The four of us headed downtown yesterday morning, to spend some time at the Ferry Building and Embarcadero. After eating breakfast on the water, exploring the area, and running around a play structure, we were pleasantly surprised to run into a line-up of floats for that afternoon’s Chinese New Year Parade. We weren’t planning to go to the parade, but an up-close-and-personal look at the snake-themed floats was even better.

-M

The girls had Purim celebrations at their schools yesterday, and Avery dressed as a butterfly – like she did several Halloweens ago– for the occasion. (Zoe was a ladybug.) A friend caught us on the way into school and offered to take a pic…

-M

Dancing around to Ring Around the Rosie is nothing new for my girls, but here was the scene in Avery’s bedroom a few nights ago.

-M

For months, Avery has been begging to sit in her purple carseat (a booster that we’ve been storing in the garage) instead of the toddler one she’s been in since she was nine months old. I was relunctant to say good-bye to our old friend (can you see why I’m so attached?), but Avery was clearly getting too big for it. And, so, in went the purple carseat and out came Avery’s smile.

-M

The other day marked a first for the family: All four of us went to a movie. In the past, Avery has been resistant to going to the theater, but she was totally game this time around. (When we asked her which movie she wanted to see, she answered, “The popcorn one.”)

Both girls were totally into the movie (a showing of old-school Cinderella) and the Icee we bought them, and when I later asked Avery about her favorite part, she told me, “All if it.”

-M

I read Avery a new book the other night, and afterwards I asked her what she thought of it. The story involved a woman inviting a lonely pig over to her house for dinner, and I was hoping Avery would have gotten the message about the importance of reaching out and being kind to others. She was obviously more affected by the last page (during which the pig messily ate and caused food to fly everywhere) and told me in a serious voice, “He didn’t make good choices. He was too messy.”

-M

Zoe and Avery (with Mommy) visited me at lunch yesterday on their day off. Avery had never been to my office, so she was excited to look around. Zoe was most excited that I had a whiteboard in my office just like at school! Well, this morning while on a client call I looked at my whiteboard and found a little note that made me smile…

Jon Q

Dating back to our trip to Hawaii four years ago, Zoe has been a bit freaked out by ocean waves. (When visiting the beach she would often resist if we wanted her to walk close to the water.) Her fear recently dissoved, though; this weekend she had no problem running into the ocean and even sitting on the sand and letting the waves crash into her. (“Don’t tell me when they’re coming!” she cried out to me.) Given that some of my favorite childhood memories are of playing in the ocean (the Atlantic) with my dad, I’m thrilled with this development!

-M

One of the perks of living in San Francisco is the proximity to gorgeous beaches. We don’t often go to the super-close ones though (too cold), opting instead to travel down to Santa Cruz. But the weather was so nice yesterday that we only had to travel a few miles to reach a sunny, warm one. Here was our day at San Gregorio State Beach.

-M

Avery is obviously being taught a bit of geography in school. When going to bed the other night she told me, “I love you sooooo much, Mama. I love you more than the whole states of the Americas.”

-M

I shared the story below with the parents of Zoe’s little friend; a few hours later an e-mail came back containing the words, “For Mrs. Zoe Browdy Gray from her betrothed.” The picture below was attached.

Zoe’s first (non-family) Valentine!

-M

In honor of Valentine’s Day, a little story about Zoe’s beloved friend (whose last name is Gray). We were talking recently about how – and why - I have two last names, when Zoe smiled knowingly and said, “When I grow up, my last name is going to be Browdy Gray.”

Awww….

-M

I was just boasting to a friend that we were getting through the winter without getting sick, a first for the family. Sure enough, I jinxed us, because shortly thereafter Avery got sick, and then Zoe came down with the same bug. (sigh)

At least the four of us had some fun just before the illness struck on Sunday: We went bowling at a birthday party for one of Avery’s classmates, and the girls were very into it!

-M

A sign that your 3-year-old knows her baseball: When you use the word “milkie” (as in milk) while reading a book and she cries out, “Oh – Melky Cabrera!” (as in, the former Giant).

-M

I had to run to Stanford for work on Saturday morning, and Q and the girls accompanied me. When I finally finished up and came outside, I had to laugh at the sight of my two cool girls in shades, patiently waiting for me.

-M