best of 2011 __________ version

themes are overrated. 

here's a random best of, culled from this year's photos:

best stop off while driving the 101:

*  enjoy cupcakes in los olivos. it is about 2 minutes of the freeway; the only tragic thing is when you stop off at, oh, around 9:58 am and they don't open until 11 am. just maybe that happened last week. 

best secret yurt get away:

 treebones in big sur. 

husband earned a bazillion gold stars for orchestrating this surprise trip (including childcare & a massage for me- yay yay yay)

best yurt view:

 best 20th anniversary shot in the head party for my brother johnny:

 that would be this one. 

yes, my brothers, mom & sister are rad.

i don't think i ever ended up blogging about this one, but it was one fun party, 

marking 20 years of life since my brother was shot & survived.

best $10 vacation activity:

 *daddy daughter canoe action on lake tahoe

best everyone-is-happy lunch spot for $3 a pop:

*gioia pizza in berkeley.

when in doubt or indecision? we head for gioia!

best messy while supercute faces:

best incorporation of a bowtie & beanie into wedding attire:

 *brother aaron rocked this look at our friends' wedding this summer. well done, little brother.

best new tradition:

*matt & i call them art dinners. we'd talked about it for a while, but in january we hosted a big meal for some of my friends from grad school, and now there is a bi-monthly rotating meal. love these meals: good friends, good artists, good food, good drinks, good times. 

best shirley temple action:

 (notice m has mastered keeping her hair out of her beverage)

 (as well as double straw goodness)

best wedding dance party:

*peter & connie's wedding/dance fest this summer. this wedding also tied for the wedding in which my family had the most roles, since m was a flower girl, i sang, and matt officiated.)

 (how do you like these awesome moves?)

best big sister award:

 *maybe she borders on bossy, but m is also quick to pass on a lot of lovin' to ruby. love hearing their laughter, chatter and silliness in the morning, when m climbs into ruby's crib. 

best vacation spot:

 * san diego, i don't like how far away you are, and that getting to you involves a really long drive, but once we are there? goodness all around.

best hair award:

 *ruby steals the show & gets a little staticky

 best show-stopping cake:


it's a tie! 

 *surprise heart cake gifted by brother

*the awesome (and delicious) rainbow cake i made for m's hearing birthday party

best temporary backyard:

 *for matt's study leave in february we stayed out in the country, cows & all. so peaceful! so much sky! so different from our daily grind.

best pseudo sister award:

 lily & m are both deaf and both have implants. they've gone to school together since they were itty bitty & they share a lot in common: they are both strong-willed, chatty big sisters with a penchant for fancy sparklyness, drama & treats! they go around declaring that they are sisters. melts my heart every time, i tell you!

best deaf victory:

* this summer we mastered waterproofing & keeping one of m's implants on when she swims. oh for the love, it was painful and not a fun journey (i'll spare you the details, but it was really one of my least favorite deaf moments), but we survived! now m can hear us in the water: she's happy and so are we.


best captured sunset watching moment:

 *ruby & daddy

best u2 concert seats:

 *front row ones, naturally

best bouquet from husband:

* valentine's day ranunculas. love.

admittedly this was a super random best of. 

thanks for humoring me.

any random best moments you'd like to share?