Xmas Shopping in the Rain

With the lovely weather we've been having here in the City by the Bay, it's been hard to keep up with the season at hand. That said, MoR, despite being 13,234 months pregnant, still manages to take Ruth to the Toddler Gym of the Gods in between thunder storms. Ruth, of course, is unpeturbed by mere raindrops. It's not like they're taking her new top. Happy Holidays from FoR and NTTN. We'll send greetings and things to do on the Idaho border before too long.

Clarion Alley

More Alleys with the Ruth to the Truth. This one is next to the beloved Community Thrift, where Ruth picks up much of her much-loved reading material -- Boyton books in particular for some reason get sold a lot, great literature though they are. Not all of the art is as Max-like as Balmy, but the colors and animals are worth the visit, we think.

BALMY ALLEY

There is an alley off of 24th street, south of folsom that fills Ruth with shrieks and giggles. It is, put simply, not just another Mission alley. As seen to my right, Ruth can log time with Max or other wild, storied critters. Overseen by the local, great Precita Eyes (the word eyes, which Ruth pronounces "eeyyeshh" and uses when there are lulls in the conversation is a favorite), purveyors of painting classes for toddlers and tours down the alley. We haven't partaken in the fingerpaint-soaked fun yet, but it is right on the horizon, surely.

In other news, Ruth is learning about Christmas slowly as she still thinks the hullabaloo is for Hallow'een, understandably. The candy was amazing. We will visit the tree downtown tonight, we think.

Alioto Park

We love nepotism as much as the next Mission parent, so we were thrilled to find a mini-park named after the storied Aliotos at the corner of 20th and Capp. The park is tiny and kept meticulously by an elderly White Sox fan, keeping a watchful eye over its four tiny walls. Ruth was thrilled for the respite on the way to Rainbow. In particular, she was enamored of the staircase -- oddly the only one we've found in the city that is her exact size. "up-ah" and "doww." Otherwise, she is learning the ins and outs of "mine" and is a touch insecure in the wake of an unhappy week of -- how shall we say? -- intestinal distress. Rocking now, however.