hiking trails
through rolling hills that overlook the ocean surf and forested canyons.
"Pacifica means "peaceful" in Spanish.
However, the City of Pacifica did not receive its name from its Spanish
foreparents. Pacifica's name was the product of a contest held in 1957
to find a name for the newly incorporated coastal city. The winning name
was based on an 80-foot statue by sculptor Ralph Stackpole, created as
the theme lady for the Golden Gate International Exposition. The
Exposition was held on Treasure Island in 1939-40. The statue was
destroyed after the fair was over but two of the sculptor's working
models have been saved. One is over the front stairs at City Hall; the
other sits in the City Council Chambers."
So there, we went to Pacifica to spend some quality family time with our little boy. We knew he'd enjoy the beach with the sand and the water. I told hubs I prefer to stay under the tree to shield us from the scorching sun but to our surprise it was a hazy day. Sun was completely shielded therefore it was freezing cold, chilly like winter! Hubs was actually laughing at me teasing me about the tree shade I was asking for, it was so chilly even under faint sun. Luckily we had all our snow clothes in the car trunk and managed to keep ourselves warm adding some layers.
See our happy boy gathering wet sand for his sand castle and few sticks? It was too cold that we didn't want to stay near the shore. Getting some "building materials" for little J's sand castle needed much effort walking to the shore and back. Pobresito carrying a bucket full of wet sand, quite heavy for a little boy so he made mommy do the carrying for him after few rounds.
We have a little Architect in the making, he was being so crafty and creative trying to etch and put doors and windows on the sand castle. I was even telling him not to be that detailed because I was afraid it would collapse and I didn't want to deal with crying and all. Can you see the proud and happy daddy behind all bundled up as well? It turned out to be a simple but special outing for us. Having a picnic lunch at the beach and just kicking back some time. We did more fun stuff later on but this is it for now.
Ayie
My boy and I would often go for a walk around the neighborhood, carrying along our camera we would take photos of beautiful flowers along the way. It's very nice to walk around with him because we get to be out and do a little exercise together. I get to teach him road safety during our walks. He's doing really good when it comes to stopping before nearing the crosswalks and staying on the sidewalk. He was so terrible with that when he was younger, would often run off here and there.
Back to the lovely tulips, we took this photo near the library by the Ainsley Museum. Every Spring the whole garden is planted with lovely flowers, I love this photo because the tulips stand out with its vibrant colors against the green background. Of course it's not photo perfect given our "playtime" camera but I love it. J gave me a hand taking this photo or should I say I gave him a hand as he's starting to be intrigued holding the camera and taking the shots himself.
Ayie
One thing that hubs didn't want us to miss is to see where he has grown. To revisit the place where he spent much of his childhood. What's this place called? It's Alameda, an island city in San Francisco Bay. This island community has a small town with beautiful Victorian charm vibe, gives you that nostalgic feeling when you walk through and stroll around.
I've been to this place twice and I wouldn't coming back for more. Hubs would check out those spots where they used to play before and show it to our boy. There's Crab Cove Museum but we haven't had the chance to visit that place. Having our little boy, the beach is pretty much enough for us to spend most of our time. Making sand castle with moat surely keeps us busy there.
Last time we went there our boy was so happy making footprints on the sand. It's so nice to see him commune with nature that way, feeling his bare feet on the sand and getting dirty just like any normal kid. We ran, dig some canals and chase sea gulls.... made some memories, that's what we did.
Ayie
Can rain stop a little boy from enjoying a day out? I guess not, at least for our boy. You can judge from the photo that he's absolutely enjoying the rainy day. Normally it would be a fight just to make him wear a jacket but when it comes to some splashing on puddles, he would be so eager to dress up and go.
This is just one of those rainy days when we had to do some errands and go out in the rain. It was just a light shower and the temperature was not freezing cold. At first he was loving the walk without umbrella and I was the one holding it running after him. It was just a pain to do that so luckily I wore my waterproof jacket and let him have the umbrella himself. At first there was much complains and rejection but after having the hang of holding it, he was actually happily singing and hopping on puddles.
I love having this kind of moment with my little boy, nothing fancy just plain old fun. At least he'll grow up remembering he once played in the rain and wasn't just locked at home looking out the window. We have to enjoy every moment, we can't stop the rain from falling, just like how I can't stop my boy from growing so fast....
JIF Hub
This is the beautiful sight on our way to Tahoe, snowy mountain!
Ayie
This photo was taken last year, the second time J got to play with snow. We didn't have much rains last year so we were lucky to find some snow pockets by the mountain sides. Small shaded areas were slightly covered with snow, good enough for a little fun play time. Perhaps this year will be a lot more different. It's been raining so probably more snow in the mountains. I sure hope so because J would definitely be playing there for hours this time around, hes even anticipating sledding.
Our snow trip only happens once a year a little after Christmas. That's the only time I get to bundle up our little boy and let him enjoy wearing his snow boots. Occasionally when it rains here around the city we would walk around jumping on puddles with his snow boots or rains boots but of course nothing beats the fun he gets to have playing in the snow.
Wearing the proper shoes is very important as it can be freezing or soggy wet after a while. It's also quite hard to walk o thick snow and most especially slippery melting ice. Definitely you would have to get comfortable boots for women if you were to run and chase after a happy little boy. To climb those hills and sled, leave marks on snow, or simply to keep your feet warm enough for hours of fun.
Ayie
I was captivated when I looked up the sky and saw the white clouds stretched all over as if the sky was painted. It's like looking at an abstract painting, only way up there and not on a canvass.
Ayie
This was taken last Winter while me and baby were walking back home around the community center. Isn't the sight so lovely?
JIF Hub
"Laughter is the best medicine"
Ayie
Fall has arrived and it's starting to get breezier and cooler outdoors. You can notice the leaves starting to change colors and some even falling off from the trees already. The streets will be once again full of fallen leaves in no time, kids will be having fun jumping over stacks of leaves as if it's a pool of water.
Speaking of pools, it is advisable to keep the pools covered during this season. Pools might be the perfect place to dump all the fallen leaves though this can pose a great hazard to kids. This doesn't apply to ground pools alone but also above ground pools which are not collapsible or can not be stowed away.
Leaves unlike water isn't clear and if by any chance of accident a kid falls into a pool full of leaves, you have less chances of noticing or seeing the kid instantly. Installing
above ground pool covers and ground pool covers can minimize such hazard to curious and playful kids. Though this kind of incident might not be very common to all, having the right precaution can be a good practice. Nobody knows when an accident can occur and it's not worth the trouble and risk.
Ayie
I haven't seen and talked to mom for quite some time already, barely exchanging emails with her too. She's so busy with her work and I am too. Our time won't meet even on weekends mom and dad have to do things around. I remember mom earlier when me and baby were at the park. It's the same park with the arbors where I brought mom and dad on their last days here. 
...he loves playing on the grass...At first baby was making rounds on the slides and later on took a break from the baby playground and ran all the way to the bridge going to the
garden arbors. He just kept going all the way to the other end of the park with the bigger playground looking behind and screaming whenever he sees me near him. We saw many squirrels and baby tried chasing around the birds which gave him much exercise for the day. I had to ask baby to go back to the other playground because it's more shaded there plus he can enjoy more with the other smaller babies around.
...photo taken last May with my dad...I knew our cue to head out when I saw baby almost dragging his feet up to climb the playground. He was pushing himself so hard just to have a little more fun going down the slide. He practically used up all of is energy playing for good 1hr 30mins. I like it when baby's ready to go home already because it's a lot easier for me to put him in his car seat. No more resistance, no fussing and no crying.
...mom & dad posing behind the arbor...
...baby trying on the bigger playground...
Ayie
A s'more (smore) which literally means "some more", is a traditional campfire treatpopular in US and Canada. It may just be a simple combination of roasted marshmallow and chocolate sandwiched between graham crackers, preparing this treat is the fun part aside from o course eating it. Although smores are mostly done outdoors during campfires it is not impossible to do indoor smores. There are s'mores kits readily available in the groceries some with burners or you can simply make use of your stove, oven or microwave to prepare this sweet treat.
The fun of toasting the marshmallow on a skewer over a fire and putting together the chocolate and grahams is what kids enjoy the most, actually so as the big guys. Having to wait for a camp night is not the only time to enjoy smores anybody can have the perfect smore at the comfort of their home. Homes with
wall mounted fireplace can be the best mallows roasting place most especially on a cold winter night. Better if it is one of those outdoor
modern fireplaces where you can enjoy the night out there in the patio or in the garden just like a typical campfire night. Just be creative and there's no way you can't have the perfect smores night inside or outside your very own home.
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