Grammy goes really fast!

A tiny piece broke off of a little toy. Riley brought it to me, as I was in the bathroom fixing my face. I said, 'Oh no, what happened? Did you throw it?' (usually that's the case). She replies, in a very melancholy, timid voice, 'No, I don't know what happened. Maybe the earthquake did it. See ya later.' Put the toy, and the broken piece, on the sink, and pulled the door closed behind her.

Later, I used SuperGlue to fix it, as I always do. She hasn't yet noticed.

On another note, un-Riley-related... my mom's birthday was on Tuesday (#62, but don't tell anyone). And boy, did my dad help her to celebrate! Check this out.







The stats?
4 speed transmission - 600 horsepower - top speed.....123 mph. 7 drivers.
Results - as the crew called me..."Ruthie the Rocket"..... first place.

Go big mama... now she's in trouble when she goes home to that Jag in PA. Alert Smokey....

And one last note... to those Olympic figure-skating ladies... congratulations. We all cry for our own very personal reasons. You all deserve it. ; )

Ballet classes are a hit!

I took Riley this morning to her first ballet class, ever. Finally, all these tutus are going to get some real use! We looked at 3 different schools before choosing this one, Ms. Carol Wei (thanks, Katie!), and it is perfect. Not too nursery-school style (one was totally sing-song, duck-duck-goose style), not too rigid (one requires tight buns in the hair for the 3-year-olds), not a severe dress code (one requires only pink everything and no tutus), and just perfect.

Riley was shy for the first 10 minutes, and wouldn't put her ballet slippers on. Then she started to participate, then she started smiling, then she came over and asked to put her slippers on. Definitely a hit. Check it out.






Last Sunday, we spent another family day together... we went north! Planned on lunch at the Pelican Inn, and then Muir Woods, but we got to Pelican Inn, we realized the only lunch was a $25 buffet, which we weren't in the mood for, so we continued north to Olema. Found one of our favorite spots, and stopped there. Riley had fallen asleep in the car, and continued to sleep until the food came.



On the way home, we decided to stop for the gorgeous sunset in Stinson Beach. Riley met a little friend and had a load of fun getting all sandy and having the biggest popsicle EVER. She couldn't even finish it.






The Batori ladies had haircuts today... Quinn's first haircut! Check out these little beauties...



And here is Riley in a new Chloe's Closet outfit (yes this is the website I designed), at the Vicente Playground this week. We've been having truly amazing weather.



My parents, on the other hand, have not had the best weather in PA (thank goodness they're in Florida!). Tons and tons of snow this winter.... This is my dad's (former) warehouse where he keeps all his tools, supplies, and TRUCKS (let's make that FLAT trucks)!! Thank God for retirement??



And here's a big shout out to my 'ol buddy from high school, Rich David. He had a massive heart attack two weeks ago, and is finally going home today from Allegheny General, with a temporary heart, awaiting a transplant. My God, Rich, you are a strong man. Best wishes to you, and next time I am home, we WILL work out a get-together!! Without fail... this time was WAY too close. And I promise to find those Super Lawyer stories. xoxoxo

A nice family day, by the Mavericks!

First of all, here is Riley being Madonna-inspired. She put this outfit together all by herself. Never saw any photos. Honest.



We all woke at the same time this morning, 8am, and had a nice big breakfast while we watched the Mavericks on the web. Wow, what a contest! I can't believe the waves get so big here. Pretty scary, considering we live so near, and my recurring nightmares are of tsunamis...

But we braved the traffic, and headed down to Half Moon Bay. We got to see the waves from Highway #1 on our way down, and that was enough! Cars were parked along the highway for miles.

We had a great day, and we're so glad we went. Riley got to experience all sorts of wildlife in between our shopping excursions.









And this, as Russell says, is the 'especially fresh sushi' Riley requested to bring home with her. She received $5 from auntie Mimi for Valentine's day, and pulled it out of her little pocket to pay the gentleman, after asking 'what fish food do you recommend?'. Yes, we got out the ol' fish tank, and will give it another college try...



Last weekend, the ladies and I hosted a baby shower for Christie and Marcus (who Russell used to work with). We decided to pamper Christie (and ourselves)! We started with brunch at Absynthe, and proceeded to Pampered Girl for mani/pedis (and more mimosas). Yum! Plus Christie got some good loot for da bebe... Ollie (a little lady who will grace us with her presence quite soon... check back for photos!).





Last week, she finally got to try out her Hannukah gift from the Auntie Lindsay and Uncle Jeremy clan. It's been such terrible weather here, this was the first day we could really take it out for a whirl! She loved it, and did really well, but of course, got distracted by the timber gym at the playground. Oh well... guess we'll have to stick to the sidewalks on the avenues... and avoid the hills! She would love nothing more than to be a bat outta hell on those SF hills... and daddy and I can't run that fast!



And we've been fighting off illnesses in this house for about a month (or longer) now. Riley has taken up the computer. Sometimes hers, but often times, mine. Sometimes, even daddy's. I don't like her using mine, but so be it... she navigates it really well!

Hers:


Mine:


Daddy's:


Some recent Riley-isms:

"Mommy, you know, the princess from the Princess and the Pea, got old. Just like Wendy, from Peter Pan, got old. In those chairs."

"Hey mommy! Juliet's mom is Lisa. Just like Eli's mom is Lisa. And Rebecca and Jessica's mom is Lisa!"

Riley: "Oh no! The ice cream store is closed! We should get Santa to open it."
Me: "Hmmm, I don't know where Santa is right now, since it's not Christmastime."
Riley: "Well, all we have to do is find a unicorn! She will find Santa, and bring him to us in his sleigh, and he can open the ice cream store!"

And one more. Tonite at dinner, Riley picked up a cherry tomato, looked at it and said, 'Perhaps I'll have a tomato,' popped it in her mouth, and smiled. That's my girl!!

And that is all for now. Nite!