I often feel a bit sad that the girls (especially Zoe) are growing up so fast. But then they do stuff like this — i.e. dress themselves and their American Girls in matching pajamas and laugh their way through my photo taking — that I’m reminded that, yeh, they’re not that big.

-M

As we inched towards Spring Break and the start of Passover, there was a bunch of fun events and happenings at the girls’ school last week. Zoe’s class held a mini Seder, where the kids all brought in Passover treats from home and shared a story about how they celebrate with their family. (It’s hard to see below, but Zoe brought in the photo here to show her friends.) And Avery’s class visited an organic Jewish farm in Berkeley where, among other things, she helped make matzah and made a new (creepy-crawly) friend…

-M

Zoe’s always coming home from school and doing little projects: She likes doing research on various topics (usually related to something she’s learning in class), putting together little packets of work for either herself or her sister, and creating lists. Her most recent list focused on another favorite topic of hers: reading.

-M

While out and about the other day, Avery did something very daring: She ate an insect. (It was covered in chocolate, but still…) I wasn’t there to see everything go down, but Q chronicled the event via pics. Turns out she liked it!

-M

As mentioned below, Avery spent the day with her good friend Liza on Sunday. The main thing on their itinerary? Running a lemonade (and cookie) stand, with the proceeds being used to help “homeless puppies” (note the sign). All in all they raised about $66 for the San Francisco SPCA – and they got featured on a local business’ Instagram as well.

-M

Last weekend was quite close to the perfect San Francisco one: It was sunny and warm, and seemingly everyone in the city was out and about. On Saturday we kept busy by hanging out with friends in the Mission and enjoying the neighborhood (including a popular tea shop that Zoe loves) while Avery played a soccer game, and on Sunday Avery was at an all-day play date while Zoe, Q and I had an outdoor brunch in another fun neighborhood and then enjoyed the sun in our backyard. It’s hard to see, but next to Zoe is a stack of about 10 books.

-M

The girls’ school had parent-teacher conferences last week, and Avery made me laugh with her early-morning question for Q one day: “Daddy, do you have parent-teacher conferences at work? Like with your boss?”

-M

I don’t use Facebook that much anymore (which is a big reason we still use this blog to share photos and stories), but I log in almost every day for work and usually see the “your memories” graphic that often pops up. Avery happened to be at my computer when I logged in today, and she cried out, “Oh! It’s me!” when she saw the photo below. She put on a pouty face (and I’m not sure she quite believed me) when I said that no, this is actually her sister…

-M

Before Saturday night’s bar mitzvah party I let Avery play around with my make-up and – a rare treat – wear some lip gloss and blush. She had so much fun using my blush brush and smiling at herself in the mirror of her hotel bathroom that I just had to take some photos. (She was in there for a good 10 minutes…)

-M

We went to a bar mitzvah (for the big brother of one of Avery’s closest friends) over the weekend, and the girls had a blast at the party. Among the biggest hits: the dancing, the personalized spray-painted hats (which Q is wearing below) and the photo booth, where tons – and I mean, tons – of silly photos involving Avery were taken. (Oh, and those big blue sunglasses she’s wearing below? She liked them so much that she kept them on the entire day on Sunday – even when indoors.)

-M

Though it seems soccer just ended… it’s happening again! Avery signed up for the spring season, and she and her little Quidditch Queens (named after the game in Harry Potter) are having a lot of fun!

-M

To be silly I recently asked Avery what she thought of Zoe. Her response? “She can be a little annoying sometimes, but in general I like her.” (Sounds about right, coming from a little sister.)

-M

To cap off their unit on Japan, Avery’s class made sushi. It was our first day back from the trip, and Avery was exhausted – but she had enough energy to assemble and eat!

-M

Like the last time I flew alone with the girls (last summer), the three of us had some travel troubles: Because of a cancelled Madison-to-Denver flight, we wound up having a 14-hour travel day. It was a tough day but three things made it better: 1) Q, who was in Michigan with a client, helped from afar by booking us on later flights (if he hadn’t, we likely wouldn’t have gotten home until the next day); 2) The girls were unfazed by our difficulties getting home; and 3) My mom came back to the airport to play games and keep us company. “This is so much fun!” Avery said during what I think was Hour Three at the airport. And, later: “Just think, if we hadn’t gotten delayed we wouldn’t have been able to see Grandma again!” I love her positivity.

-M

As mentioned, lefse was one of my favorite foods growing up. Making it is a laborious and time-consuming process, so I’ve never attempted it – and I was so happy when my mom suggested we make some during this trip. We spent one whole morning in the kitchen, and I loved that the girls got to watch their grandma make it, just as I watched mine when I was a kid. Even better, they seemed to like lefse as much as I do!

-M