Thursday, August 27, 2009

What can I say?

What can I say???? Our mornings (after Anika leaves for school) have been spent in the backyard where it has been nice a cool. When I looked up from my journal, this is what I saw. . .

Captions ran through my head:
When the cat's away. . .
Mudville Flats: population 1
What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger
One outfit down, ???? to go. . .
It's not a good day, until you are this dirty!
Have mud, will wallow!
Hose or tub? That is the question.





Monday, August 24, 2009

Amazing Almonds and Apples!

I was reading my sister's wise words about healthy snacks today when she mentioned apples and almond butter. Well. . . I just happen to live in an amazing valley were both products are at my finger tips. So, not only was I able to provide my kiddos with a healthy snack, I also did it with freshly grow produce and no trip to the grocery store:-) Since Lloyd is no longer struggling with nut allergies, I got out a bag of almonds that we had been given. I toasted them, processed them and voile - almond butter. We had also recently (and sheepishly) discovered that the tree along the side of the house (that was so busy with bees this spring) is an apple tree!!!! (Yeah, we don't get over to that side of the house. . .)

Here are the kids enjoying scrumptous almond butter and apples after a quick run through the sprinklers.



Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Anika's First Day

A picture is worth a thousand words -- and while I have thousands upon thousands of words that I could say about this momentous occasion, I'll let the pictures do the talking:


Anika & Mrs Huisken
PS For Anika, it was love at first sight! From the moment Anika arrived home, I've heard "Mrs. Huisken said. . ." "then Mrs. Huisken did. . ." "my teacher. . . " Anika is not alone in her adoration. I've heard RAVE reviews about Mrs. Huisken from everyone who has had her.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Open House Night

While I'm tempted to wax on and on about seasons of life changing, chapters coming to an end, doors closing, suns setting and whatever other analogy/cliche I can come up with, I will refrain. Suffice it to say, Anika begins kindergarten tomorrow. SIGH! Last night we were able to visit her classroom, meet her teacher, say 'hi' to some other students, and see her cubby and seat. She was so excited to look for her name and play on the playground equipment.



We all walked over to school together and I think there may be a new appreciation for one another as this new stage begins. Such independence -- "We'll lead the way, Mom & Dad."





Monday, August 17, 2009

Summer's Last Hurrah - Part 2

After our time at the aquarium, we had lunch at Hard Rock Cafe (I guess I'm not the rocker I once was, because I don't remember complaining about the loud music in college!). Then we strolled down Pier 39. It was a beautiful, sunny upper 60 degree day. Anika and Andrew were most excited about the sea lions; they probably could have watched them (watching us) longer than we were in the aquarium. A little bite of ice cream and it was time to head home. (The only downside of the day was hitting Friday evening rush hour traffic. It took us almost 3 hrs to get home - 69 miles.)

Boats on the bay:


Golden Gate Bridge:
Bay Bridge:
Me, my kiddos, and Alcatraz Island:
Dad, his kids and Alcatraz:
Sea Lions:

Ice Cream smiles:


Summer's Last Hurrah!

Sigh! Summer is coming to an end and our life as we’ve known it is ending. Anika will start school on Wednesday and I will never have her back in quite the same way again. (Boy, I’m sounding melancholy, aren’t I?) I’m so happy for her to make this big step, but I also realize that the school schedule is now a part of our lives. So, we decided to make sure that Daddy’s day off last week was a special time. We went to San Francisco to the “Aquarium on the Bay”, had lunch at Hard Rock CafĂ©, and walked Pier 39. It was a wonderful, special day and it reminded us that we need to take advantage of the all the wonderful opportunities around us.

The Aquarium on the Bay (it is located right on Pier 39):
A prehistoric Shark Jaw photo op:

This particular section was a big draw for the kids. It had all the characters in "Finding Nemo". Anika loved pointing out. . .
. . .Dorrie. . .
. . . Marlin and Nemo. . . and their anemone.
A quick shot with SpongeBob:
Kathryn was entralled with the moon jellies:
More jellies:
These northern anchovies remind me of the fish in "Nemo" that form pictures:
Starfish:
Bat ray:
Petting the bat ray and leopard shark (It actually came up out of the water as if it wanted to be touched):
Just one finger:
Touching anemones, star fish and sea slugs at the tide pool:


Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Anika's New Digs

I'd been thinking about future arrangements for our kids' bed rooms (still thinking it was a 1 - 1.5 years away). SURPRISE! A friend was giving away a bunk bed so we couldn't pass up the opportunity. My thinking is that Kathryn will join Anika in this room when she is older; Andrew will move into Kathryn's nursery (since it is bigger) with the full size bed from the guest room, then the twin daybed in Andrew's room will go to the guest room (giving us much more room in there.) Andrew's current room will become a playroom. This "new" bunk is great - twin on top, full on bottom, with a pull-out twin trundle underneath. We don't have mattress for everything yet, but we certainly have time. Anika is so excited. She uses the top bunk for reading and "writing" time.

Clear the Air Space!

A very crabby Andrew had a miraculous turn around when Nathan made him a paper airplane. I can't believe how long he played with the half dozen or so creations that Nate made him. (He is still playing with them this morning!) Amazing what a piece of paper can do when all the other expensive toys sit in tubs untouched! Learning the technique:
The throw:
The follow-through: