Drawing of The Zoo

Tonight I brought crayons and a notebook to the Sushi Place so Zoe could color before dinner.  I looked down and saw that Zoe had drawn the word Zoo at the top of the page.  I asked, "what are you drawing?"
"I'm drawing a picture of the zoo.  See, there is the sign that says 'zoo'."
"I see that, but how did you know how to spell it?"
"just like when we go to San Francisco and we see the signs with the owl that say 'zoo'.  You spell it just like that sign says."
I know that she noticed the signs with the owls, and she always asks about them, and I'm sure they caught her eye because it looks just like her name, but still I thought it was so cool. In her world of pictures and giberish symbols that she can't read yet, she remembered this and used it in the correct context.  #proud mommy

The Whimmy City

We love our Whim Days in the City. Today, more freaking rain. But we didn't let it stop us. We hit up the Academy of Sciences, and then we went for a muni train ride through Cole Valley (you can guess who was pushing for that one). Then I thought I'd take the kids to see the mosaic steps out in the sunset. Julian and I followed Zoe up the steps, then at the top, Zoe wanted to go higher. So across the street, and up again, we followed Zoe. Then more, Zoe wanted to go higher and higher and higher, until we were at the top- top of the world, top of the City, looking out over all the places we had been today. Beautiful. The clouds drifted by, the rain had subsided and there we were, soaking up the view. A new place in my beloved city, that I had never been. A quiet little spot all to ourselves. King of the mountain. And Zoe led us there.

Playdate At Dracena

Playdate with Liam, Casey and "Kapeen" at Dracena Park today. Always an adventure! Good thing they wore helmets!

Visiting Aurora

Today we were invited to a little "meet and greet" at Zoe's new school. We met the other incoming kindergarteners, and the teachers read a story, then the kids played in the room, exploring what will be their new domain come fall. Zoe loved the dress up clothes, the play kitchen, and of course the library corner. We love Aurora!

Zoe & Ruby

Zoe and Juju love playing after school with their buddies on the playground.

Zoe in the Grass

This was a test!
And it worked!
I finally figured out how to upload pictures to my blog with my iPhone.
Ta-da!! So happy! And I know you all will be too!

Pedal Pusher

Today Zoe finally did it! She put her feet on the pedals of her bike, and pushed! She's been so close for so long, but today she did it- all by herself, and then there was no stopping her. As if she'd been doing it for years she leaned into tight turns, picked up speed and grinned her way through the parking lot at Lake Temescal. She is so proud and so thrilled, and we are too.

Tot Lot Fun

Okay, enough raving about all the fun stuff to do with kids in Vancouver. But the totlots are pretty cool... it's really great when you find one that is different from all the others, like this one at 2nd beach that has a great obstacle course and a fire truck play structure, AND a saucer swing. Good times.

Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens

Only Chinatown stands between Grammy's house and this beautiful classical Chinese garden. It's a lovely walk through a few colorful garden filled blocks, then past murals, senior apartments, a Buddhist temple and straight into Chinatown- one of the largest on the West Coast. Just a few more blocks into the center of this densely populated neighborhood, and we found this peaceful walled garden. We came here at Solstice time for a lantern festival when it was lit by candlelight. Now it's spring, and despite the rainy sprinkles it's alive with gentle creatures basking in the symmetry, taking in the variety of views that peek out from behind angles, and corners, through lattices and trees, beyond flowers and over walls, finally soaring out over the glassy skyline above.

Lala's Birthday Treat

It's Layla's birthday, so this is the reason (as if we need one) that we walk down the street to the gelato parlour. The streets on the way are lined with trees dripping cherry blossoms. It looks as if the sidewalks are lined with pink snow. Off we walk through the pink streets, to the big pink building to buy pink ice cream. Though Layla eats vanilla, and Julian holds her leash on the way home. "It's my responsibility to hold Yay-yuh."

Crossing Over

"Where are we going?"
"To the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge."
"How high up is the bridge?" (scowling)
"It's pretty high up."
"Well, I'm not going on it." (more scowling, arms crossed over chest)
"Why don't you wait until we get there to make up your mind about that."
And so it goes. As it goes with everything new, challenging, scary, difficult, or foreign. And Zoe.
A drive over over the Burrard Inlet bridge, up the mountain, into the little town, through a little neighborhood, and boom, you're at the edge of civilization- and a cliff.
Tall trees surround the small provincial park parking lot. There is a short walk to a very modern wood and steel building that houses a cafe with a cozy fireplace, large, clean bathrooms and the coolest looking chemistry set/barista station I've ever seen. Directly across from the 'warming hut' is the trailhead for the Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge. Only a half hour from Vancouver, it feels far away from anything urban, hiding in an ancient forest, surrounded by lacy green tree tops, and the sound of rushing water.
Only a few yards down the path, and you can see the bridge- behind the trees, it drops and swoops (just as your stomach will) down in to the narrow canyon before gliding back up to the other side of the forest. The tapered lines of steel cables and wood steps act like an arrow slicing through the dense, cool forest. Clean and sure, it points the way to go... down and out into the thin air. I push past the tourists haggling with their second thoughts on the last step of terra firma before adjusting my balance to wavering, metallic braid beneath my feet. My first instinct is to look down at what is dashing underneath my shoes- I can feel every footstep, every movement, every breath of every other being on that bridge, and we are now intertwined. I look out ahead of me: That woman with the uneasy smile headed my way, running- "stop running!" I plead to her with no more than my eyes. As she comes closer, I can see she is in a hurry to be off of this experience. Like a spider on it's web, I can feel everything- and I sense something foreign. I scan the crowd ahead of me. There are many people grouped in the middle, the lowest part of the suspension bridge. The walkway is only wide enough to allow two people to pass each other. Some walk slowly, some quickly, some lean to pass others tipping the rest of us slightly. There, at the middle among the bipeds is a dog. A large German Shepard, I could tell something felt different further out. I kept going, pitching slightly as I went, swinging back and forth, vibrating. A pre-teen boy, crying, gripping the hand rope, his braces glinting in the light. Surrounded by his siblings, encouraging him on. I looked back for Zoe- would she jump off, follow me? No. But she is watching me, partly scowling, partly worried. Worried that I might be scared? I smile, "I am having SO much fun".
At the middle, I look down over the ropes. I remember why there is such a noisy roar coming from below. It's the river. Full from the recent (and seemingly constant) rains the water spills along the bottom of the canyon, over the mossy boulders, from one deep pool to another. There are several places where smaller creeks join, and it seems as if there are waterfalls everywhere you turn. I'm getting dizzy. Not from the view, but from the constant sway of people moving over the bridge, every move tied to everyone's every move. Pulling, swaying, lurching, returning, rising, falling. Time to continue, up the far grade into the woods on the other side. I step off, and can still feel the movement of my path over.
Just as quickly, I head back down, into the fray of people laughing, snapping picutres, all marveling at the sights, giddy with the easy thrill of it, this feature of the forest. As I pass the center, the sway calms slightly. I look up and realize that most people have moved off the bridge, down the trails that veer off
into the trees. There is no quiet in the air with the water rushing below, but my body feels the quiet in the decrease of footsteps that rock the bridge. I quickly finish my jaunt, and reach Zoe, waiting for me back at the threshold to the bridge. Julian has already been over with Grammy, and Grampy Ted, who "doesn't do bridges like this" was patiently waiting with Zoe and the others. I could tell Zoe wanted to go out, but was working up to it.
"It's not very wobbly now, because there aren't many people on it."
Zoe took my hand, and made her way over the trail to the entrance of the bridge. Slowly, she took tiny steps to the small metal plates, and then down, step by tiny step towards the middle of the span. The view caught her eye, but they were really focused on the prize- the other side. Slowly and surely she made her way past smiling Japanese picture takers, neighborhood joggers, and little toddlers, all pushing themselves over the abyss, past their comfort zone, to the other side. Once on the dirt trail opposite her starting point, she lept off and jumped up and down, thrilled by her own feat. We walked back hand in hand, looking at the waterfalls, pieces of driftwood trapped in their violent currents floating in joslted circles.
Zoe and I arrived to applause from our family, and Zoe immediately turned around,
"Again!!"
"okay, I'll take you again."
"No! Stay here! I want to go by myself."
And with that, she jumped onto the bridge, sure and straight as an arrow, darting to the other side.

Yeah, it rained a little

To say that it rains a bit in Vancouver is an understatement. But it is a small price to pay for the emerald mountains, the fuzzy moss, the abundance of bright flowers that pop against the misty air in the diffused light. Though in between garden walks, some like to go for a nice bike ride through the skate park. Today, not so much. More like a swim.

Set Them Free

Today we drove out to the end of Burrard Inlet, the waterway that separates the city of Vancouver from North Vancouver. It's used as a shipping channel, and has a large harbor for loading grain, sugar, and goods from Canada and unloading all sorts of cargo from everywhere. Beyond the seaplanes, the railyards, the bustling harbor, the water narrows between the forested mountains and becomes a lovely, quiet bay where several small, cold rivers rushing with fertile water feed into it. Beside one of those small rivers, alongside the community center in the town of Port Moody lies a small fish hatchery. Every spring, they host a fingerling festival, and the community at large is invited to help deliver the small fingerling salmon to the river, and eventually, the sea.
The community center was large, and full of families escorting their kids to regular meets of Lacrosse, skating, hockey and various activities. In addition, there was a large area where Bobs and Lolo were performing (a singing mommy duo who seem to be everywhere, all the time in the greater Vancouver area) many booths were set up to encourage an eco-friendly lifestyle and support healthy marine life awareness in general. A representative from the Bob Barker anti-whaling ship was there too. Then behind the buildings, past the hot dog tent, over a bridge, across a wildly rushing stream, down a path lined with fresh green shoots, flowering bushes and full trees was the little hatchling pond, and a shed, filled with volunteers who passed little white buckets of fingerling chum salmon to every hand that reached out to take it.
In the sprinkling rain, we took our buckets to the stream a few yards away. Julian stopped to look down toward the thin, finger long fish. They were dark against the stark bucket. He gently dropped his little fingers down among the fish, and tenderly waved them through the water, feeling the fish dance between them, and pulling them up to reveal the silvery sides and keen black eyes. We knelt at the sandy streamside between the patches of grass, and the smooth stones and gently tipped the buckets into the clear, icy water. The little fish wriggled back and forth, back and forth between the safety of the white bucket and the infinite water filled world of their destiny. Until finally, the bucket pulled slowly away, they swam off into the rushing current, toward the sea.

Fans of the Roundhouse

Ted's Vancouver Tour for Boys

Every time we visit Vancouver, Ted has taken it upon himself to plan a special outing favoring Julian's preferences.
This time, Ted took us to a great viewing plaza near the convention center that overlooks the Burrard Inlet. From this location, up above the water and jutting out away from the city a bit, there is much to watch in the form of transportation. Julian loves ALL things transportation.
We saw a giant cruise ship docked at port. We saw cargo ships heading in and out. We saw helicopters. We saw sailboats, and ferry boats. But best of all, the real focus of our outing was to watch the seaplanes take off and land, right in front of us. Those things are like mosquitos- they are ALWAYS buzzing overhead. Coming and going to the many isolated little communities among the islands and fijords that fill the region. Most of them probably go over to Vancouver island. They each only hold a handful of passengers. Their "parking" marina was right next to our lookout perch, so we watched them motor out into the inlet, rev up their engines and take off into the sprinkling rain filled sky. A moment later, another one would circle above and land right in front of us, then motor over to the marina to park alongside the dock. Julian was mesmerized.
"Let's go, Jujie. It's starting to rain."
"No no! Wait! I want to watch him park da pane!"
And there we waited until the plane motored slowly to the dock, tied up, and killed the engine.

Best. Pool. Ever.

I know that this picture doesn't really do justice to the experience, but you get an idea.
We arrive in Vancouver, and honestly, it felt like going back in time two months. At home in Oakland, we were in full swing spring, and we had just enjoyed a beautiful sunny weekend at the beach here at home, our veggies are growing in the garden, and our sundresses and sandals are getting some use. Then we land in Vancouver and it's all tulips, daffodils, and rain. Rain. Rain.
But let me tell you, that there is no better place to be in all that rain! This town knows how to live in it's climate! One sunny hour? Everyone in town is riding their bike in short shorts and sandals and tank tops. The gardens are the most beautifully kept- and honored - gardens of most cities I've experienced. And the community centers ROCK. Not center, but centers- there is one in every neighborhood. There are playgrounds with open space and play structures every few blocks in the entire city. There are so many places to take your kids in the rain as well as for those moments when the rain breaks. Case in point: Pools.
What, are these people raised like fish? Pools are everywhere! In the summer we hang at Kits pool that overlooks the inlet (though we have a choice of many beautiful pools) and in the winter, we'd been going to a great little pool, but good ol' Grammy, always with her feelers out for the next best thing, found a great new pool. It's a whole community center with a hockey rink for skating and yes, CURLING, a gym, a playground, and the most awesome pool I have ever seen. I believe it was built for the recent Olympics so it's brand spanking new. It's modern- all soaring wood and glass. It's HUGE. There is a pool for laps. A pool for swim classes. A pool for diving (3 heights). A pool for wading (of enormous size with multiple entries and steps, and tons of little toy boats, noodles and paddle boards). A Jacuzzi the size of most community swimming pools- no really. And the kicker: a "lazy river". It's a spiral filled with jets that floats you along in a big circle letting you ride the current with many points to enter and exit along the way. All under the same roof. There are tables for sitting and resting your things, chairs to relax in a dry spot, and the whole giant area enjoys floor to ceiling windows on at least two sides that allow natural light to fill it, making you feel almost like you're outside, but safe and warm from the rain outside. I didn't miss playing outside in the sunshine for one moment. Wonderful.

Lazy Afternoon

Umbrella

Mini Travelers

SFO->YVR

Back to the Boardwalk

It's that time again! Sunny weekends in Santa Cruz and the Boardwalk is open for the season. We all a great time going on rides before it became too crowded, then we drove off into the woods to ride around at Henry Cowel Redwoods.