Red Guitar

Ukulele Rock Star

We are consistently entertained with new songs from E on his ukulele. He would make Justin Roberts proud with this little medley.



Here he is practicing his stage dive after the grand ukulele stunt. The kid's already got moves.

To Love To Hold

Boy is seriously obsessed with tennis these days. He plays with many versions of rackets, one of which is a bowling pin (he's very creative). Here he is at the beach with a badminton racket. We say he's already got some good form.

It seems that as the summer fog has rolled in so have many changes around the home front. Grandma is staying with us for the time being to do little convalescing which means getting out and over a bridge to find sun may not happen for a few more weeks. But, lucky for us, September is usually a very warm month and we will have to camp at least one more time before the rains and snotty noses come.

Ezra loves having his grandma here. We hope she feels the same way.

City Stars

Ezra is a star and is in this weeks City Star's City Snapshots! He and his buddy Argus weren't sure what to think of the photographer as you can see in their expressions and Mommy decided to put Ezra's hair in a barrette that day to keep his hair out of his eyes. So I am sure people will assume he is a girl, which is not all that uncommon. The curls throw people a little.


Here he is again with his buddies Argus and Liko. These three are three snap peas in a cozy pod.

Sand, Sun, Work & Fun

Ezra and family have been having such a wonderful summer. We've been busy with so many fun things. Mommy went back to work for a couple of weeks to her old work place, Project Open Hand, while Momma got to be a full time parent. It was a nice shift for the family, and Mommy had lots of fun seeing her old peeps at work. Good people, good organization. And, Momma was able to get some fun Ezra time in.

But, in between these little changes was lots and lots of water play. This boy has seen so many bodies of water in the past few weeks. No wonder his favorite song is Willy Was a Whale.

First, there was a day trip to Tomales Bay to Heart's Desire Beach. What a beautiful place. Plus, we got to eat a lot of cheese from Cowgirl Creamery.













When we returned, the San Francisco weather allowed us a backyard pool date with E's pal Remy (while Mommy was working and the weather turned cold, Momma brought the pool into the kitchen and had a indoor pool party.....Momma is so much more fun than Mommy sometimes).
Then there was bathtime with Liko. This was a super special treat. And, a little advertisement for Straus Family Creamery. Those yogurt containers make darn good bath buckets.
Then we took E camping on the full moon. We watched the moon rise, and Ezra slept in a tent for the first time. We also played a lot at the beach, and E loved to pretend the tide was chasing him. I have never seen the ocean make someone laugh so hard.
And, then we were fortunate enough to spend more time up at the Villa de Merz in Sonoma. The tempertures were record breaking, but who knew. We spent a lot of time in the pool.









I hope everyone else is having a fabulous summer too! Stay wet!

Welcome Sweet Anjeli and Happy Pride

The sweetest little girl was born on June 10th, Anjeli Rhianna Looper! Congratulations to new big brother, Remy! And, of course the rest of the cute family! Ezra and Mommy got to meet her last week, and well, as you can see, it was love at first sight. Ezra was so very sweet and gentle with her. It still brings tears to our eyes when we tell the story.



Here is a picture of new Daddy, Malik, and Ezra at the May drum class.











And, Happy Pride everyone. We had a rather quiet weekend, but was proud nonetheless. Sorry to miss Oona and Sarah at the Dyke March. There is always next year.

School's Out For the Summer

Lordy, lordy! Momma is home for the summer and we kicked it off by spending a weekend with our friends Betsy, Steve, Leila and Gus at the beautiful Villa De Merz in Sonoma.

We picked lots of berries and ate them right off the vine. Lots of them. Then Betsy baked us a beautiful cobbler for dessert! And, Leila made a fabulous Best Berry Blast smoothie!
Ezra and Gus had some fun pool time!
We chased lots of bubbles.
And, Ezra chased Leila.
But, the highlight of the weekend was a little drive Mommy and Ezra took on the John Deere. We sang the tractor song all the home! Which goes like this.....


Tractor, tractor you're so big
Tractor, tractor dig, dig, dig
On the street or on the farm
You bend your great big arm
Tractor, tractor you're so big
Tractor, tractor dig, dig, dig

Yup, this song is all the rage in Ezra's group of friends. Momma out did herself! The tune is the very familiar Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star or the ABC Song. We pick up the tempo quite a bit. Ezra wants to sing it even faster!

Thank you Betsy, Steve, Leila and Gus for such a wonderful weekend!

Hooked on Homophones

After being cooped up at home with an ear infection for a couple of days and feeling pretty rotten, today Ezra's health and energy level were finally at top volume plus some! Mommy spent a good hour trying to get him down for a nap today when Momma had to intervene. He expressed his joy of good health by singing songs really fast and jumping on the bed and flailing himself atop Mommy, to which Momma exclaimed, "Ezra, you need to give Mommy a little peace." To which Ezra replied, "I want big peas."




This is actually a picture from when we were at the zoo for his birthday. He just has the perfect little crazy face that we witnessed today.




We all gave up on the nap and called it a day around 6pm this evening. It is currently peaceful. At least for the time being.(/div)

Sand and Sleep

Ezra is becoming more and more interested in what other kids are doing at the playground.

Here he is negotiating a little play time with a couple of older girls in the sand box. Reactions varied.

Earlier that day.....

Mommy takes care of E's little buddy Remy on Wednesdays and can proudly say she has napped them together ONE time.

It obviously wasn't this day.

Birthday Presents

Momma asked Ezra the other night what they should get Mommy for her birthday. He replied, "Front loader!" She asked again later and he gave the suggestion of a "Backhoe, Circles and Planets!"

It's Official....

There isn't a cuter boy than this one.

Farmer's Market Bash

After two weeks of celebration, I do believe E's birthday is over.

Say it isn't so!

















Today we gathered a group of his toddler friends and converged upon our weekly Farmer's Market in Noe Valley. We made fruit and vegetable hats and distributed blow-outs. We bought strawberries from one farmer, snap peas from the next, oranges from another....and VOILA, we had a party going on.

Not to mention a great band was playing who sang Happy Birthday to Ezra. Thanks Quake City Jug Band!


E was pretty darn happy. Especially when the band sang "I've Been Working On The Railroad." And, also he was pretty happy because he probably ate a whole basket of strawberries on his own. Here he is, refusing to wear a fruit hat, but was definitely a strawberry in spirit on his fun day and maybe he will be a strawberry tomorrow too. hmmmm....


His friend Emiliano was broccoli. Emiliano danced his little heart out.



Plum was an apple by choice.


Ezra watched one of the musicians today play a stand-up bass and play the harmonica at the same time. Well, this needed to be tested out once we got home.
















We're not sure if Ezra thinks that his birthday will always last two weeks. He probaby won't remember this at all. But, he does know the Happy Birthday song pretty darn well and is already singing it to his Mommies.

What a great couple of weeks!

A Big, Growly, Feathery Birthday at the Zoo

As we mentioned before, Ezra spent his 2nd birthday at the zoo with his family and he is still talking about how much fun he had.
He got to clown around a little....tee hee
Here he is admiring the peacock from afar...then all of a sudden......
Wow! What a beautiful gift. You should also hear E's interpretation of a peacock. It's not for the faint ear.
Shortly after that a tiger growled a loud tiger growl. E said it was "scary". Here he is with Kobi. E adores his cousin Kobi and Kobi was so sweet to him.
But, E got to spend some quality time with his Po, and E has been in heaven. It has been great seeing their relationship grow. We Moms are so happy with our little family. Dare I say it again? Oh, I can't help it....this is one lucky little boy.











We have one more party this weekend in celebration of Ezra's 2nd year. Then it's time to celebrate Mommy and Momma's birthdays....I think I foresee May being a very fun month for years to come.

Happy Birthday Ezra!

More photos will be posted soon, but we have this wonderful little video of E and his friends eating his strawberry short-birthday cake.



Ezra had the most amazing weekend. All of his favorite peeps came over on Saturday night and sent Ezra into his year #2 in style. And, on Sunday we ventured to the zoo where the peacock proudly fluffed his plumage and a tiger growled the loudest growl, wishing our boy a happy birthday.

It was really a perfect weekend. More later!

Drum Class

Every third Saturday of the month E gets to meet up with his pal Remy and play a couple rhythms at James Henry's drum class. Here he is playing Remy's new djembe. Remy is up jamming with his Papa and Momma claps along. Thanks Isa for taking this cute video!

Big Birthday #2 Right Around The Corner

....and one could not mistake that there is a special day coming soon because there have been special wishes arriving at our door on a daily basis.

A birthday wish and a special $20 bill from Australia! Thanks Gma Pat!

E woke from his nap today to a large, colorful tunnel in his play room, aka, our living room. Thanks Grandma Elizabeth!

I know we say this a lot, but this boy is one lucky little guy. And, we moms think we are kind of lucky too.














While he awaits his big day, he celebrates Jordy's 3rd birthday! Honestly, if all he got for his birthday were one of these party-blow-out thingies, he would be the happiest 2 year old on the face of this planet.

Ezra and Mommy

Mommy finally stepped in front of the camera to have a moment captured with E.

This wonderful picture was taken by the lovely and talented Eve Allen while we were visiting Bishop this past week.










Side note: E survived an 11 hour car ride through the snow, the rain, the mountains and the cold desert.....sheesh.....he has seen it all. We did have to play lots of Find The Tractor games(there are lots of tractors out there people) and sing "If You're Happy And You Know It" about 70 times.

He also asks frequently, "What's that called?" This boy has a good, healthy curiosity and a serious obsession with tractors.

Cute Boy On The Right

Who's that cute boy on the right?



Ezra enjoys a moment with his pal Remy.

The Music Continues

Band practice is a weekly gig....clothing optional!













Top 5 Song Requests:
5. Willy Was a Whale
4. Itsy Bitsy Spider
3. Chinchilla
2. I've Been Working on the Railroad
1. "Momma's Songs" Compilation of, you guessed it, Momma's songs

How Grateful We Are For Our Cool Neighbors

We aren't exactly the quiet types.





And, here's a completely unrelated photo that is just too cute to not post.