Mother's day SF style

    

  Mike is going to be in Japan for work on Mother's Day so we did our celebration this past saturday.  For breakfast, crepes with his homemade ricotta and fresh berries, SO worth all of that dairy I've been trying to avoid.  Add in a little of my meyer lemon marmalade and I was one happy lady.

    Once in the city, the first stop was the ferry building for some more of those Acme bread treats and the farmer's market.  They sell out of stuff here early, so take my advice and don't wait to buy your strawberries on the way out.  Oops!

  I am crossing my fingers and knocking on wood as I say this...we have entered into the stage of life when we can walk around town without a stroller, running after a wandering baby, and being able to have fun looking at stuff and not touching/grabbing/climbing.  Don't get me wrong, they wanted to go to the playground and were anxious to get there, but they are realizing that fun can also be had walking around town, enjoying the sights and sounds, not just on a new play structure.

   The next stop was Mission Dolores park.  We were going to go to the Heath Ceramic studio in the Mission and Bi-Rite for ice cream after the park, but our studio plans got lost in the hills of the city as we searched for parking.  It's hard to tell how hilly it is here, but we saw some great sights as we apexed  these hills.  If we hadn't gone to the ferry building first, the bakery, Tartine, is also nearby and a well known spot for goodies!

  The line was outrageous on such a beautiful day for Bi-Rite so we opted for the very short, but limited menu line that served soft-serve and popsicles.  It still made these kids happy!  I would buy a popsicle every day to witness again how cute Ava was talking about her "stwah-buwwy wowwipop."  I say this every day, but I can't help say it again, "she is so freaking cute."

  For naps, we headed east over the Bay Bridge toward our friend's house in Hayward where we were having dinner.  But first, we had to stop in Oakland to check out Marshawn Lynch's Beastmode shop.

    As we drove by, I spotted him talking to someone out on the sidewalk and we all started freaking out quietly (Ava was asleep) as we parked.  Mike went out to talk to him and he wasn't that interested in having a long conversation and definitely not going to take a picture.

  The kids and I got out and went into the store and as we were walking out he came to the door.  When the kids saw him they just stopped and stared.  Hannah finally said hi and he looked at them.  Joel got a little fist bump after he said, "I have a Marshawn Lynch jersey!"  Calvin told him he had a number 16 jersey that was too big for him and Marshawn told him that he needed a 24, but 16 was good too.  That was about the extent of the conversation.  Little did I know, Mike was sneaking pictures from the car.  haha!

  The kids are still talking about it and telling their friends at school that also like the Seahawks.  I guess he is there all of the time, so if you're in Oakland you'll probably see him if you stop by.  Just don't expect a picture.  ;)

Have a great day!