Albany Bulb

On boxing day we headed down to the Albany bulb. We love it here.  It is a former landfill that was used to dump construction waste from building the freeway.  Thus, despite its prime location on the waterfront, with spectacular views of San Francisco and Marin, it was pretty much neglected.  After it stopped being used as a dump in the late eighties, it was covered with dirt, things started to grow on it, and, today, huge slabs of concrete and twisted rebar intermingle with the grasses, trees and dirt.  It's like a fantastic display of mother nature reclaiming what's hers or perhaps it's telling us the persistence of industrial waste.  Either way, there is something endlessly fascinating about the place.  

But, what's even cooler is the way artists, tinkerers and other creative types have taken it as a constantly evolving canvass.  There are huge sculptures made from found objects, natural and otherwise, eclectic mobiles hanging from the trees, painted rocks and mosaics.  Every time we go, it's slightly different because the wind and water transform or erase what the artists create and in this too, this place is a living example of human/nature interactions.  

This time, we saw a giant woman with her arms outstretched, a teeter-totter made from drift wood on concrete that the girls played on with some other kids who were there.  Eliza climbed a tree with multicolored branches draped with shiny objects.  The heart castle we'd played at last time had collapsed in parts and made for a cavernous ruins instead.  In addition to all of the human-made wonders, we walked along the slippery rocks as the tide rolled in, had a sword fight with pampas grass, and all the while took in the world-class view and delicious ocean breeze.  

Hiking in our back yard

On the first day of our winter break we decided to go for a hike on Mt. Tam.  But, as we drove toward the bay, we saw ominous-looking clouds hugging its peak and so turned around and headed up to Tilden park instead.  Tilden park is practically in our back yard, but, being constantly drawn to the ocean as we are, we rarely go there.  So, it was a treat to discover it to be such a wonderful place for hiking and walking, for getting muddy, spotting birds and magnificent views.  We had a great time.  

Afterwards, we took a long and circuitous drive looking for something new and undiscovered on the other side of Tilden park.  Unfortunately, we found nothing but suburbs and got progressively crankier.  Finally, we ventured back into familiar territory and stopped for some ocean air at the Emeryville marina.  

We topped the night off at the amazing Christmas light display at the Tilden park carousel.  We were hoping to see Santa, but he didn't show (or so we told our exhausted and melting down daughters when we realized we had an hour to kill).  

The pictures below appear in reverse order...

Mexican Music and Dance: Winter Show

Today was Eliza's big show with Miss Arwen (aka Auntie Arwen).  It was the culmination of their semester in Miss Arwen's Mexican Music and Dance class at the East Bay Center for Performing Arts.  The Center is a wonderful place and it was great to see all of the other cool classes, talented kids and friendly people which populate the place.  

Eliza and all of the other girls and boys were great.  Their songs, games and dances were beautiful as well as cute as all get out. While she loves being the center of attention most of the time, she tends to clam up and get serious stage fright when actually called on to be the center of attention.  But, she worked through it and made us all very proud.  Our camera is on the fritz and we used a dodgy back-up, so we didn't capture it as well as we would have liked, but here it is.

Eliza getting prepared.

Nutty was called on to sing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" before the show started because the first act was running behind.  She was persuaded by the promise of a candy cane, but mostly clammed up once she got to the front of the stage. 

Ms. O's Kindergarten class

Eliza is winding up the last precious days of her magical introduction to kindergarten with Ms. Osborn.  Ms. Osborn will be leaving "The Sunflowers" to go on maternity leave.  It is hard to express how sad we are to lose her, though we are equally excited for her as she embarks on the wonderful adventures that her new baby will bring.  Still, when Eliza was crying the other night that "It's so unfair that Ms. Osborn is leaving because I just love her so much and I only just started school"...we could definitely relate to the sadness.  

So, how to describe her? First of all, she exudes creativity and craftiness.  The projects she comes up with are incredible and her artistic sensibilities seem to permeate everything she touches.  Walking into the Sunflower classroom is like being in an alternative, much more brightly colored universe.  Through all of this creativity, she has cultivated and solidified Eliza's natural love of learning.  She makes school the fun and amazing journey that it should be. 

One of the things Eliza likes best about Ms. O is that she's been teaching them sign language. Eliza likes to brag to anyone who will listen, "I know sign language."  They also sing their good morning song in about eight different languages...I think she adds a language whenever she has a family in the class who can teach it to her.  This year, we added Tibetan, Norwegian and Portuguese to the Spanish, Chinese and others that were already there.  

She's also incredibly patient, gentle and loving with all of the kids.  Sometimes this can't be easy: Don't let the name fool you, "The Sunflowers" are a wild bunch.  But, Ms. Osborn sees the good in everyone and reminds them of it on a regular basis, inspiring them to do better, to be their best.  

She has all sorts of little rituals and routines that infuse meaning into the kids' day. There is a strong sense of safety and comfort in the environment she has created.  For us, that means there is the wonderful feeling of knowing we are sending our daughter off each day to a place where she is nurtured and loved.  For Eliza it means being in an environment where she is confident enough to take risks, to take chances and to learn from mistakes.  

Plus, she's from England, and of course we love that. 

She also takes wonderful photographs (in general, but also of the kids).  Below are some of her pictures of Eliza from this year.  You can check out more of her pictures on flickr.  Her name there is willowpoppy. All of the pictures below were taken by Willow Osborn, except the one that she's in...I don't know who took that.  Unless, of course, Ms. Osborn has the ability to be in two places at once which seems totally plausible to us. 

Eliza as "Star Student", Kevin helping her tell the class about herself.

Eliza making patterns...E!

Sunflowers pajama party.  Eating cookies, watching a movie...they were pretty happy. 

Ms. Osborn. 

Eliza and best bud Naima playing dress up at free choice time.

Eliza and another best bud, Elan checking out the seeds in the sunflowers that were growing in the BAM garden.

Eating homemade applesauce

Eliza and Kaya proud of the castle they made.

Coloring.

Eliza, Elan and Wisdom making sugar skulls for Day of the Dead.

More skulls. 

Kristi and Adaeze's Visit!

Adventure #1 Crissy Field and Muir Woods

It was a chilly, windy day when we arrived at Crissy field.  The girls started off bundled up. 

As they jumped and ran and danced in the wind and surf, they warmed up quickly.

The beach is really the perfect place for kids: they can run as fast as they can, scream as loud as they want and the sound of the wind and surf swallows it all up. 

Their clothes got progressively wetter and they cast them off as they went.

Pretty soon, they stripped off all together.

 
Despite the cool air and frigid water, they frolicked naked in the waves for a long, happy time. 

Afterwards, they cuddled up in a towel.

Laura and Helen met us for a walk.

Kristi and the crow.

Crissy field walk: destination warming hut hot chocolate.

After our adventure at Crissy field, we went to Muir woods to see the giant redwoods.

We thought we saw fairies.

Adventure #2 Indian Rock

Adaeze looks down at the world from the top of Indian Rock
Friends forever

Jenny is hiding her cold sore.

Rock Climbers

Kevin, Kristi and Haze at the top

"Though she be but little, she is fierce!" 

Adventure #3: Adventure Playground

Hazel and Adaeze

Here we are at the best park ever--Adventure Playground--at the Berkeley Marina, where kids get to construct, as well as play, on all of the structures. Very cool. 

Proud six-year-old getting ready to ride the zip-line.

Hazel is thrilled that graffiti is actively encouraged!!

Make-your-own fun!

Afterwards we headed for the beach.

Another chilly evening at the beach, another reason to get naked!

 
And capped off the night with a bit of soccer.

We love you Kristi and Adaeze! Thank you for the fantastic visit.