Mother's Day and Wrong Way Fred

We have had a busy week! Mom and Mike were here for a week and then we met up with some friends from Denver for the weekend.

For Mother's Day we went to San Fransisco and I was able to take Mom for afternoon tea at the Crown and Crumpet. The thing is, I LOVE afternoon tea. LOVE IT. Endless tea pots (Lapsang Souchong please) little sandwiches with the crusts cut off, scones with clotted cream and jam, and the chocolates and pastries. Actually, I dont really like the last layer. (I'd trade you a scone for a chocolate any day, in case we are ever at tea together. But trading for food seems unlady like...) The tea place is in Ghirardelli Square and we sat outside and had a view of the Bay and started with Champagne. It was great(*huge smile*)! Tea makes me happy.

We did the submarine at the wharf again. The boys love this and we should just get a membership to it. We need to spice up the trips to San Fransisco for the boys, because we seem to do the same things each time.

• Photo by Golden Gate: Check.
  
• Unsuccessful search for cheap parking: Check.
  
• Ice Cream at Ghirardelli: Check.
  
• Watch seals at wharf: Check.
  
• Forget to book Alcatraz: Check.
  

We are going again next weekend (more visitors from Denver) and the weekend after that too (Dad and Rita are coming) so we plan on actually booking Alcatraz ahead of time and actually doing it. The boys are desperate to go on a boat. We also want to ride bikes/walk across the Golden Gate, do a harbor sailing trip, ferry to Sausalito and make it to Union Square.

I also introduced Mom to Ikea . Its awesome. It took all day. We even had lunch in the cafeteria. Then also introduced her to Iced Tea with Pearls (Bobo or Bubble tea). Its also awesome. Its tea with little tapioca balls in the bottom that you suck up through the straw. I dont like tapioca, but I love this tea and its a special treat Ill save for visitors! Kim and I tried it together and were hooked (after being mildly grossed out)!

Saturday we went to Monterey to meet a family from Denver here for a convention. One of their younger kids came up with Rotovirus so we just took their son that is Archer's age to lunch and then to Del Monte Beach. Had a great day at the beach! Flew kites, dug in the sand. We ended up having him stay the night and met up with his parents at the airport this morning. At the beach the boys found huge clusters of ladybugs. Here they are climbing all over Archer!

Fred was in a strange mood and both Sat/Sun constantly made wrong turns and missed exits. Constantly! Even to the airport, to places we had been before. Id look up and say, hmmm this doesn't look right. I'd say "You know you missed the turn for (Monterey/Gilroy/Airport/San Jose/Los Altos/)". Somehow he always said it was my fault. Apparently the aloof comment 10 minutes ago about crooked streets in California was actually "Is this my exit" and I'd apparently answer "No, it is not, keep driving". By the way, that never happened.

The kids have decided Dad likes to take the LONG CUT, as opposed to the much preferred SHORT CUT. We will call him WRONG WAY FRED or LONG CUT FRED for a few days until he turns back into his superhero self that can navigate the autobahn or Paris subterranean parking lots with ease.

For Mother's Day the boys will be giving me a full service spa treatment. You read that right... they didnt get me full service spa treatment, they are giving me full service spa treatment. Painting my toes, foot/back massage and facial. Its all part of the California Budget Deficit plan. I'll let you know how it goes, but I'm looking forward to it. Its scheduled for this afternoon.