Audobon camp

Kiira finished her last full week of summer camp Friday. She did Audobon camp here in Tiburon. It's a wonderful way of learning about nature as they trek around their property and learn about the parts of the flowers, what different plants are, what are edible plants etc. They walked down to Richardson Bay and saw leopard sharks (which come to find out won't bite humans), they learned how to tell the difference between a boy crab and a girl crab, and they learned what some of the animals ate for meals. The grounds are beautiful and the Lyford building that is on the property is an unexpected wonder! The kids ended the week with a puppet show where the kids educated the parents on all these different points.

Symbiosis

Our kitties contine to grow and thrive. They are STARTING to get better about knowing when not to use their nails, however, they do still get us every now and again. I love to sit on the couch and watch them racing around chasing a scrap of paper or feather that has floated down from the kid's craft table. Unfortunately, we have to shut them out of the bedroom at night. They seem to wake up from about 10 pm - 3 am and love to race around and bat at anything that moves - including a head, hand, leg, or nose that is under covers. It is still fun to listen to them run up and down, up and down the stairs (which are right over our heads...)

Sit and spin

Why is it that we can have a toy for a year and no one plays with it? Then, one day, it is resurrected and EVERYONE wants to play with it. At the same time. Of course. Oh well - they had fun this time....

Summer lovin'

....had me some fun. Well, kinda. I will pull this photo out in years to come to remind my children that at one point they DID like each other! We are definitely heading into the sibling rivalry era.....
And yes, I hear my mother's voice in my head, "don't touch her", "stop touching each other", "come here...come here....come HEEEEEERRRRREEEEE....."

In the Neighborhood

"Oh who are the people in your neighborhood" - Sesame Street

I love living somewhere where the kids come over impromptu to play. Followed of course by the parents. On this lovely summer eve, Claire and Jack came for a late afternoon play. Mona Helen and I enjoyed the down time to catch up on her trip to Alabama and life in Tiburon while she was away. This is what makes community.

You don't realize community is what everyone is trying to find until it isn't there. I remember growing up in a neighborhood where everyone knew each other. Where we knocked on doors at Halloween and played kicked the can with friends in the street. Our backyard was almost "the square" where several houses bordered and a good game of kickball was easy to gather.

It is harder today. We don't have the space and people always seem to "have something to do". I am included in the latter. So, it is with effort, but with great results that I have tried to slow life down. To enjoy the tick of the clock, the banter of children and the visits from neighbors. This is what makes up my community. And yes, I am slowly getting to know "who are the people in your neighborhood" by more than just their passing faces....

Potty training

Evan has started the potty training process. We got right on it after we came back from vacation. He needs to be potty trained by September when he starts pre-school. I have been dreading this process because when we potty trained Kiira, it was both LONG and PAINFUL. For us, her parents, that is. Two therapists later - they both said the same thing. Kiira will use the potty when she knows she can do it perfectly. And that is exactly what happened.

Clearly Evan is not the perfectionist that Kiira is. For the most part he gets it, sometimes has accidents, but overall is pretty laid back about the whole process. He just goes with the flow and doesn't get upset when he misses. Phewwwwwwww......is all I can say.

Ten stickers on the potty chart equals ONE TOY!! Yippee!!! That has been a VERY big incentive. And an M&M after each potty sitting doesn't hurt either.

Carpenter's apprentice

Kiira finished her week of Bay Area Discovery Museum last Friday. She did the Carpenter's Apprentice camp. It was a super long day for her (9-4) but I really wanted her to get some experience in building. I think it is really important for girls to be able to do this, and perhaps because I have an interest in it and love to build, I pushed her a little into this camp. Regardless, she had a great time and built this incredible bird house. They cut the wood, sanded it, nailed it and painted it. Well done Kiira! How proud Uncle Tom will be!

Kicked my ass

I think I should have read the label before I tried some of this hot sauce. "Armageddon Sauce" DOES pretty much sum it up. My friend Todd Kimberly whom I caught up with at our mini-reunion in Ithaca (we went to high school together) surprised me with a bottle of this hot sauce. He knew that I had been looking for that one that would "make it hurt" as I've phrased it in the past. Until now I'd had no luck.

I can easily say I've met my match. I swear I even felt a little faint after the smallest amount. And anyone that knows me well would know that I am NOT a lightweight when it comes to spicy. Yes, it is safe to say that this is the only hot sauce that has definitely KICKED MY ASS!!! Thanks Todd!

Shedding

Every year I try to have a garage sale to get rid of the items that at some time we couldn't live without but now are, well, gathering dust. This year our friend had a block tag sale that we hauled ourselves over to. I felt like I sold alot but hmmmm....still came back with quite a car full. I'm thinking another one in my neighborhood. But darn - my friend's view is not bad huh?! Plus Kiira got to have an all day playdate with her daughter (they were in kindergarten together).

More shedding to do....

Handy Heidi

OK - I admit it. I like to fix things. I like to saw things, drill things, build things. In my time I HAVE actually built a few things and do consider myself fairly handy. So when our toilet was continuously running I was determined to fix it myself vs. pay someone $175-200 to do it for us. $35 later (total of the parts I needed) I had succeeded. Yahoo!

San Francisco seems to be the hub

Since moving to San Francisco, I have had the pleasure to catch up with many an old friend. Old of course being the figurative not the literal meaning....

This past week one of my high school friends was in town for work. We also went to college together but hadn't caught up with each other in some time. And twists of all twists, she is now married to my next door neighbor that I grew up with.

Good to see you Chantelle! Jenny and I are slowing trying to convince her to move here (her company is based in SF so it is a viable option). I think her husband is on board....hmmmm....how to seal the deal with Chantelle?

Love this

I just had to share the most amazing gift I got for my birthday. Jenny took my favorite photograph of Rhett and me and had an artist reproduce it into a pencil drawing. I LOVE IT!!!!! Thanks Jenny!

Surfing USA

Today was Jenny's birthday, and, not being a big fan of her birthday (unlike me!) she wanted to do something very low key. She had been talking about having a surfing lesson for eons now so we finally sprung into action and took the surfboard by the leash.

We headed out to Bolinas which is about 45 minutes away. It's a small town with one general store, one bar and one restaurant. I think we frequented them all. It's also a bit hard to find since the locals and nearby surfers have taken down the "Bolinas this way" sign in order to keep that small town feel. The sign can, however be found in the one restaurant in town.

Ian was our instructor and he was VERY patient. He taught us when to catch the wave, how to first go on our stomach, then our knees and finally how to stand up. We achieved the first two and only a millisecond of the last. Well, at least we were up on our feet for a short time. And as Jenny's parents said when we called afterwards, "She's alive!"

Check out our slideshow too. Sorry no action shots.....

And once again.....he cleaned

Angel

Not for a second can I take my eye off of Evan. Each day I am sure to pick up all markers, pens (especially the permanent type), pencils etc. that could be used to deface our home. Each time he draws on the floor, the chair, the table, the wall - he is made to clean it up himself. You would think he would learn by now.

Not only did he get the floor this time, but he also made sure to use the rainbow crayon (which is only about 1/2" long - don't ASK me how he found THAT one!) in picture bursts every 12-15" across the floor. As you can see by the photo, you CANNOT teach a young dog old tricks. And once again.....he cleaned.



Devil

Sweden comes to us!

Two years ago, our friends and neighbors Emma and Stefan moved back to Sweden. Their children Max and Elise were playmates to ours and their absence is felt everyday as we look across the street to, what is predominantly, an empty house. Emma and I were pregnant at the same time with Evan and Elise (they are one month apart) and it had been so nice to have someone to share the benchmarks of child development with.




This month, they returned to the US for a three month stay, doing a house swap with some friends of theirs. During this time we were able to get together three times and catch up. It was as if we had never been apart. Although Max did not remember any English, Kiira and he found ways to communicate and played for hours at a time. Evan and Elise similarly amused each other with their own comversations. And, at one time or another, each child asked the parents how to say something in the other's native language. Perhaps ours even picked up a few extra words of Swedish?

We met at each other's houses and then one day, the Larsson's came to the barn, the last day of Kiira's pony camp, and we all rooted her on in her little horse show. After, Max and Elise got a ride on Robin Hood!




Alan and I talk alot of how rare it is to find other couples that both husband and wife get on well with the other husband/wife. Not only are Emma and Stefan nice people but also they are interesting, worldly and intriguing. We love talking of the differences/similarities of Sweden and the US. We talk of cats/dogs - are we one or the other? We talk photography, gay rights, perception of motherhood. We joke, we ponder, we wholeheartedly enjoy each other's company. Thank you Emma and Stefan for including us in your lives, your thoughts and your US visit!

BOING!!

Alan wants a trampoline. The kids want a trampoline. Me - I am not opposed to a trampoline per say, I AM opposed to the amount of space the trampoline takes up. Alan wants a 14'-0" one. Seeing as our yard is only about twice that size, I am not eager to see a good portion of it go to the trampoline. Alan says it will be his excercise. Hmmmm.....I am wondering why he then has the tennis membership and the gym membership.

In the meantime, we purchase the mini trampoline. Kids love, alan like it, I can live with it. Stay tuned though......

Train Town

We never tire of going to train town. A short 30 minute drive to wine country and we go back into time to a miniature village with trains, rides and simple pleasures. The kids love it. They even have a tiny roller coater which Evan went on for the first time. He LOVED it. There's my daredevil!



After traintown we enjoyed a lovely lunch at a mom and pop place along the way home. they had a great jazz band playing to boot. The kids can never resist a little dancing!

Pony Camp

Kiira's summer has consisted of a few different camps but her favorite thus far has been pony camp. Mom loves it because I get to ride too. It has been wonderful in many ways but the things I have loved best are, Kiira has met more friends her age, and she has gained the confidence to trot off of the lunge line AND trot a course of cavelleti's by herself. I suppose it is the internal competiveness that drives her on. I think this is the best way to learn - pushing yourself rather than having someone else push you. I'm just glad she is having fun as well as learning. Go Kiira GO!!!!

Old kids on the block

One of the reasons I love where we live is because we have a cul de sac. More and more, as the kids get older, they will play on the street. I feel that they are safe and I can do things in the garage etc. Every now and again, timing is right and our neighbors will be up with their kids and it turns into an impromptu playdate. As I was cleaning out our garage (it had become a bottomless pit with my staging items and my goal was to fit ONE car in!), Claire, Jack and Mona Helen and James wandered up. It made for the perfect excuse to stop cleaning and start socializing. Having a handy refrigerator in the garage, I handed the grown up beers and the kids played bikes/trikes/skuts/and scooters on the road. While we were chatting, a rainbow and then double rainbow appeared. I think I like what's at the end of MY rainbow!! :-)

July 4 in Ithaca

Every year I make July 4 the time of year that I go back and visit my mom in Ithaca. AND, every year it is as if a higher being is trying to convince me that travel is not my friend at this time of year. It is true, getting there lately has been like forcing a square peg into a round hole. And yet, I persevere. It really is the best time to visit.

This year, my mom had been out to visit us so she traveled back east with us. It turned out to be nice to have the extra set of hands as our flight from JFK to Syracuse was canceled and we ended up renting a car at 9 pm, scrounging a carseat (since our luggage and checked carseat were nowhere to be found) and driving the 5 hours since they couldn't get us on another flight for 3 days. "Weather related", they said. "Yeah, I'll weather related you" is what we were all thinking.....the catch all for "we can't be held responsible".

Aaaaanyway.....once Alan was done swearing he wouldn't visit Ithaca but every few years, we arrived and had a great time. The kids have plenty of room to run around, we spent time with old friends, I had a mini-class reunion and re-connected with old classmates, and overall we spent good time outdoors and relaxed.

I love visiting our cottage on Cayuga Lake and the memories of growing up there warm my heart. I am so happy to be able to share that with my kids. It truly is GORE-geous.





And did I mention on the way home they messed up our connecting flight and after a drive to Syracuse we had to drive BACK to Ithaca and leave the next day instead of the day we were supposed to? Oh brother........