Earn your keep!

Zoe rakes while Julian watches everyone rake leaves in front of Nana and Nene's house.
The next morning, you couldn't tell that anyone had raked at all! Zoe didn't mind, she's too young to think of raking leaves as a chore!

Pismo Fog

We really enjoyed Pismo, and after a quick romp in a bluff-top playground, we ate a great breakfast at the Shell Cafe before hitting the road south again.

The Cliffs

The kids and I decided to stop and stay at The Cliffs in Pismo Beach on our drive south. It was foggy but beautiful and after a quick bounce on the lusciously soft beds, we took a stroll on the beach.

New Bike

Everyone is outgrowing their vehicles around here.
We went to Alameda Bicycle to check out "ride alongs", the mini half bike that fits behind a grown up's bike, and came out with Pudn'.
Yes, the pepto pink bike that Zoe chose. It has training wheels (ugh) and is pepto pink (ugh) and has a cute little basket for Bear to ride in. Now if we can get her to try it out...
Meanwhile, Juju feels unsinkable in his helmet, but suffers a collision with the sidewalk at top speed after succumbing to a diversion. Ouchie.

Redwood Ride

The Last Onsie

It's hot.
Almost unbearably hot, as the mercury climbed over 100 degrees in our back yard today.
The pools and lakes are closed for the season. When they were open, it was too cold to get wet outside. My plants went from moldy and pathetic to burned and frazzled.
They didn't know whether to grow or shrivel up and die.
The kids took the mini heat wave in stride. We met some friends at a beach in Alameda, and while the air was cooler, the water was full of organisms that burrow into your skin and cause itching.
"Don't go in the water guys".
"But, I want to go in the water!"
"I know. We can't".
So we went home and napped, and hid in the relative coolness of the house that I had locked up tight by 9AM. After naps we took cool baths and put on cool clothes. I pulled out an old favorite, that I liked to put my babies in whenever the weather turned hot- the Onsie. We actually still had some in the back of Julian's drawer sized "24 months". It fit. By two, when you start potty training, there is no point in wearing something that snaps under the bummie. Kids can't pull it down by themselves, so you don't really see onsies after 2 years. But jujie is still in diapers, and the cool blue of the soft, thin cotton looked comforting in the heat. Something to absorb the sweat, but not make them more hot than they already are. And as Julian stood there in his onsie, reading a book with his hair wet from the bath, I thought, "this is the last onsie. The last onsie he will ever wear." And as long as he can wear a onsie, he's still my baby.

We made some dinner and icy drinks, took a blanket down to the basement and had a picnic on the cold cement floor and watched all of Pinocchio on the laptop, until long after dark, when the kids went to bed and I could finally open up the windows, and breathe.

Going to the zoo zoo zoo

Lions were certainly looking for snacks to fall from the sky glider as we soared over their territory. But I held on tightly to Julian.
Unfortunately, I dropped Zoe's shoe as I tried to remove it so it wouldn't fall from our hanging seat. Luckily for us, it barely caught the netting as we swung high over the lions and the giraffes. We gazed at the camels and the buffalo as we climbed up over the golden grassy hills on the outskirts of the Oakland Zoo. As we rounded the far tower, I asked the attendant to let the other side know we'd dropped our shoe and by the time we saw the monkey swinging high in the trees, counted the Zebras and spotted Sutro Tower across the bay, it was waiting for us as we dismounted our great ride.

Mani Pedi

Today Zoe and I took some girl time for ourselves and went out for bagels and mani-pedis on Piedmont St. Zoe chose a very girlie pink, then sat nice and still while the manicurist trimmed and painted her nails. "Are they speaking Spanish Mommy?".
"No honey, that's Vietnamese."
"Oh. That tickles!"
Little girls get sweet little flowers painted into their big toenails too.
She loved it. (So did I)

August with Mittens, 2.0

Back to the ice, we're not giving up!
Zoe, still tentative about flinging herself into the scary white yonder, still gave it a try and made it around with much whining and yelling.
Julian, shooshing and marching along, occasionally spinning out of control, but still he gets up and goes again- Nico is counting the days until Jujie goes pro, and he can retire.

At Tot Zone

Zoe finishes up a series of hand prints made up the attic at Tot Zone. She's had a lot of fun this summer with teachers Kara and Holly at this fun attic classroom. She's made new friends this summer too, and traded handprints with them today.
She starts a new class with her beloved teacher Kristi in a few weeks, and will be ahead of the game with some friends there that she already knows.

This Pear's for you

Today we went to Santa Cruz. We did Santa Cruz things.
We went directly to the Seabright neighborhood and parked the car on Mott then walked over the trestle to the Boardwalk.
Zoe and I rode the Skyway from one end to the other, while Nico and Juje waded the crowd of tall boy tippin', tatooed, and trashy folks teetering through swarms of strollers and sandy footed families of all ages and sorts.
Zoe declared that she was at last ready to ride Logger's Revenge (my favorite ride there). And without hesitation, she saddled bravely into the log and held on tight, eyes closed, as we plunged into the grungy water below! Big Girl Brownie Patch earned, oh yes.
We bought refreshments at Day's Market before heading past Water st. to visit an old friend that we waited way too long to visit. Way too long. So long in fact, that it was a goodbye visit. Our friend showed the kids around her great yard and helped them pick peaches from the tree, and choose the pears that raccoons had not yet nibbled to take home. She showed Julian the huge moving truck parked in her driveway. Why, why do I hide from old single friends, assuming that they won't understand the ways of the young family? The awkward tantrums and interruptions. The different way I speak, the need to run off at a moment's notice, or change a poopie diaper, or the crying or whining, or screaming and constant questioning. Because I only deny myself a friend who may in fact take my young offspring to pick peaches, or pat a dog or explain something gently, down low to the ground.
More often than they will stand stiffly, wondering why I won't come alone or go out for cocktails and dancing. Wince at the whines and screams, scoff at my running off for someone's terribly needed nap.
Goodbye hugs behind us, we turned down Water and walked through a small glass door that will hit you hard if you don't catch it as you stop quickly at the back of the line. For a mouth watering Al Pastor burrito with cabbage in a silky soft warm tortilla. For under 5 bucks. Bring cash to Tacos Moreno, or count your change, because they don't take plastic, and you don't want to leave empty handed.
Then driving downtown to New Leaf because the Boardwalk makes you hungry and 4 people go through one Al Pastor burrito awfully fast. Snacking while buskers serenaded us on Pacific Ave, watching the colorful cast saunter by in the fading orange light.
Then up Ocean, as we all do, headed into the trees, the big trees over the mountain up 17 toward our homes too far away from the ocean.

The Coldest Winter I Ever Spent...

Was a summer in San Francisco!
Okay, this is the Oakland Ice Rink, but you get the idea. If you can't beat it, join it! The weather has been gray, miserable and COLD... why not put on those mittens and head to the rink! The kids had a blast, and Tia Stacey was a good sport, coming along for support- at least emotional support. Zoe, who was so excited to go chickened out at the last minute and didn't actually get on the ice until the session was almost over. Julian on the other hand, declared that he was too little to go ice skating, until he saw his very own big boy skates and practically danced all the way to the ice- and around. In the end, everyone skated, and can't wait to go again.

Sharing is caring

Our last evening jaunt to the bright pink gelateria, home of 218 flavors of gelato.
After dinner, after baths, we all walked the three blocks or so, over the train tracks overgrown with blackberry brambles, past the senior apartments where the sounds of stir fry sizzling in woks sparkled above the grassy lawns. With Zoe Skuuting ahead, and Julian following on the tricycle, we all looked forward to trying a new flavor, but always winding up choosing an old favorite. The kids each get their own mini-cone- Zoe likes strawberry cheesecake, Julian will get whatever, but seems to like "Vanoola" or, "stwahbooah" or "cochalit". Tonight, he wanted to try "boobawah, mama".
On the way home, I asked them to stop and share cones, and happy on sugar, they were kind enough to quickly oblige.

Easy Rider

That's right.
The Preschoolers have taken over the skate park.
Watch out, man!

This sweet skate park is directly across the street from Grammy's house. Cool Beans!

BC Aquarium

This post would have been titled "Baby Beluga" but sadly, our BC Aquarium baby beluga passed away earlier this summer. We visited her last year, and followed her status online. She became very sick in June and died shortly after. A necropsy determined that some foreign objects were wedged into an infected pocket in her blowhole. A penny and a rock. The aquarium has a low plexiglass wall around the tank so visitors can easily see and hear the belugas as they swim around, playing, nursing, and socializing.
We chose not to tell Zoe about the baby's death, and she had a nice time viewing all the exhibits, but her favorite remains the children's play zone, where she especially loves "The Vet Station". Here, she examines the plushy belugas that Grammy gave her.

A walk to the Park

Every day, at one point or another, we'd walk over to the neighborhood fountain park.
Zoe loves a challenge, and was so proud when she overcame her fears and climbed to the top of the ropes structure. Good thing she kept her helmet on, because Ted looks a bit worried about the possibilities of an ER visit on his watch!

Kits Beach

I know we've seen this spot before, but we loved it here.
Back to Kitsilano Beach and Pool. $5 Canadian for a family of 4. And you're only seeing about a third of the pool in these pics- it is huge. It makes you feel like you're wading in the Carribean. With a storm raining somewhere NE of us, it was muggy and warm, and the views of the graying sky with mountains, still snowy in some parts was just amazing.

Sprinkler Park

Ticket to Ride

Today we went to Stanley Park to ride the mini-train. There was a big aboriginal exhibit going on with dancers and craftspeople and the train was re-named the Spirit Train in support of the exhibit. The train wound through the forest past artist installations representing the animals of the area while a soundtrack played native peoples' music and explained their relationship to the animals and the land.
Julian loved the ride, but didn't want to take his picture with the engine... his sister did oblige, however.

Porteau

Today we drove up the coast to a little spot called Porteau. It is a provincial park on Howe Sound, the southernmost fjord in North America. It was a lovely spot for a picnic, a walk on the beach and a walk through the beautiful campground.