Monthly Archives: September 2014

Home Improvement

I’ve been waiting a year to write this post. About this time last year, we started a big home project: painting our kitchen cabinets. Well technically, I started it. After bringing up the subject to Jonathan a few times and getting nowhere, I decided to get the ball rolling on my own. So one weekend when he took Avery and Kieron camping, I put the first coat of paint on the butler’s pantry. He couldn’t deny, it looked good. But he had opinions, and they were good ones. We should spray the kitchen cabinet doors. But by the time we got to the kitchen, the weather turned, and it was rainy and cold, difficult weather to paint in. So basically our kitchen spent the next nine months in various states of progress, and we finally finished at the end of June! It may have taken us a long time, but now that it’s over, I can say it was well worth it! I love our bright, cheerful new kitchen! The change made a world of difference, and I actually feel a little inspired to cook now! I am so thankful to Jonathan for helping me with this giant of a project!

We also made a few other improvements to the house during our first year as inhabitants. We painted living room, the boys bathroom, the art nook by the kitchen, and the front door. We added a fence, put in pavers to extend our patio, and installed a raised garden on the side yard. And of course,  I’ve got a few more projects up my sleeve for the upcoming year. 😉

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What started it all:
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This is more or less what our kitchen looked like this past year. On the up side, it’s very convenient living without cabinet doors. Everything is easy to find and very accessible.

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Before:
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The fence
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Our garden
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Trading out bark for gravel
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Kieron Rides a Two-Wheeler!

In Early July, Kieron learned to ride a two-wheeler! I really think he’d been ready for the past few months, but he wasn’t too enthusiastic, and we didn’t want to push him. He told us this spring that he would do it when he turned four. So one day in July I mentioned to Jonathan that we should give it a shot. Jonathan took Kieron out front, and not five minutes later I got a text to come outside. And there was Kieron, riding along like it was no big deal! Bravo, Kieron! We are so proud of you!
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Congratulatory hugs with Avery
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Within five minutes, Silas wanted to try out the glide bike
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Independence Day

We celebrated the Fourth of July at home again this year. We walked/rode in the traditional neighborhood parade (note to selves, next year skip the bikes and bring the wagon), then briefly visited the festival that followed. We spent the day in the yard, BBQ’d, and finished off the night with fireworks in the cul de sac with neighbors. Overall, it was another great 4th in Suburbia.
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San Francisco Pride

At the end of June we flew to Oakland to visit Auntie Ashleigh and Mark. We spent our first night in San Francisco, where we discovered it was also Pride Weekend. We toured the town on foot, and went out in the Castro district that night. The following day we met up with Ash and Mark, walked by the Golden Gate Bridge, and ate lots of delicious food. The next day was the Pride Parade, so our morning revolved around the festivities. Then we walked all around San Fran and ate more delicious food. It was a lot of fun to see Ashleigh and Mark and their new apartment, and also to be kid-free for a few days in the city (thanks Nana)!

I’ve also got to say, it was so fun to go to the Pride Parade. What luck! Like being in Germany for Octoberfest! It was really moving to be a part of the day and show our support. Gay rights are a cause the four of us have pretty strong feelings about, and we are proud of the advances toward equality that have been made in the past few years. It felt great, humbling, inspiring even, to be amongst a crowd of people accepting, supporting, and celebrating one another.

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We walked forever uphill both ways to my grandmothers old apartment on Laguna St. I fondly remember spending the night with her here when I was a teenager.
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The view down the street
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The view from our hotel room. We took this picture for the boys.
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On our first night, we took a cable car to the Castro district. Along the way we got to watch the Transgender parade. There were some interesting costumes and posters!
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We had a drink at historic gay bar, Twin Peaks Tavern. It was a festive night to be there.

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Golden Gate Bridge
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Do you know you have to book a tour of Alcatraz months in advance?! This was the main touristy thing we wanted to do while we were here. I promised Avery I would take pictures because he thought it sounded so cool. The best I could do was this picture of us with Alcatraz in the background! Oh well, next time…
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A barge under the bridge (one of many pictures taken of things we thought the boys would love to see).
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Watching the sunset
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The Palace of Fine Arts
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Heading out for the Pride Parade on Sunday. I had to take a picture of Jonathan, who seriously went out with a banana in his pocket!
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BART (another one for the boys)
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BART was so crowded on Pride morning that we were unable to board the first train. By the time the second one arrived, we were committed to getting on, but just barely fit. It was cozy, but kind of cool too.
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We’re here!
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You don’t see this everyday. A proud man walking the city streets in only white socks and tennies, carrying a handbag.
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A coffee break.
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Waiting for the ride home.
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