Unraveling in SF

After the perfect start to any day, a farmers market breakfast, we boarded our

ferry boat across the bay to beautiful Sausalito where we indulged in some ice cream.

Enjoying the view from the ferry


I was so glad none of them got sea sick.

Lappert's Ice Cream

 

On the ride back across the bay to Fisherman's Wharf

I could feel myself starting to unravel a little bit. I was feeling overwhelmed,

a little seasick and very much at the end of my rope when it came to

repeating myself to the kids who refused to listen to me.

But like any good momma, I breathed deep, I counted to 10 (several times) and I smiled.

A big draw to coming to SF for Charlie was being able to go see all

the sea lions sunbathing in the marina. He talked about this for a whole week before we left.

Here we all are watching to sea lions.

Charlie's whining at this point turned me off almost completely to Fisherman's Wharf this time around.

He was tired. He gets whiney when he's tired. I know this.

You would think I'd be able to deal better by now but sometimes, it just gets the best of you.

We ate a quick dinner at the Boudin Bakery and had some fried shrimp and chips from a street vendor

and were informed by Kate that she had just peed her pants before deciding to walk to Pier 39.

One wardrobe change later we were too frazzled to get the babies out of the stroller

to navigate the pier. We wanted to go to the hotel and rest for a bit.

We didn't really think our plan through all the way.

We were stuck there. No taxi driver would drive us without car seats for the littles.

It was too far to walk to the hotel. Breathe. I had to keep repeating this to myself.

So we started walking with 3 babies in a double stroller.

3 babies who all decided to fall asleep at the same time. Oy.

It was decided that Jaclyne would take a cab to the hotel by herself, go get our car that was

conveniently equipped with the proper car seats and come back to get me.

Good plan. Except that left me alone on the streets with 3 small children.

 I found a Barnes & Noble and ducked in there while I waited.

Ella awoke crying because she was uncomfortable, poor baby and she had pooped.

I had no diaper bag with me and no wipes. Fun. Breathe.

I did what I had to do and she walked the aisles of the book store with only her jeans.

I prayed she wouldn't have an accident.

Once we were all reunitedI put a diaper back on Miss Ella, who sensed that if she peed

everywhere at this point her mama would lose it and thankfully refrained from doing so,

we headed to Union Square.

In Union Square, there is a cable car station where empty cars were sitting.

I took advantage of the empty one and popped the kids up there.

Charlie wasn't feeling it.

He wanted to go back to the hotel and put on his pajamas.

We shopped a little and the kids were getting even crankier and more tired.

They hadn't eaten dinner yet and Ella kept crying for a bottle, we had no milk.

I felt like the worst mother in the world.

The floodgates opened and I cried all the days stress away.

Once we were back in the comfort of our hotel room,

pizza and room service was ordered, babies were bathed and everyone felt better.

We turned in early that night... with high hopes that the next day would be a better one.

And it was.