Dining outside at Naomi's

Yesterday is was so lovely out we had brunch in Naomi's backyard. Sophia brought along her violin and played for everyone. I think she likes the attention.

Playing Violin for a crowd at Naomi's

On our way to Julia's art exhibit

Last night we went to our friend, Julia's art exhibit at Fertile Grounds Cafe in Berkeley. It has a 20s theme and our girls dressed up. The accessories were on loan from Julia and the girls had a chance to wear their nice coats and dresses again. Julia was kind enough to paint two portraits for our girls in exchange for a photoshoot. More details about that. And last night she gave us one more painting called "Midsummer Night's Dream" - It is so beautiful. I will take a photo of it and will post it here.

On their way to brunch at Naomi's

This is how the girls wanted to dress for brunch at Naomi's yesterday. Her daugther, Ruby, was there as well as Jim, Elizabeth and Jobi, who is now 11.

Steve's thumb trick

Steve is famous at Ducks Nest amongst Sophia's friends because of his magic thumb trick. Ella and Hazel are especially impressed. Here you can see Sophia's friend, Ella. When its just me picking up the girls Ella and Hazel run up to me with big eyes telling me all about Steve's thumb trick.

Our day today

We had a lovely day today. It started with breakfast together and then I took the girls with me to our first outing of the day: Sophia's broadway class. They are working on "The Sound of Music" and the girls are so cute. (Thalia cannot wait until she is old enough:3 to enroll in this class and ballet.) Sophia's friend from preschool, Ella, and her neighbor, Alexis, are in this broadway class. I also see other friends that I know who are waiting in the lobby for the ballet class that starts right after the broadway class ends. Toscana and Siena are in this class.

After class we drove over to the Elmwood Cafe in Rockridge to meet with Greta and her mom, Lauren, who I met in Sophia's drama class.

Then we drove home, had lunch with Steve, and took a walk on Solano - the day was beautiful out! While Thalia napped I took Sophia to her ballet class and then we all had dinner at the Cheese Board and watched Hank play. Sophia loves Hank and ran up to him and gave him a big hug. She also danced to his music.

Now we are home and the girls are getting ready for bed, watching a movie (Frances) and Sophia is coloring.

Both girls are generally very happy and friendly and play with each other but they are also difficult at times. Thalia has been grumpy, too. And Sophia storms out of the room when she doesn't get her way (which is often). And she yells at me and tells me I am a bad mom when I don't give her sweets. Then she apologizes. For the most part she is sweet.

And at night when it is time for her to go to bed she wants me to sleep with her and she tells me how much she loves me.

Sophia's words:

"I'm smarter than the other grown-ups and kids. You don't know what I know. You don't understand."

"I wish I could be two again."