Andrea's in Town!

A friend of mine from my high school days is in town this weekend. We met her, her husband, and her daughter, Bethany, at the park yesterday evening.

Ella and Bethany on the swings

Bethany is just a couple of weeks older than Ella.

Andrea and Bethany

Ella had so much fun on this play structure.

Playing on the wood train

Sitting on the fire truck

Andrea lives in Idaho now. We email, but I don't think I've seen her for at least 10 years.

Bethany is such a cutie!

This was the first time that Ella went up on a play structure without me hovering closely behind. It was a pretty safe one (i.e. not much opportunity to fall off).

Rainforest Cafe - 19 Months

Ella is 19 Months today! We needed a family outing, so we decided to take her to the Rainforest Cafe in San Francisco for dessert.

On the walk to the Rainforest Cafe

Entering the Rainforest Cafe

Already impressed by the decor

Checking out the fountain with Daddy

Looking at a fish tank

Checking out the giant moving butterfly

Volcano!!! (the Rainforest Cafe's famous dessert)

"Mmmmm!!!"

Coloring with blue crayon and chocolate syrup :-)

Audrey's Birthday Party

We went to Audrey's 2nd Birthday Party today. It was at a park in Saratoga. Ella had to have a balloon as soon as we got there and kept it with her the whole time.

The birthday girl, Audrey

I tied the balloon to Ella's belt loop so she wouldn't lose it.

Running on the lawn

Another friend, Shannon

Ella loves the swings

A rope hammock

Sand/Water feature

Following a friendly dog that was part of the party

Checking out the creek

Time for a cupcake and Goldfish crackers and lemonade, which Ella calls juice and it's the only juice she'll drink so far :-)

Carmel - Monastery Beach

Ella and I made a trip to the beach yesterday. It's a 90 minute drive to Carmel, but it's such a great beach!

Ella immediately dug into the "pebbles". I couldn't even get her shorts on after her diaper change. She was too anxious to start scooping. :-)

This time I brought her tent for extra shade. She did get into it a couple of times and played with her trucks in there.

Wanting to head down to the waves... Ella really wanted to play in the waves this time. We walked down to the water a couple of times and let the waves wash up on our feet. I'm so scared of the current, so I hold on to both of Ella's little hands and won't move in closer for the smaller waves.

There was a nice breeze, but the sun was out almost the whole time we were there.

Ella loves to wear Mama's sun glasses.

Ready to take a nap on the drive home :-)

Trip to the Zoo

Ella and I met up with Meaghann, Skylar, and their friend Diana at the SF Zoo today.

Skylar and Ella looking at the Lemurs.

Ella checking out a sculpted monkey

Enjoying the Penguins

Petting a bear sculpture

Ella was so thrilled to be back in the Meerkat and Praire Dog section. She really enjoyed this part of the zoo when we came in February.

French Fry break

Praire Dogs!

Playing in the Meerkat tunnels with Skylar

"Nose" :-)