Halloween!

Piedmont Ave. Halloween Parade

Cinderella, Grammy and The Mommy braved the sprinkles for the annual Piedmont Ave. Halloween Parade. The street was full of tigers, princesses, goblins, superheroes and a Noah's Ark of various fauna. The kids admired each others costumes and trick or treated among the merchants. We stopped for hot beverages and buns at Cafe Trieste to warm up before continuing our journey. At the end of the street, the merchant's association tossed little plushies from a stage, Carnival style. A kind devil caught a Winnie the Pooh, and handed it to a thrilled Zoe.

Very Smooky

The kids were waiting in line at the Very Smooky Haunted House in Piedmont. Julian, so scared that he didn't really want to go, was very brave in the end, while his sister, so brave in line while comforting her brother, screamed the whole way through.

Halloween Party

Today Zoe was as excited as Cinderella off to The Ball in her costume, dressed for the Halloween Party at school. Escorted in a pumpkin disguised as a Jetta, accompanied by Grammy and Grampa Ted.

Under the other Sycamore tree

I've been shooting the kids under this sycamore tree every fall.
Julian and I found a morning with just the two of us, and so we took to the woods for a walk and found ourselves, as we do every year, under our sycamore tree in the fallen leaves. I smell a photo shoot coming on...

Ikea Snacks

Today we went to Ikea. Strangely, the kids love Ikea. We always take a break after the children's department and have a snack in the cafeteria, next to the big windows looking out across bay. Today Julian flipped over something and did a faceplant, landing on his nose. It started bleeding and Zoe became more upset than Julian at that point. But here everyone is okay again, and enjoying some muffin and apple juice.

Rainy days are for books

Tandem

Japanese bunnies

Japanese bunnies like tempura carrots

Liam's Birthday

The kids were invited to Liam's birthday celebration at Oakland's Fairyland.
Originally, it was supposed to be a costume party because Liam was "all fired up to wear his spiderman costume". Zoe too was excited to wear her Cinderella costume, but it turned out that she was the only one to wear a costume. You know, when you're 4- you don't care if you're the only one in costume! Besides she was so cute. The whole family had fun at Fairyland. We were able to visit with the families of Zoe's school mates from last year (when she and Liam were in class together), some of whom have moved on to Kindergarden. Fairyland is so cute- it's a place where children's stories come to life, as you can see above- Alice's rabbit hole, The 3 Little Pigs straw house, and more. That's a happy birthday boy holding Zoe's hand.

Luncheon on the grass

Zoe behind the lens

We became a bit bored while waiting to see the doctor at Zoe's check up.
Pull out the camera! Zoe wanted to take control of the shutter for a while.

Lincoln Park

I love summer days playing under the shade of old oak trees in breezy Alameda.
I know it's October- it's OUR summer, though.

The Eye Doctor

Sometimes Zoe squints a lot.
Sometimes she rubs her eyes a lot.
She was very quiet when she was asked to read an eye chart at the clinic after her last black eye.
So we thought it best to have her eyes checked.
They're a soft blue. They're sparkly and expressive. They don't drip anymore, and now she puts the bear's tail to her lips instead of jamming it in the corner of her eye- mutually exclusive? Who knows.
Her eyesight is fine, and she was a great little patient.

Potluck Picnic

Tonight we went to a potluck picnic at Zoe's school. All of the other Playschool families from Kristi's class were there. The kids all ran around avoiding eating while the parents chatted and nibbled.

Zoe has a few admirers now that she is one of the "older" kids. She came back from summer break, and is suddenly long and slender, all long tan legs and arms swinging confidently, long golden hair brushed away from her cheeks. The boys love her.
Liam is suddenly asking for playdates, and a supercute young chap named Harrison follows her around class everyday, hanging on her every word. Waiting. Waiting for her to notice him.
Zoe has been a crazed princess lately. At school in the morning, she enters the fairytale classroom, and immediately skips over to the costume rack and pulls down one of many princess dresses to wear like Mr. Robinson changing sweaters. She also likes to wear her fairy wings. So girly.
The other day when I picked her up from school, the kids were all on the playground. A little boy was wearing a princess skirt, his hips wrapped in a cloud of glittery pinkness and he was following Zoe around the sand. Okay, I thought. Little boys can wear costumes, I'm not going to judge a 3 year old. I called, "Zoe! Let's go get your lunchbox!"
One of the moms said, "are you Zoe's mom?"
"yes."
"Ohhhhhh. Harrison loves Zoe. He talks about her all the time."
"Which one is Harrison?"
"He's the one in the pink skirt."
Ahhhhhh. Turns out, Harrison was so desperate to catch Zoe's eye, he put on a princess skirt. The boy pays attention. Now that's love.

It was a really warm evening and the crickets sang in the bushes at the edge of the playground as we watched the sky turn a rainbow of colors over the bay; San Francisco in silhouette against an orange backdrop rising into yellow then blue then indigo. Piedmont has a higher population of crickets singing in the air, adding to their already "Piedmont is Nicer" ambiance. What a lovely evening.

Playground

After school, while the weather is still warm and lovely, we like to stay and play on the playground after school. Zoe really likes playing with her friends Ruby & Sofia Rose. Zoe is right in between the sisters' ages. Here they all jump off the slide into the sand below... Zoe flying with her fairy wings.

BARTride

On the weekends when both parents are home, a common tactic is to "divide and conquer".
We often forget about this useful technique. It is a real joy to spend quality time alone with one kid. There is so much less chaos. We can hold hands, chat about whatever, sit quietly, and share some real one on one time. Zoe and I did just that today with a jaunt into the City on BART. Zoe likes taking the train and walking around Downtown; Zoe doesn't much care for endless shopping. I make up for it by taking her to the Sanrio (Hello Kitty) store and going to lunch. She likes the market in Macy's basement. And the really tiny, cute, queer filipino guy who made a special tuna salad kids sandwich really liked her. Thanks Boudin Bakery!

Fairlight Photography

The New Website

Angel of the bubbles

Lemos Farm

I think Nana flew up here just so she could take the kids to the pumpkin patch at Lemos Farm in Half Moon Bay.
This place is pumpkin patch heaven. Poor unaware drivers who may be headed either to the beach or over the hill via Hwy 92 on a Saturday in October- one lane in either direction, and both have to stop as families cross the highway between the pumpkin farms. Lemos has the corner on the market though- ghost town train (happy squeals from Juju), pony rides (juju too scared for ponies) scarecrows, goaties, tractors, hay rides, games, pumpkin pie, hay bales galore, face painting, fountains, ducks, bouncie houses, picnic benches and lots and lots o' pumpkins. We go every year, and always have a hay of a good time!

A step up from Shroeder

Does the fairy look happy at her new keyboard?
I should hope so.
She has Avant Tot homework, and needs somewhere to practice her "bunny ears".
A kid has to start somewhere, right?
She was totally thrilled to wake up from her nap in Never Never Land, and find this.