Coit Tower

You can kinda see the city behind me!

Another picture by Ava

This was on the corner of the sidewalk--kinda funny in today's world.

Golden Gate Park

Outside the museum of natural history by a strange looking sphinx. I am sure there is some significance to the strange-head on this Sphinx that perhaps we ought to know, but heh, we're Americans.

A monument that looked really important so we took a picture in front of it.

Here Jon is highlighting the beauty of the lilies

The beautiful flower garden building. It would be nice if I could remember the official name of it.

Ava posing by the poppies

Ava took this picture!

Two Oregonians enjoying the sunshine!

At the Kid's Playground

Ready, Set, Play!

This was by far the coolest playground we have ever been to! They had stuff for all ages and almost every square inch of ground was covered in this spongey rubber stuff (that's the official term). Jonah is the one in red climbing the rope pyramid in the picture above. He made it almost to the top! Some little girl was being mean to people up there and telling another little girl that she was ugly. Jonah spoke up and told her to knock it off--so sweet!

These little chairs spin when you lean...

and still leaning...

This concrete slide was so cool! Kids bring pieces of cardboard to make it faster (and I'm sure the parents appreciate how this saves their jeans!)

That little one in green is Ava. Hard to believe that just over a year ago she wouldn't even go on a swing, let alone a slide!

Jonah and Ava on the pretty carousel in the park.

MLB--Major League Brawleys

We stayed an extra day so that Jon could see the Giants play in the new AT&T Park against the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was so fun! They have so much fun stuff for the kids to do that they don't actually have to sit in the seats you buy for them. :)

Jon and Joe watching the Diamondbacks warming up. They were standing in front of the Chevron sign and didn't know it.

Ava went down the not-so-fast super slide.

Jonah going down the big super-slide

Almost game-time!

The field is right on the bay--such a beautiful setting!

Cute girl on a cable car

Cute boy on the cable car. He was a bit bummed he couldn't hang from a moving cable car so compensated here.

Daddy and Joe at the game

Momma and crazy Ava (and this was before the cotton candy)

Waiting for some action

Double-fisting it with the cotton candy (the white chunk on the right looks like it's part of the lady's sweatshirt, but it's all candy)

Sticky face, sticky fingers!

Ava with her squishy ball they threw out from the field. I'm surprised she doesn't sleep with it at night.

At Yuerba Buena Gardens before we had to catch our flight. The sun was a little bright, I guess. Ava is displaying the Gobstoppers she was given at Mel's Diner after breakfast. I can't believe I neglected to take a picture of Jon eating at a Mel's Diner! One of his all-time fav movies is "American Graffiti" and a lot of it takes place at Mel's. The food was good, too! Well, I guess since I don't have picture-proof that we were there you all will have to watch for Jon wearing his new t-shirt.

The Easter Bunny (Nana) was good to us this year!!

Brynne didn't quite know what to do with her basket full of goodies (at first). Now she asks for "Canky!" every few minutes.

Ava sure loves those Nerds!

Jonah was happy to see some spearmint gum (he informed me that he's moved on from Juicy Fruit) and chicken that lays eggs in his basket.

I couldn't resist this photo of our little princess trying out the piano (just like Jo-Jo and Sissy).
We had a wonderful time at church worshipping the Savior (He is Risen!) and had William and Heather (E-um and Hearer) over for some ham and fixin's, including my first ever attempt at Hot Cross Buns. They were yummy!
Happy Easter Everyone!

Easter Models

"Brynne is wearing an adorable pink dress with satin top and tulle skirt made by. . . uh, Costco."

"Ava's looking quite stylish in her purple layered flower fairy dress and matching sequined bunny purse."

"Here she is doing a little gig. . . "

"Jonah's looking handsome this year in his striped blue and white shirt and matching blue slacks."

"Ginkle Ginkle"

Brynne's rendition of Twinkle Twinkle. We think she's pretty cute! She gets asked to sing this SEVERAL times a day...

Chai Tea

I posted about this yummy homemade Chai Tea on facebook, and a few people asked for the recipe. I got it from a catalog I subscribe to at Beeyoutiful.com.
So I thought I would post it here.
Here goes:
4 Cups Water
3-4 T Evaporated Cane Juice or Rapadura
1 Toe of fresh ginger, grated or diced finely
2-3 Cinnamon sticks
8-10 Whole Cloves
1 tsp Cardamom
1 tsp Nutmeg
Pinch of Tumeric
Pinch of Black Pepper
4 T Loose Black Tea or Black Tea Bags
1 tsp Pure Vanilla (a vanilla bean would prob work, too)
Cream or Milk

Add water, Rapadura or other sweetener and spices to a 2-3 quart pot and bring to a slow boil. After about 15-20 minutes, add loose tea or tea bags and continue to simmer for another 10 minutes (I covered my pot at this point so I didn't loose too much of the liquid). Remove from heat and strain through a tigh mesh strainer into a 4 cup measuring cup. Stir in vanilla. Some of your liquid may have boiled away. Add back enough hot water to make 4 cups of tea. Serve with 1/4 cup warm cream or milk in each cup. I cooled mine in open jars and stuck it in the fridge to enjoy for a couple of days. Makes about 5-6 cups of Chai.
UPDATE: I will definitely make this stronger using more black tea and trying to save my liquids in the beginning rather than adding water back in. Also, just add a teensy bit of cream.