the surprise visit home

Recently went home over Easter weekend to surprise Sandy for her birthday and my parents for Easter. It's pretty hard not spilling the beans, but I managed and it was all the more fun because of it!

I arrived off a red-eye early Friday and headed to Jamaica Plain to see Erikka. She graciously let me pass out for few hours, then we hit up Centre St Cafe and poked around a few local shops where Erikka found this awesome number and made me try on


It was a nice day so we hung around on her porch

and pet the neighbors cat, it took like 6 photos to finally get it to look up (see Erikka clutching at it's tail to make it stay)

Then Jason got out early and we went to Doyle's Cafe where apparently they filmed part of Mystic River. It was pretty chill, good sweet potato fries!


From there I headed to Kingston Station to surprise Sandy for her b-day plans. I was greeted with a flying attack hug and enjoyed sipping on some lovely cocktails involving ginger beer.

a little blurry, but you get the picture


On Saturday we headed up to NH for the big parental surprise and Sandy's b-day celebration. Check out the leaning tower of cupcakes my mom made!

awesome!
Really, my dad was thrilled to see me :)

Ok, this picture is too cute not to include

and these too...

i'm being smothered! eek!


That evening Greg hosted a Zombie Jesus Party in the absence of his parents! Lucky me! Here's some pictures of that fun

Ok, I wasn't drunk, I just make really BAD faces sometimes

i like the background action with James in focus in this picture


Next was Easter Sunday. My mom dyed some eggs, I liked how they turned out all speckled even if they weren't supposed to

We took some silly family photos, because it's fun


Then of course I had to play cribbage with my dad, see


Monday I spent back down in Boston, hung out with Gary who showed me the new graffiti by Central Kitchen

Then, before I departed for the airport I got to see Raea and her new apartment in Arlington! We also made a quick stop for some delicious pastries at the Arlington Bakery (I think that's the name). I was lame and didn't snap a photo of Raea, but I do have one of this handsome devil, Charlie


Sigh, it's nice to go home :)

D Park and Hiking in the Pennin

Ok, so I've been slacking. Here's some fun stuff from this past weekend

Saturday was 70s and sunny, a beautiful day in the city. Went down to Dolores Park to meet up with Rose. After chilling for a while, we saw a group of people, dressed up for either some sort of 80/90s prom or wedding get into what looked like a pie fight. Turns out it was just platefuls of shaving cream. We found out after Rose went down to join in on the fun and returned smelling like 'Cool Wave'

Then, her and her friend Jen found hoola hoops, and got a free lesson

Looking good ladies!

Sunday, Jeremy and I met up with the Miller family for some good ol' fashion hiking. First attempt was the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. (Check out the last time I was here!) It was windy, and pretty chilly considering how warm it felt in the city. We braved it...

Butt...we ended up turning around when we found out the beach was closed due to the sea lions being in town!

Yay!
So, we walked around to the cliff overlooking the beach and had a look at a safe distance

Instead of giving up, we found another hike up in Pacifica, called the Brooks Falls Trail. Supposedly during the 'wet season' the falls are supposed to be one of the best in the Bay area. Unfortunately it wasn't flowing as hoped. Either way it was a fun trip. Jeremy did some death-defying stunts

We saw trees that looked like they were covered in chocolate ganache (see Dayana trying to lick this one)

Surreal looking orange trees

...and a nice view at the top

ya, we know how to strike a pose

Coast Trail Hike in Point Reyes National Seashore

Originally there was a plan to go snowboarding this fine weekend - thinking everyone will be off watching Superbowl and we'd have the mountain to ourselves, but with it being sunny and in the 60s we slept in and decided to go on a hike up in Point Reyes National Seashore. After stopping at the info center we settled on the Coast Trail and headed off. Leaving the visitor we spotted about 3 deer, and continued to see quail, condors and birds hanging out throughout the hike.

At first the terrain was mainly shrubbery and on this fire road path.


Then we headed into a woodsier area


Then we caught a glimpse of the coastline in the distance, right where we were heading.

The sea grass and shrubs were beautiful, as seen here by Jeremy's good eye (you know, versus the fake one :))

This guy seems a little early for the season, but with the weather we've been having...


Then we found this path to the beach...

and decided to take a little detour. The water really was this blue and beautiful. I couldn't believe it.

We found this dead crab shell, he still had his eyes! Creepy, but awesome!

Jeremy got all ghetto with some driftwood and seaweed, but honestly, who wouldn't???

Then I pleaded for Jeremy to take a photo of me on this gorgeous beach (you can see the desperation in my face)

After wandering along the beach for a bit, we found our way back to the trail to loop back to the car. Saw this tree that I nicknamed the 'picnic' tree (because of the log ont he side of the tree that looks perfect for a picnic).

You can see some quail ahead on the trail here

closer up...

even closer....wait, that's not quail! That's the rarely seen bare-assed sell, known to be extremely skinny and sprightly.

At the end of the trail there were these really cool haunting trees


I have to say, not only is it cool that we've managed to go on 3 hikes in the last 4 weeks, but also that each hike has been different - different location, different terrain and fauna, different smells, but all so awesome.
With that said, we went home and made some delicious steak quesadillas

yum!