Arrrgghh

For the annual Menlo Park Dessert and Dinner auction, raising money for summer girl's camp, the Blue Bayou was born.

A film-themed evening where guests are invited to come as movie-stars in character, and each course of the menu is blockbuster based.

Your kitchen and service crew for this evening? We be a band of swarthy Pirates of the Caribbean. Beyond six courses of gourmet grub, the evening's entertainment included sightings of Tom (ala Risky Business), Katie and a cute LV toting Suri Cruise...Superman with LoisLane, and Charlie's Angels...accompanied by plenty of Yo-Ho anthems, arggghhs and plank walking.

A few of our favorite things...

Hires Big H...No better burger, anywhere.

Reading with Mimi on Great Gram and Papa's couch with a view of the valley.

Baking rolls in Grandma Susan's kitchen. Nobody makes better rolls... nobody.

Snuggling with Grandpa John....The original snuggler.

She's FIVE

Miss Ev, the ever-serious journalist, pictured here modeling her handmade original camera, constructed of, well, construction paper of course, and a milk lid, and lots of tape. First step - our living room. Next step - the NY Times.

The anticipated and fabulously awkward five-year-old smile has arrived.

Strawberry Shortcakes (ala bobby flay via baking logan) for a Birthday Breakfast in Red -- Ev's fave color.

Happy Birthday to our first-born.

Easter Brunching and Hunting

Our favorite traditional Easter brunch at Mary and Gary's.

We love the hunting

We love the chums

We love together time with the mother-bunnies (who are only slightly less prolific than their bucktoothed namesakes.)

The Big Bunny Came

Sweet Discovery captured: Oh the wonder of a sprinkle-rolled mallow....PEEPS! PEEPS! PEEPS!

Our favorite (and least reverent) Easter tradition - Cascarones and the inevitable chaotic confetti-egg fight!

Happy Bunnies.

Easter Sunday

Pretty in pink and home from church.

Off to brunch with our family away from family.

The men in our lives - somehow posed like a firms 'about us' tab on a website...or a band of rogue superheros disguised as suburban dads.

and the gorgeous children in all of their pastel-smocked, flower-crowned, linen bow-tied, seer-sucker Spring Glory.

Its a BOY!

Overjoyed with our big news, we employed the help of Rick's Rather Rich Ice Cream to share the news with the girlies.
Let the taste testing begin...

Pink Cherry Divine means its a girl.
Blue Cotton Candy means its a boy.

Now close your eyes girlies and make a guess...

Its a BOY! Its a BOY! Its a BOY!

Feasting Field Trips

Feasting afar - we headed to Africa...

Or at least San Jose to our favorite Ethiopian dive. Spectacular flavors, and very hands on...

To celebrate Ana's 30th, we went to France...

or at least Berkley to celebrate with seasonal fare at Chez Panisse.

Summer Starts...

Splashing

Bookworming

Scalp Staples (eeeeps!)

And a post-staple pizza party complete with flowers, chocolates, rootbeer and best buds.

A little birdie told me...

Hop a bit closer...let me whisper in your ear,
Taryn is flying in for the weekend, so lets gather the flock to shower her
(and the first petite Miss Merkley due in June) in surprise fashion!

Bring your wee birdies to play and to brunch,
We'll catch up, we'll giggle, we'll gift and munch.
Wear your spring feathers, bring something to share.
And button your beaks, not a secret to spare.

Meet at the Birdbath
Friday *10.15am, Surprise at half past.

Do chirp back and say you'll come!
Soon,
a little bird
*feeling feather brained...tweet if I've forgotten a friend!