Bring your kid to work day

 A few weekends back, my anesthesia department at UCSF hosted a "bring your kid to work" event.   Alaina was not able to make it because she was at softball, but Ethan came.   He spent time 4 operating rooms, learning about surgery and anesthesia.

It was neat to be able to show him around my hospital and for him to get to see where I spend so much of my time.  They divided them up into groups, so although there were a lot of kids there, he hung out with a smaller group of older kids.

.  He got to practice placing IVs and intubating mannequins, and driving a robot used for robotic surgery. Neat opportunity!  

Wine Country Weekend Getaway!

 This past weekend, 5 of my medical school friends and some of their husbands and Jason and I got together for a long weekend up in wine country. I haven't seen some of them since before the pandemic!

We had a great time reconnecting and hanging out--we rented a big house, which was really nice, because we could cook and eat together! On Thursday night, we celebrated Ben and Olivia's birthday, and Jen made them a beautiful and delicious cake!  Super impressive!

On Friday, we toured a few wineries and did some wine tastings.   We strolled around Healdsburg, and then had a delicious dinner at Dry Creek Kitchen.

On Saturday, we headed to the coast, where we took a beautiful hike in the Jenner Headlands.  I would highly recommend it--it was a beautiful loop onto the ridge that overlooked the coast.  After we worked up an appetite, we had a great meal at saucy mamas bbq in Guernville--which is owned by a friend of Jason's Aunt Marcy.   

Overall, it was a great way to relax.  We are so grateful to my dad for watching the kids so we could go away!

Welcome Nathalia!

 Last weekend we welcomed a new au pair to our family--Nathalia!

Nathalia is from northern Brazil and this is her first time in the US!   So it has been an adjustment week, but she is doing really well and the kids seem to like  her a lot.

Last weekend we took her to see the Marin headlands and to dip her feet into the Pacific Ocean for the first time!  Welcome to Nathalia!

Cross Country Runner

This year in high school Ethan decided to go out for cross country.   Now, given his underlying arthritis and flat feet, he certainly faces some barriers to doing this sport.  Still he has been determined.

The team practices 5 days a week and Ethan has been doing a lot of running!   And though he probably has not been doing enough stretching, he is still doing great.

Today, I had the opportunity to go to one of his meets and it was a lot of fun to watch!   They ran 2.7 miles--and it was a hilly course!

We are proud of him for doing this all despite his challenges, and happy that he is doing exercise!!  

Clarinet

 This year as a fifth grader, Alaina has to learn to play an instrument.   With some encouragement from her mom, she chose the clarinet!    For this of you who don't know, I was an avid clarinetist through college, playing in the Marching Illini and the Symphonic Band at University of Illinois.

I still have my two clarinets, and so I have been able to give Alaina some lessons at home.   It is amazing how my muscles have weakened overt the years, and though I can play the sound is not very beautiful anymore.   But I am still good enough to get Alaina going.   What fun!

Taller than mom?

 You be the judge.

I think his fluffy hair is giving him an advantage.    Still, it's close.

His feet are definitely bigger, ha ha!

16th Anniversary!

 Last weekend, Jason and I celebrated anniversary #16.

We made plans to heard to Tahoe for the long weekend to celebrate with the Toma family.   Unfortunately, the weather was miserably cold and rainy.  We made the best of it though, and tried to enjoy a cozy weekend together.

On Saturday, we went on our neighborhood cabin tour, which is a Serene Lakes tradition on Labor Day weekend.   We walked through 5 cabins  and our favorite was a mid-century modern one right on the lake!

On Sunday, we made the trek to Sardine Lake for a short walk and then dinner.   (We had hoped to take a real hike during the day up there, but the weather did not cooperate!). But by later in the day, the rain had at least stopped, and we took a short stroll around the lake before a drink in the boathouse and dinner.  

 

Monday was finally clear and sunny, though still cool, so no beach time this Labor Day!   But a nice long weekend nevertheless.

Yay for 16 years!