Guess who learned how to pump this weekend?

Next up, swimming, bike-riding, cursive, and then college!

Everyone's snuggling tonight

Especially this pile of cats.

We let the kiddo stay up late watch the Sharks game tonight, and he was sawing logs by the end of regulation. Such a sweet kid, he didn't have it in him to wait through a 15 minute intermission just watch the Sharks foul it up. Lucky for us, they came through--all it took was a two-man advantage. Hmmm.

A baby by any other name will still chew on her own fist

Tonight we celebrated our good friends and their new daughter (well, new-ish, she's already seven months old) with a baby-naming ceremony. She officially got her Hebrew name, and we got to hold her and bless her and wish for good things for her. It was lovely, and if I had any real guts I'd have stolen that delicious baby and taken her home. Honestly, she's one of those chunky babies with a big, gummy smile, and she giggles and clutches on to your thumb and makes you feel that all is right with the world.

And when she's around, it is.

Questionable decisions throughout history

Top 5 Reasons Someone Should Have Slapped Me During My First Year Of College

1. White-girl dreadlocks.
2. Boyfriend's dog was named Irie.
3. Cougar Hot Springs
4. Trampoline class.
5. Bought a used mattress.

Some pics from Israel

There's not much to say about our trip to Israel, other than the sea is amazing, the people are amazing, the food is amazing, and we had an amazing time. And here is some of the photographic evidence!

The 6 am flight from SFO to EWR. Lots of markers and two barf bags.

Ladybug season delighted the kiddo, especially at the beach. There were many rescue missions for ladybugs found in the water.

A fabulous restaurant in Tel Aviv aptly named Just Meat.

Getting our ancient on in Jerusalem.

It really was an astounding trip. After so many visits to Israel in the winter, it was fun to get a new experience in a new season. Hot but dry, Lag b'Omer (a holiday involving bonfires!), gorgeous flowers and birds and, well, just right.

Super Kid

Behold, the power of the five year old.

"Mommy, I really like your yarn. It's so pretty. I bet you could make a hat with it. You could make the nicest hat ever with your pretty yarn and your yarn sticks. Mommy, I bet you could make a hat for me."

And for the first time in more than 4 years, I'm knitting.

The sun!

It's been so beautiful since we got back last week, it's just a joy to be outside. We spent a good part of the week doing fun outside stuff, we even fit a trip to Coyote Point in on the kiddo's half-day. There are two river otters that live there, and I swear I could watch them swim, play and eat all day long. I've never been a zoo person--as much I love animals and seeing them up close is such a treat, the whole captivity thing is hard to swallow. But just try and stop me from watching river otters...I promise, you will not succeed.

There was lots of driving to and fro over the weekend, and it was definitely one of the times when I love Max's convertible. We were a picture of a happy family: little league, picnics and festivals with friends, a wonderful handmade Mother's Day gift and breakfast, and we even found time to clean the house. Just stick us on the cover of Perfection magazine.