Kitten Cuddles

As many predicted, we ended up adopting the kittens today. Ivy and Imogene are here to stay. So far, Imogene seems to be getting renamed to "Lulu". But otherwise there have been no major changes. Imogene/Lulu has developed a strong interest in sitting on my shoulder. Tonight she's settled into the hood of my sweatshirt. It's really adorable.

Clara & kitten

Clara & Imogene (or is that Ivy?) Enjoy a rare quiet moment together. Neither one of them often sits still for long!

These are the People in our Neighborhood

It's been a busy two months for us over here! Among other things, in mid-September I stumbled into the role of "neighborhood organizer" when I decided it was time to finally hold that block party we've been talking about for so long. The block party turned into a neighborhood group, and now I find myself on a first name basis with city officials and police officers. And lots more neighbors. Turns out there's some really interesting people that live here & I've never met before!

Here's some photos of the party that started it all (and it was a blast, by the way!):

Molly's sign for the party!

Clara preparing the concrete for a new "Drains to the Bay" stencil

Foster Kitty Cuteness Alert!

Imogene & Ivy will be with us for a week & a half, then they're ready for a "forever" home. Until then we get to bask in their total cuteness.

We can do it!

Mary, Molly and Nouri the Riveter in San Francisco...

Tooth Fairy Negotiations

Molly put her tooth and a note in the specially made tooth pillow (designed and stitched by Nona!)

the note translates to: "Dear Tooth Fairy, Please keep my lost tooth. Please no money. Love, Molly" (and her tooth is actually white... blame the yellow tooth on the lighting. :) )

The Tooth Fairy splurged on a special mini My Little Pony - just for the first tooth. 

Molly's new smile

Molly pulled her tooth out at halftime today during her soccer game. It was hanging on by a thread, and came out quite easily. She's rather proud of her new smile, and as you can see the adult tooth has already been working it's way in.

Happy Birthday Clara! and Emma!

Happy Birthday, dearest Clara. I'm at the same time amazed that you're already 4, and amazed that you're only 4. As cliche as it sounds, it seems like just yesterday that you came screaming into this world. And yet, you show us over and over again that you're big: "I can ride a bike with no training wheels!" "I can write my name!" and my recent favorite "I can spell my name backwards!"

We had the honor of celebrating your birthday today with Emma, who shares your birthday (minus one year). Her wonderful parents and I put together a fun little party at the park, and everyone seemed to have a nice time. There was bouncing, cake, playground, and your own creation: pin the tail on the pig (which Nona helped make with you & Molly last night).

And, of course, your wonderful big sister helped make this day super special. She dreamed up hunting down your very own Spot blanket, and helped cheer you on today as you marked another year.

So, Happy Birthday Dearest Clara! Here's to watching you jump right in to face every challenge that comes your way. And with style!

Spot II

Birthday Girls!

Birthday jumpers!

Opa & Molly make an entrance

Clara pins the tail on the pig

The pig, with one tail

Emma pins the tail on the pig

Lucy pins the tail on the pig, while Clara watches

The pig now has many tails

Tired birthday girls go for a spin

Speaking of that pig... I had the pleasure of overhearing a great conversation last night as Nona & the girls started making the pig. The pig had been drawn, and they were starting to color. Clara had drawn the black lines below the pig's butt...

Nona: Don't draw poop on there. I don't want the pig to be pooping!
Molly: it's okay, why not?
Clara: I don't want to have poop on there either. But it's not poop. It's something that looks like poop, but it's not poop.

Zach later noted that Clara's got the politician response down pat.

Dita, our First Furry Foster

Pretty Dita goes back to the Humane Society tomorrow hoping to find a quiet home where she can snuggle some lucky human. She's been with us since Monday and has spent most of that time literally hiding under the covers. She's incredibly loving when all is quiet, which isn't that often in these parts. I think for our next foster (or "rent-a-cat, as Zach calls them) they'll give us kittens.

It's raining

The rains came early this year. Luckily, Molly has the gear (and the style) to handle it.