Tuesday, January 29, 2008

It's a Boy!


Well, we found out that, come around June 24th, Ava and Bettina will both be big sisters to a...
BABY BROTHER!

We shared the news with the girls. Ava said she didn't want a little brother. When we mentioned that the news comes with an ice cream sundae, she quickly changed her mind: "I like my baby brother!" she chimed! Here's one of those hard-to-read sonograms of Baby #3's chubby face. I didn't see it at first, but a week later, I finally got it, so don't feel bad if you don't get it either!

Zoo Again





Eenie-Meenie-Minie-Moe, Catch a Tiger by the Toe...

We haven't been to the zoo since Tatiana the tiger killed and injured those stupid boys who were teasing her on Christmas Day. Not because we're worried about other animals or our own security, but mostly because of weather and over-programming in general.

Here are a couple of photos from our last trip with their friend Dean.

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

7 Ways to Create Magic for Toddlers, and Parents, at Christmastime

Christmas with 2-year olds is a blessing! They might be difficult to keep out of trouble, but they find every way to wring the most out of the magic of the season. Here are some things we found that brought Christmas to the forefront for us while it created magic for the girls:

Let it Snow - Christmas in Half Moon Bay

  • Take the family to the Half Moon Bay's Night of Lights - They have a parade of kids aglow with lights, carolers, horse and carriage rides, sponsored kiosks of roasted chestnuts, a place to roast marshmallows, live bands, Santa with candy canes and a foam machine mounted above that makes it seem like it's snowing. The girls just loved this event. The snow machine was a real hit!
  • Make a pot of hot chocolate one evening, dip candy canes in it and then bundle the kids from head to toe so you can all go outside, hold hands and admire the neighborhood's Christmas lights. We did this a number of times this year.
  • Pack everyone up and drive to Ghiradelli Square for the Christmas Tree lighting ceremony. Introduce the kids to Santa Claus and get a piece of Ghiradelli chocolate. After watching the lights and the big tree, stop at the Ghiradelli ice cream parlor for a one-scoop sundae, complete with fudge, whipped cream and cherry. Watch your kids inhale everything.
  • Go to the Reindeer Romp at the SF Zoo - The kids can meet Santa again as well as his reindeer. There are also crafts, like making your own set of antlers, as well as an ice skating rink. Rent skates or, if you don't have enough arms to guide all kids, watch the ice skaters glide past. Santa, sponsored by the SF Fire Dept., also gives toys and candy canes to the brave little ones who sit on his lap for a quick Polaroid photo (donation of $5 is suggested).
  • Play Santa - usually, we sign up through church to sponsor a family at Christmastime and buy the family some necessities. This year, however, we decided to be the delivery people of these gifts that other families purchased and wrapped. The girls and I donned Santa hats and a cell phone, and converted our minivan into a sleigh. I told the kids to pay special attention to the smiles that came from the kids' faces. The girls loved it, meeting new families and spreading cheer. After the first house, a very thankful and appreciative family of 7, Ava asked, "Can we do that again?" We did - 2 more times!
  • Ask the kids to write a letter to Santa telling him everything they want. Be astounded when the only things they want are candy canes and a pet fish. (This makes it very easy to give them everything on their list at least once in their lives!) Tell them to leave cookies and milk for the "Big Man" and carrots for his reindeer. Watch their expressions in the morning when all the treats are eaten.
  • To round out the season, take the kids to the Epiphany services on Twelfth Night (the 12th day of Christmas or 3 Kings Day). Our church has a live enactment of of the kings' arrival to the nativity. The "kings" are children of the congregation chosen at dinner just beforehand (via a token prize in the dessert) and "baby Jesus" is one of the youngest members of the congregation, this year, 6-week Andrew. "Mary" is played by the mother of the baby that plays Jesus, and "Joseph" is played by the keeper of the real live donkey that comes to church and walks through the chapel!! The kids just loved seeing the real donkey and adding their own gifts (3 coloring crayons and a toy compass) to those left by the kings on the alter for Jesus.

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Belles of the Ball

Ava & Bettina with cousins Antonio and Elio
Every year, we go to the Christmas dinner at the Italian social club of which both Paul and his dad are/were members. We take up a table of 12 and enjoy 5-course meal of antipasto, salad, ravioli, meat and veggies and dessert all enjoyed in conjunction with a craft of table wine (although we usually supplement with our own). The 30-35 or so tables are set up on a platform that covers the bocce ball courts. Old pictures of Italy, specifically anywhere near Genoa, as well as photos, plaques and trophies from bocce ball tournaments cover the walls. A new addition is a wall of photos that include women taken during the club's 100th anniversary, which was celebrated last year.
Just before dessert ends, there is a raffle for things like log of salami, jumbo pack of uncooked pasta, or a gift certificate somewhere local. Typically, this is also when Santa Claus comes in and gives plastic candy canes filled with chocolate kisses to all the little kids. Parents step in to get a photo of their kids with the jolly 'ole man.
After dinner, most people go upstairs where a good old-fashioned 3-piece polka band plays music for dancing in the "ball room." A second bar is also up there so people wander from it to the sides of the dance hall, intermittently taking turns dancing as well. This is all very old fashioned with ballroom dancing; some even literally bring their dancing shoes and don outfits just made to twirl. They are very good.
This is where the simple 2-story building turned into a magical castle for Ava and Bettina. The second their eyes set on these couples dancing to a real drum, trumpet and accordion, they wore tiaras and everyone was royalty. Their eyes lit up as they watched people circle the dance floor. Seeing this moment, I told Paul he'd better ask one of his daughters to dance. Ava instantly said Yes! Bettina wanted in too. A complete stranger, captivated by toddler party-dressed "cuteness" asked her to dance. Without even answering, Tina took the hand and walked out into the circling splendor of dancers. This was a riot watching how much they were enjoying dancing. (Click here to see a video of Paul and Uncle Dave dancing with the girls)
They didn't sit one dance out. Strangers came over all the time and they would dance with them all. They learned to twirl and soon, Tina's "frankensteps" were getting a little bit lighter and bounced with the beat. I figured it had to be around 9:30pm or later and went to the coat closet to fetch the little ballerinas' jackets for the short walk home. When I got there, I realized the clock read 11:15pm -- way, way past their bed time!! They saw me coming with their coats and ran away screaming, "No!" A group of a dozen or more older people, who'd been admiring the girls, started complaining as well: "Let them dance!" OK - one more dance.
At 11:30pm, we walked home, the girls chatting excitedly about their dancing, the band and the Christmas lights that decorated the houses all the way home. They didn't notice their exhaustion until their heads hit their beds. Clearly, this event was a highlight in their Christmas season, and we were still more than 2-weeks until the "big" night.