mothering, stitching and eating in berkeley
My, it has been a long time, hasn’t it?
Truth be known, we’ve been the sickest ever this winter sampling each of Winter’s nasties. So, between flights of bedridden illness there was the obligatory frantic holiday shopping and crafting, booking of holiday trips, the attendance at holiday gatherings, avoidance of some due to flights of illness, [...]
It is officially winter around here. Last weekend, we took the kids ice skating. Apparently, there is a window in our lives during which ice-skating comes naturally as Sylvie was sure footed and Will was like Bambi on ice. My back still hurts from trying to get him to stand up.
Sunday, we went to Fort [...]
Doug has been making digital copies of all of the hundreds of tapes we have around the house, so he put a video of Will’s birth on the computer for the family to watch. It isn’t dramatic like on TV. Nothing scary. Mostly side view. Both kids were really interested. Just after the birth, Sylvie [...]
I sent the light saber wielding kids into the backyard right after Sylvie got out of the bathtub this afternoon. Will was supposed to help her put on her dress, and then they were supposed to head out back for some sword fighting. (Don’t worry, Will is sweet enough to simply wack trees, not people, [...]
Walking in the dark with Will, looking up at the sky he asked, “Mom, is one of those [stars] the Death Star? Are they going to blow it up any minute?”
Killjoy Doug told him the truth, but really, how cool to think about those things happening in the sky above as we wander along [...]
H1N1 (and seasonal flu) shots have been in short supply in the Bay Area. Certain clinics have them, but ours did not until we had the first bout of symptoms in the house. For the past three weeks, the kids have been taking turns being fluey. Sylvie started it three Tuesdays ago waking at 5AM [...]
We had a wild weekend.
We kicked it off Thursday carving pumpkins. Doug and the kids made a totem pole. Our kitchen looked like there’d been a pumpkin massacre. (Which, yeah, I guess there was.)
Friday, the two schools meant two parades and two parties.
We let the kids eat candy for lunch and then capped the evening [...]
In celebration of Sylvie’s birthday, we had the neighbors over for some mad science. The kids made glow in the dark slime and screaming balloons while the adults ate quince liver, deviled eyes and mummies.
Yes, those are real meat.
We had the requisite ear (grow your own) and eyes (olives) in a jar. As well as [...]
It is rainy season, here. I embraced the puddle time last week by using it as an excuse to teach a little science. (I’m thoroughly enjoying having a 5 year old!!)
First we tested potential vessels for their ability to float and then their weight capacity. I brought out a bowl, cup, lego raft, inverted plastic [...]