Hawaiian Photo Shoot

I haven't gotten around to posting our Oahu pictures yet, mainly because of a camera glitch which made all of the pictures transfer to my computer in random order, making them so annoying to sort and edit. Still working on that.

However, our professional photos are in! These were done mainly with the goal of getting a Gieseke Family picture, but we were able to get some extra shots too.

Here's the family portrait from summer 2010 when Jackson is about 6 weeks old. Total of 5 kids on the scene.

Spring 2013 with 7 kids. I'm impressed that there is exactly 1 picture where everyone is looking. Amazing for a group of 15 people with babies

This is in the lagoon where we played most days.

All 6 boys. Do they look related?

Jump!

Cosette couldn't quite get with the program

Can you say male model? Look how he's posing! To the left, to the right.

And Cosette has crazy teeth. I wish we could have gotten one with her eyes more open.

 Together

 And the whole family. Disclaimer for me: I had more oral surgery about a week before this so I can't actually form my lips into a smile because of the swelling. As a result I think I look kind of weird, but what can you do?

On the beach. It was very sunny so hard not to squint.

Fun races at the end when our outfits were destroyed already.

 

Happy Morning

Happy Mother's Day! It hasn't been free of whining like I had hoped, but it is laid back and spent with the munchkins I love and a very supportive and loving husband.

Here's us enjoying my favorite breakfast - chocolate croissants!

Pictures from Lately

We just found a kids' exercise class at the Y that is right after my power step class, so it's very convenient. I'm not sure it's great enough that I'd pay for it, but since it's included, why not. There's lots of free time to explore balls and climb up towers of mats, giving Cosette false confidence in climbing high and not getting hurt when she falls. Here Jack is pushing Cosette on the wheely cars.

On our way to a park picnic here's a wipe out. Running along gracefully.

About to fall, but not too concerned.

A little dazed.

And right back at it. That's my lady.

Everyday they are fighting over these glasses.

Jack has to settle for the eye patch this time.

Sometimes they are a little strange.

Our Happy Place

The San Francisco Zoo seems to be our happy place these days. I got a membership at the beginning of the year and we've been at least 10 times since then. I'm sure it's already paid for itself in the first few months. I'm capitalizing on that commonly known San Francisco secret that the winter is the best time to get outdoors and explore. This zoo is arctic over the summer because it's right on Ocean Beach, but in the winter, a 60 degree sunny day feels great. We often drive up to the zoo after a morning activity and the kids fall asleep in the car. Instead of driving home, I let them nap and head up to the zoo. I get to see the most delightful expression on Jackson's face when he wakes up parked near the zoo. He is thrilled in a way that could only be topped by a visit from Papa.

I've found a sweet little cafe where I usually get myself a sandwich or an iced tea and we head in (free parking on the side street!). We only tried the zoo cafeteria once, a mistake we will not repeat.

We take a lot of phone pictures at the zoo because Jack spends hours later looking at each animal and talking about them.

 This is a place where Jack is rarely cranky or whiny, no matter what kind of day he's had. The zoo makes everything feel better. We've even made friends with many of the big cats. We like Martha and Larry the tigers, and Jack's all time favorite is Jihara, the male lion. Many happy hours spent in the lion house where we have frequently gotten to watch them eat or get training sessions or even roar!

Usually it's just the 3 of us, but sometimes we have zoo guests like Auntie Nay Nay, Grandma, and "Baby Wydia" = Lydia

 

 The trick to the zoo is actually to go a lot and not try to see too many things on one day. You have to linger and go where the sounds take you. If you try to see everything you see a lot of nothing. But if you sit in front of the gorilla enclosure for 20 minutes, a lot will happen. We pretty much always see the lions, but other than that we bounce between our favorites: giraffes, gorillas, mandrils, sheep, hippo, otters, chimps, tamarins, and the dinosaur display.