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.

Biking at the Berkeley Marina

Today we spent a lovely afternoon bike riding with Laura and Helen at the Berkeley Marina and then back home for a delicious meal, tasty wine and cozy conversations by the fireplace.  

Eliza taking off on her bike! Hazel is close behind with Aunty Laura to help push.
Eliza gets a boost from Dad. 
Hazel tired of riding, becomes a sack of potatoes for Aunty Helen.
Relaxing in the sunshine.
While Eliza contemplates the scene.
Back in the saddle.
She's going!
She stops.  Auntie Helen and Auntie Laura are left carrying the bike.
While Hazel checks out the gigantic octopus kite.

Back at home, glass of wine and snuggles.  A great day all around.

Yes!

As in many households, I'm sure, Barack Obama is like a rock star around here.  Eliza and Hazel were very excited about the election and almost as excited as their parents when Obama won.  

They listened to his acceptance speech completely mesmerized and chanted "Yes we can" along with him at the end.  It was amazing to watch and a testament to his incredible charisma and speaking ability that he could so totally captivate a six and three year-old, along with the rest of the world. 

Eliza contemplated his story about the 106-year-old woman who was born before airplanes and car-choked streets and also before she was allowed to vote due to the color of her skin and the fact that she was a woman, and concluded "Things were better for mother earth back then, but they were worse for people." So, here's to hoping that the era of Barack Obama will be a great one for people AND for mother earth. Yes we can!  

Though, the day was not entirely happy: it was a shock that 52% of our fellow Californian voters voted FOR discrimination and proposition 8 passed.  It literally made Eliza cry. 

Street Festivals

One of the great things about our new neighborhood has been the wonderful street festivals.  In September we went to the Solano Stroll, a massive affair in which the whole of Solano street was closed to traffic and it seemed every politician, civic organization, sports team, art class, musical group, theatre and local retailer was represented.  People come out in droves to listen to music, wait in long lines for yummy food, and be a part of the general celebratory chaos.  Eliza was mesmerized by the Morris Dancers which we ended up watching for what seemed like hours.  Hazel's favorite was the "fighter fighters" (aka fire fighters), which has become the thing she wants to be when she grows up (along with Barack Obama and "a person"). 

A few weeks later, our immediate neighborhood hosted the "Spice of Life" festival.  Less crowded and boasting both wine tasting and kiddie rides, I think this was the favorite festival all around.  It also had incredible food and cooking demonstrations, a petting zoo and pony ride and we ended up bumping into all sorts of people we knew, which made us feel like we were finding a home here in Berkeley. On the downside, our little Hazelnut forgot to put her knickers on and was wearing a dress--an oversight I managed to miss until she started lifting up her dress in the petting zoo.  But, luckily, we were close enough to home to make a quick stop before returning to the festival. 

Walking to School

Our morning walk to school is one of my favorite parts of the day.  The way the girls' school start times work out and because Eliza is devastated if she doesn't get to school in time to go on the monkey bars, both girls walk the five blocks to Eliza's school and then Hazel and I walk five blocks back to her school (which is just around the corner from our house).  It can take a long time and on days when we are running late, it's a bit stressful.  But, most days, we take our time and it's wonderful.  Hazel and Eliza usually spend a good part of the journey singing--each making up their own song and singing them simultaneously (see video below) and the rest of the time we explore all of the beautiful gardens, fruiting trees, redwoods, and interesting sights our neighborhood has to offer.