We couldn't stop laughing about finding this t-shirt while window shopping at Ghiradelli Square. Watch out, Ava...two can play at this game!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Monday, December 07, 2009
The Day We Brought Snow to School
It has been cold; a big cold front that lasts 4-days is coming through. It's first day brought rain which, with the cold evenings, brought snow the hilltops and mountains. From our house, you couldn't tell, however, after making the transition through the Hwy 24 exchange, heading toward the Berkeley Hills, you could see the white stuff covering the tops. I point it out as we head to school:
"Hey, Ava -- see that white stuff at the top of the hill? Guess what that is," I say.
"I dunno, Mommy," she answers.
"It's snow!! Isn't that exciting?"
"You mean like at Aunt Ainsley's house? That's so special! Can we go there and touch it?" she asks.
Why not? I think. So, I get off the freeway and wind our way up to the top. The whole way up each kid is clamoring about each and every snow patch they see. It gets thicker and more even as we progress. We all pile out of the car at a turnout at the crest of the hill. Baby Brother is excited as well, pointing and making muffled chatter through his pacifier. I get a left-over soda cup from the car and tell the kids that we could fill it up with snow and bring it to school for all the kids to see. Excited hands and eyes get busy. They love the shocking feel of the cold snow as they scoop it up and put it into the paper cup. Bettina is so excited, she wants to guard the cup the rest of the way to school and holds it in her lap. I have to do up her seat belt she is so reluctant to let it go. Ava comments as we finish our drive that she wishes is was "S" week at school so that they could put the snow into the mystery box so people could guess what it was.
From the parking lot, Bettina can't carry anything but the snow-filled paper cup to her class she's so preoccupied. As I put her things in her cubby, I look to find her parading the snow around the room like she's Clara with her Nutcracker.
When I pick them up at the end of the day, I ask Ava about sharing their snow. She realizes now that we don't have it. "We forgot our snow at school!" she panics. "Where did it go?" I tell her that Miss Kathy probably threw it out after it melted. "Why?" she asks.
"Well, probably because after the snow melts, it's not so special anymore."
"But, why isn't it special?" she asks, a little hurt.
Perhaps that's the magic and the story to be told. Isn't it wonderful to realize that a pile of dirty water really is still special through a child's eyes because, at one time, it was snow.
"Hey, Ava -- see that white stuff at the top of the hill? Guess what that is," I say.
"I dunno, Mommy," she answers.
"It's snow!! Isn't that exciting?"
"You mean like at Aunt Ainsley's house? That's so special! Can we go there and touch it?" she asks.
Why not? I think. So, I get off the freeway and wind our way up to the top. The whole way up each kid is clamoring about each and every snow patch they see. It gets thicker and more even as we progress. We all pile out of the car at a turnout at the crest of the hill. Baby Brother is excited as well, pointing and making muffled chatter through his pacifier. I get a left-over soda cup from the car and tell the kids that we could fill it up with snow and bring it to school for all the kids to see. Excited hands and eyes get busy. They love the shocking feel of the cold snow as they scoop it up and put it into the paper cup. Bettina is so excited, she wants to guard the cup the rest of the way to school and holds it in her lap. I have to do up her seat belt she is so reluctant to let it go. Ava comments as we finish our drive that she wishes is was "S" week at school so that they could put the snow into the mystery box so people could guess what it was.
From the parking lot, Bettina can't carry anything but the snow-filled paper cup to her class she's so preoccupied. As I put her things in her cubby, I look to find her parading the snow around the room like she's Clara with her Nutcracker.
When I pick them up at the end of the day, I ask Ava about sharing their snow. She realizes now that we don't have it. "We forgot our snow at school!" she panics. "Where did it go?" I tell her that Miss Kathy probably threw it out after it melted. "Why?" she asks.
"Well, probably because after the snow melts, it's not so special anymore."
"But, why isn't it special?" she asks, a little hurt.
Perhaps that's the magic and the story to be told. Isn't it wonderful to realize that a pile of dirty water really is still special through a child's eyes because, at one time, it was snow.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Lots of Ballet Today
Alessandro, Julia, Hanna, Ava, Bettina & Christina before watching The Velveteen Rabbit
The ODC version of The Velveteen Rabbit was a last-minute, unexpected treat as some friends found extra tickets 3-hours before showtime. Although we usually see Misty today, we decided to sidetrack and try something new. Who knew it would be as great as it was! And, where else do you get a kid-friendly (both on content and lenght) ballet a mile and a half from your home for $10 a seat?
Despite the fact that it started right at the beginning of Baby Brother's nap time, Alessandro truely loved the show. He sat still and watched from my lap for the whole 60-minutes, pointing and grunting to aspects he particularly enjoyed. Ava and Bettina also did quite well.
The ODC version of The Velveteen Rabbit was a last-minute, unexpected treat as some friends found extra tickets 3-hours before showtime. Although we usually see Misty today, we decided to sidetrack and try something new. Who knew it would be as great as it was! And, where else do you get a kid-friendly (both on content and lenght) ballet a mile and a half from your home for $10 a seat?
Despite the fact that it started right at the beginning of Baby Brother's nap time, Alessandro truely loved the show. He sat still and watched from my lap for the whole 60-minutes, pointing and grunting to aspects he particularly enjoyed. Ava and Bettina also did quite well.
As if one holiday ballet a day isn't enough, we'd already scheduled to see The Nutcracker that night with Grandma. The girls dressed up again and we went out for dinner at a place with linen napkins, Sprite sodas and chocolate gelato! "I wish we could have a special day everyday, Momma," Ava concludes.
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