Kicky Baby

We finally went camping! This campground had everything: a pool, a petting zoo (er, well… a bunch of goats at least), a bouncy house, crafts, and a playground. We stayed up in Sonoma and explored the tragic ruins of Wolf House (Jack London’s home and estate) and hiked down to the beach in Bodega Bay to fly kites and eat seafood. Man was it a butt load of work (did I almost lose my mind unpacking and doing post-camping laundry? Yes) but it was totally worth it.

That post-bath glam… What you don’t see is that the floor and mat are soaking wet, there are piles of soggy swimsuits and dirty clothes strewn on the floor, somehow I am as wet as if I also took a bath (which I can assure you I did not) and there is a slippery (but now clean) little brother running around the house naked. So, glam it up when you have the chance… who knows when the stars will align again.

We told the kids we were going to a 4th of July parade, and without parental direction, this is what they chose to wear. Should I be proud or frightened that they worked as a team, came up with a plan, and executed it flawlessly?
And what American parade is complete without a shlubby, bored Elvis refusing to engage with the crowd.

When I say I worry about my daughter’s future in a country that makes abortion illegal, it’s not that I’m just thinking about the possibility that she may need to abort a pregnancy in the future and that I worry what that could be like. My worry is much bigger. I am worried that she will have to live in a world that systematically undervalues her and over-regulates her because she holds a creative power so important and so beautiful that it frightens other bodies of power.

It’s the last day of school and summer has officially begun! Looking forward to reading charts and walks to the library, lots of outdoor adventures, swim lessons (it’s about dang time), finding new “treat houses” (as we call them), and coming home dirty, sweaty and tired.

The kids and I had an epic adventure in Yosemite with miles of hiking (even Calder, who was either stomping and growling like a bear or taking pictures of everyone who passed by), waterfalls that sprayed in our faces, rocks that had to be climbed (you guys, there are so many rocks), a crystal lake backed by a giant cliff face, lots of deer, and even more bug bites. We were all awestruck and can’t wait to go again.
(More in stories)

This girl is a natural stage performer (I mean, her face game says it all). While neither she nor I can properly apply makeup and hairspray, we did our darndest. She has rhythm and confidence and sequins: a recipe for success in anyone’s book. I loved watching her first big dance recital and can’t wait to see more.

Oh man, last night we went to a back stage performance with Feist. It was small and intimate, but emotionally overwhelming all at once. We had to snap a pic in the empty performance hall after ward. Plus, as you can see, after 20+ years we’re pretty amazing kissers… I mean what even is that???

Our Sunday morning family hike was an absolute joy… maybe they’re just getting older making family “fun” more fun, or maybe all our forced hiking adventures are finally brainwashing them. Either way, it’s a win.

Starting spring break right with a ferry trip across the bay to SF and an adventure from Embarcadero to Ghirardelli Square and back, fueled for the long walk with baguettes and ice cream of course.
These pics are from a cool skateboard hut parked outside the Exploratorium.

If every trip to the playground doesn’t involve the full gamut of emotions, are you even a parent? Here’s 10 minutes of Lark from this morning.

Vans are good for skateboarding and “chilling” or so I’ve been told… Here’s Greyson practicing an ollie, coached by the best there is

Ever wonder what it would look like if NASA sent 3 monkeys into space? Well, you’re welcome. Thanks Chabot Space & Science Center for making all our dreams come true.

A large portion of Calder’s clothes are hand-me-downs I saved from Lark and Greyson. This orange quilted jacket might be my favorite. Here are a few pics of Calder, Lark, and even Grey wearing it once upon a time.

Calder and I explored a new trail this morning in Montclair, which leads to the little village full of cute shops and yummy treats. We got smoothies as a reward for making it all the way there and then walked the trail back. So much still to explore in those Oakland hills ❤️

Our Christmas vacation was full of fun with family in Washington sledding, skiing, a chocolate factory tour (which of course involved a lot to chocolate tasting), Van Gogh-ing, baking, ramen eating, movie watching, game playing, and nap taking. Now, it’s time to recover from all that fun.

A few fun shots from our Christmas morning plus an amazing handwritten note from Lark. Nate had the kids write down a kind thing they did each day in December. We read through all of them today, and this one was my favorite. 😂

What’s more Christmasy than a haunted house! We visited the Wi******er Mystery House in San Jose today and loved exploring this Victorian mansion with its staircases and doors leading to nowhere, 160 rooms, a wing left un-repaired after the 1906 earthquake (so spooky) lavish pressed wall papers, and even a private seance room with a secret exit.
So, Merry Spooky Christmas to your family from mine.

Grey and I were discussing the difference between the speed of sound and the speed of light at dinner tonight. Then he asked, “Has anyone gone faster than the sound of music?”
I said “Julie Andrews”.

One of our family Christmas traditions is completing a service advent calendar, and my favorite day is when we sing carols and deliver cookies to our neighborhood firefighters. This year we got to meet everyone in the C shift at in our San Leandro neighborhood. What a treat it was to walk around the firehouse! Big thanks to all our firefighters; we definitely received more than we gave tonight.

“Shut up, Wesley!”
If you know, you know.

I mean, isn’t this how you watch Daniel Tiger with your toddler?

Getting back into our usual Monday routine of milk tea smoothies after dance class. I love how excited they get, as if they aren’t going to order the same drink they do every single time ❤️

These kinda say it all. Greyson is the best big brother (and really, the biggest brother) you could ask for. He is kind and responsible, cheerful and quirky. He loves playing around with his siblings and, like a true gentle giant, rarely uses his size advantage against others. I’m so delighted with who he is becoming and can’t believe he’s already/only 10. Happy Birthday, my boy… now Ima go cry in the closet while I stare at baby pictures…

Well, I finally ran my race this weekend, the Revel Big Bear Half, with one of my favorite people and forever running buddy, (she did the full marathon and rocked it!)
I’m happy to report that I blew my old PR out of the water, thanks to the down-hill course which led us through the beautiful mountains for the first 10 miles. I couldn’t have asked for a better race weekend with this group of super women. I may be hobbling around for a few days, but it’s never too early to start thinking about the next race…

Sometimes, at the end of the kids’ nightly bedtime routine, I stay a few extra minutes while Lark combs my hair and plays salon. I love it. But because I’m a mom, I find myself, mid-salon, praying this won’t be the last time she’ll want to play our game, and somehow I already miss it. Happy Birthday my little love.

Rookie mistake. Apparently, if you carve your pumpkins more than a week before Halloween in California, this happens. Though honestly, these are the creepiest Jack-o-lanterns we’ve ever had…

Just getting into the season… gotta take advantage of this girl’s perfected creepy face. Need a reminder of last year’s spooky cornfield pics? Just scroll down… if you dare. Bwaaahaaahaaaa!

The pumpkin patch was a big hit. What didn’t make it on camera: Calder kissing his little pumpkin a million times, 30 minutes of Calder swimming in a sandbox filled with dried corn kernels, Calder terrified on hands and knees in the bouncy house, and inevitably, his meltdown at the end when we had to momentarily separate him from his beloved pumpkin in order to pay for it.