Playing Catch-up, Part 3 (July 14-20)

This week's highlight was a two-night visit from Tio Miguel, who was down from Portland to receive training in Ecotect, a groovy architectural energy-efficiency analysis software. (Hope I got that right.)



As we await the arrival of our meal at Axum Cafe, our favorite Ethiopian restaurant, Ayla is bewitched by Miguel's enchanting smile and dreamy dark brown eyes. (Uh oh, she's already a sucker for those tall, dark, and handsome types.)





Hooray, Beer!





Ayla loves a good import...





Back at la casa, Miguel enjoys a gelato from our next-door neighbor, La Copa Loca, while Ayla looks on with envy. What? No, that is not a children's mobile made from a coat hanger jammed in the side of Ayla's rocker. What kind of parents do you think we are? Please move on to the next picture. Nothing to see here.





"Maybe we could run off to Mexico, Miguel, and you could use Ecotect to design a beautiful, energy-efficient palapa for the two of us."







We finished the week with a Sunday brunch with Aaron, Sarika, Jessica, and Megan, at Toast Cafe in SF's Noe Valley district.


Aaron tries to steal a kiss while Sarika tries to balance the bill...








Jess shares some pictures on her snazzy iPhone. Not that I'm jealous or anything. In the foreground: all you need to get through life--cash and coffee.





The fam during brunch, and my foxy ladies on the stroll home...









Last shot: a big teddy bear and a little baby. 'Nuff said.

Playing Catch-up, Part 4 (July 21-27)

I continue to be in awe of our good friend, Miguel, (see previous post) who religiously updates his family blog once a week, despite having his hands full of an April-born, super-cute baby girl (Sylvia) and his full-time job as architect at Thomas Hacker Architects Inc., in Portland, Oregon. I bow to your greatness, O Blog Master!

Now let's get on with my once-a-month-and-a-month-behind slacker blog...



The week of July 14-20 was chock full o' fun. First, I got semi-nekked with my baby girl...






When Auntie Jessica came over and cooked dinner for us on Tuesday night...



...Momma Meg accidentally gave Ayla her first contact with solid food (note the cous-cous on forehead, cheek, and shoulder).



Oops! Hee hee.




On Wednesday morning, I biked to City Hall to meet our friend Jon and get sworn in as Deputy Marriage Commissioner for his and Katie's August 1 wedding, which I mentioned in a prior post.

Outside of City Hall, my trusty steed awaits...







The main hall, underneath City's Hall's impressive cupola...








Inside the halls of power: Jon at his desk...



My Deputy Marriage Commissioner instruction packet...




I returned home to find Meg with a hot new haircut. Grrr...




That night, Dave Klaus treated me to a Giants game (Giants won)...



As we strolled down the Embarcadero after the game, we came across Louise Bourgeois's Crouching Spider sculpture, which was stunning...




The week's big news was that Ayla finally got to meet her Aunt Sara (woo hoo!), who spent a fun, relaxing weekend hanging out with her niece-y poo.


The following pics show us...

...lounging in the living room
...getting treated to a delicious brunch with Sara's Grandma Dixie, who's an absolute sweetie
...attending the free Movie in the Park with the usual suspects, Melissa, Mattison, Megan, and Jessica (Sara was there, but not in the pics). Movie was the 80's classic, "The Breakfast Club."



























A little aunt/niece bonding time...