Visitors from Afar

I've mentioned my Mommy friends a few times - but I'm usually the one traveling to places like Virginia or Kansas City to meet up with them.  This time they finally came out here to see what the San Francisco Bay area has to offer. My mommy friends and I all met online the winter of 2007 when we got our positive pregnancy tests.  Nearly 4 years later we're still in touch and really good friends - getting together every chance we get (for example my last business trip to Baltimore in April I had dinner with my friend from Virginia, my business trip in March in Philadelphia, I had dinner with a friend from New Jersey).

One of my friends this trip is from Michigan and until last weekend had only been as far west as KC, the other is from SoCal and just wanted to "crash" the party LOL.

We did San Francisco in a day - and where I took only a handful of pictures (I'll snag a few of their pictures from Facebook).

L-R: Angie, Krista

First order  of business the ferry ride to Alcatraz.  It has been so long since I went that I had no idea it changed from leaving out of Pier 41 to Pier 33 (I suppose I should've read the tickets more clearly - oops).  We had a great time exploring the former prison.

Angie behind bars

 

Krista's getting some of her best thinking done... on the prison potty.  

Angie and I exploring the nooks and crannies of the prison/former military base.  After a picnic lunch on "the Rock" we hit up Pier 39, the Sea Lions and Ghiradelli Square.  On our way over to the Golden Gate Bridge we drove down Lombard Street - the crookedest street in the world (I'm sparing you those pictures).

But one of the requirements this trip was to show Krista the Golden Gate Bride - and a cable car... which were closed for the weekend due to maintenance... oops.  So going back to the Golden Gate Bridge...  we drove toward Ft. Point, which is the Civil War fortress housed beneath the bridge.

To get to that view point we had to walk down (and then back up again) nearly 200 stairs - I lost count about half-way through, but Angie tallied them up.

After walking around all day, Krista's feet and blisters weren't happy.  Did I mention Krista was doing a marathon tour of the city with a bad back?  What a trooper.  As her reward we drove across the bridge rather than walk the 1 mile span, and had dinner in Sausalito.  That night we relaxed with some adult beverages.

Day two, we took it easy and just hung out around my neck of the woods.  Had lunch at a favorite hangout, went to a few malls and had more ice cream.  While at Ghiradelli in San Francisco the three of us shared one hot fudge sundae.  This time, at the San Francisco Creamery - which Dave said is famous thanks to Man vs. Food - we each had our own.

Angie's quote of the day, was when she wondered if anyone would ask where we met.... Weight Watchers!  Needless to say we were a little green after consuming that much dairy, so after a little mishap at a nearby store, we just headed home.  (I'd talk more about the mishap, but we must protect the guilty from prosecution...).

That evening we had to bring Angie back to the airport so she could get back to her family (she had her second child earlier this year.  Krista and I returned home totally exhausted and just had dinner and hung out with Dave.

Saturday  the weather turned wintery - Juneuary as my co-worker called it - and the rain kept us mellow.  We caught a movie, and just gathered the grub for our crab feast.  Krista wanted SF crab, and we delivered!   

Dave is asking for more crab - thanks a lot Krista ;).

Sunday after recovering from my hangover (those of you on Facebook may have noticed a little random activity Saturday night) we went back into San Francisco to do some more shopping before heading back to the airport.

We crammed a whole lot in, knowing the weather was going to turn south quickly.  Now to get the whole group together again - sans kids of course!

Cleaning up the Computer

It's amazing the things you discover in your computer when you clean a few things up.  Case in point yesterday instead of working I was looking through a few pictures when I came upon some videos of our recent trip to Kansas City.  It appears I never did squat with them.

So today I share with you videos from the vault.

To preface this video, 3 moms were left behind with a total of 6 kids (one was napping).  Their mamas were at the grocery store.  At 2 1/2 the kids who were left without their moms were on the brink of a meltdown, so we found ways of distracting them.



The next video is right after dinner on the same day. Here there are 7 kids (one makes a cameo in the end because he was still eating). But the gang thought it was great to run back and forth, and the one girl in the bunch makes the game - shall we say "interesting".



Have I mentioned how much fun we had on that crazy trip?!

KC Craziness

What a vacation!  I mean it wasn't exactly a lounge around, sit in your bikini while someone serves you pina coladas, kind of vacation.  Rather it was a 18 people - 8 Moms, and 10- 2 1/2 year olds hanging around and wreaking havoc, kind of a vacation.  Needless to say I need a vacation from my vacation.!

The cliff notes: We arrived it was mid 60's and sunny.  When we left there was about 6-8" of snow on the ground and I had my first experience of driving in a snow storm.  Ever. Kids cried. Kids played.  Kids had time outs. Moms talked.  Moms drank (clearly not enough).  And we all got to meet each other - for the first time (well for most everyone anyway).

The long story:

I've mentioned these ladies a few times - and it's really hard to convey to everyone just how close we are.  I mean where else can to you talk about your kid non-stop and not have anyone look at you funny, but on the internet.  Yes this group of ladies that I have the privilege of knowing and calling my friends, have been chatting online since early 2007 when we all found out we were expecting a baby - or two or three.

In my business and pleasure travels I've had the chance to meet most everyone in the group (which is about 12 ladies who still actively chat).  This time we had 8 mamas - and 10 kids (yes one of the mama's has triplets).  For more than a year we've talked about getting together at a convenient location for everyone... we were supposed to meet initially in Chicago last summer, but that never panned out.

Then suddenly Kansas City became a reality. It was centrally located, two Mamas already live there, and it's fairly easy for everyone to get to.  Plus in the Spring weather should be decent. So we picked this past weekend and it all fell into place.  Well that was a joke!

Ready for all the pictures?!

First up, the kids eating Pizza on the day we arrived

The next day we headed to Crown Centre for a little entertainment and food. 

The photo above is courtesy Helen!

Helen had the only group shot - at lunch at the Crayola Cafe.  I mean it's hard enough to seat a table of 18 let alone get everyone in the photo.

Then we brought the kids into the store and they all had fun chasing the moving shapes that lit up the floor.

Some cute shots of Ryan - the little boy we met when he was about 5 months old.

Suddenly Friday Night/Saturday Morning a bunch of white stuff fell from the sky

We had to then evacuate our beautiful Lake House dwelling for a hotel. The roads were a bit narrow, hilly and curvy at the Lake House and we weren't sure about whether they'd be plowed or if we would be stranded.

On Sunday while many were leaving, whether driving or flying, a few of us made it back to Helen's house for a little play time and pizza party.  A little break before heading back to the Lake House for the last round of laundry.

We had our last chance at a group shot of the kids... missing are 3 who were already on the road including the only girl of the bunch.

After we left the Lake House again, the Mama from LA and her son rode to the airport with us.  And when we dropped off the Rental Car, the Hertz man told us he was getting someone to drive us to the airport.  That way we didn't have to deal with the shuttle.  Can I tell you how much a lifesaver that was! 

Drew did awesome on the flight there and back!  In fact he didn't have any accidents - only one that mommy created when she didn't pull his pants down far enough.  So that's great!  He was a great traveler. And the best part was that he carried his own suitcase (roller backpack).  I think that was a big trip saver and made him feel important.

 It was an amazing trip, and so great for all of us to see/meet each other and for our kids to get to play.  Drew is still talking about all of his friends.  Hopefully next trip we'll get all the Mamas together - and without kids!

Home Again, Home Again...

This mama didn't have the energy to download the pictures, write something witty, or even unpack after the busy weekend Drew and I had in Kansas City.  Did I mention there were 10 kids, and 8 Moms?

So I'll get my act together today and give you the update for the morning.

Let's just say Drew is so glad to see his Daddy today!!  The two of them are currently running through the house with their hotwheels.  Toys Drew no longer has to share with anyone. Sharing - that was a tough one for him this weekend.  A lot of time outs for hitting.

Now it's just back to reality.

Leaving on a Jet Plane

Drew and I are off on a Mommy-and-Son-Adventure today.  We're catching a flight to Kansas City to meet up with a group of mommies I became friends with online when I was pregnant with Drew.

I mention these awesome group of ladies when I visit them (two trips to Virginia, two trips to Boston, and one to Kansas City), but I "talk" to them daily - or at least pretty darn close to.  

Well this time it's going to be a HUGE deal. Eight mommies.  Ten kids. One house.  Well technically only 6 mommies and 6 kids are staying at the house - the others live there. (There are 4 mommies and 4 kids that aren't going).

We've all become pretty close, and now we get to meet face-to-face, the first time for most of the group. I have met all but one mommy and child who are going on this trip during my business and pleasure travels.  So... um... yeah... I get around.

Expect plenty of blog pictures and updates next week! I'm sure we'll have some wild tales to tell.  Some of them likely to be of the "What Happens in KC stays in KC" persuasion.

Daddy on the other hand is enjoying a peaceful house for the long weekend.

KC Momvention

For current updates at Camp Grammy, be sure to check out their web page here.

Greetings from Kansas City! One of the benefits of traveling for work, I'm able to meet some of my online Mommy friends. On Monday night I met Helen and Amy for dinner. Earlier that day I was able to enjoy the company of Helen's triplet boys.


I've mentioned this group of fabulous girls before, but we all chat online daily (or close to) about everything from our kids, husbands and everything else in between. About 90% of us have been posting to the same Weight Watchers group since we found out we were pregnant (or adopting), and the remaining members joined us after they had their little ones.

With all of us scattered around the country, I've been fortunate to meet a number of them in my work travels (most recently was another Mommy & Son last month at the SF Zoo, her travel not mine).

It's just a great gathering of girls from different background, parenting beliefs and practices - and they are all a wonderful sounding board. Since they forgot to give me the parenting manual at the hospital after having Drew, it's nice to talk to others who have kids exactly the same age (current kid ages range from about 21-18 months),and are going through almost the same exact experiences .

Now if only we could all live within driving distance to each other...