Friday, May 30, 2014

Toothless Wonder

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is no cuter thing on this planet than a little girl or boy missing their two front teeth.

Clara has been rocking the cutest, gummiest smile since losing her top chompers early this month, and I've been snapping pictures like a maniac, since I know from experience that the next phase -- awkward, too-big adult teeth coming in crooked and crazy -- will be the opposite of cute!



 





 

Thursday, May 29, 2014

Adventures at Alcatraz

As part of a new campaign to expose our suburban kids to some sightseeing in our very nearby City by the Bay, we booked tickets to Alcatraz for Memorial Day.

We sold the trip with tales of bank robbers, escape attempts and sharks ... and the promise of a ferry ride and snacks.


 

Clara didn't realize until after the trip was over that it's no longer an active prison, which might explain why she was on her very best behavior.


Our kids are now apparently old enough to be entertained by -- and follow along with -- the 45-minute audio tour, complete with gory details of guards being imprisoned, prison bars being pried apart, and "bad guys" using stolen spoons from the dining hall to dig holes in their walls. It's a miracle there were no nightmares that night!
 














Monday, May 19, 2014

Snippets

"I don't want French braids today. I want low, loose, English braids." -- Clara

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Mommy (after removing gum from Molly's clothes and shoes): "Lesson learned... You are never getting gum again!"

Molly: "You'll probably forget about that by tomorrow."

*********

Joey: "Mommy, why is your book called The Husband's Secret?"

Mommy: "Well, it's about a daddy who killed someone a long time ago... That's his secret."

Joey: "I bet Daddy could kill someone... with his fastball!!"

**********

And on a less complimentary note...

Joey: "Daddy, it's weird that you're small and slow. Usually the small guys are at least fast!"


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Science-y Stuff

My Tuesday afternoons with Molly have taken a science-y turn over the past few months, with near-weekly trips to Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland to meet up with Grandma and cousin Lucy for "tyke" explorer classes.

Our two "explorers" are mutually delighted to see each other every week, and like to squeeze in plenty of cousin catch-up time during the lesson, including giggles, whispers and wiggling. The instructors have finally caught on that they're related -- they definitely do not look like first cousins!

But they're both happy to get down to business with the day's lesson, and frankly, I'm learning as much as Molly. The classes have delved into magnets, light, space, planets, gardening and more, all very much outside my area of expertise... which would be arts and crafts and books.

Both Molly and I may have hit our limit, though, with this week's class, which involved handling earthworms... extensively. Molly was *that* blonde who kept shrieking every time the worm touched her, and I was *that* mom who kept trying to pick up the worms with a pencil when no one was looking... especially the crunchy Oakland moms at our table who were taking notes for composting.

Here's to science... as long as we don't have to touch worms!



















A Big First

After two years of Faith Formation, a second-grade retreat with Father John, and a shopping trip for a handsome "big boy" suit, Joey made his First Communion last weekend.

He soaked up all the fanfare, and after returning to his pew after his big moment at the altar, he looked up at me and whispered, "I feel so special."