Keeps Me Smiling

Mother's Day 2013

2013-05-13T10:29:00.002-07:00

We had a mom-a-thalon on Mother's Day. I started with a hike (on my own), and then the kids joined in for a bay trail bike ride, and a swim. Midway, we took reading breaks at both the local library, and Barnes & Noble, to redeem a gift card from C's birthday. I indulged in the magazine aisle, flipping through craft magazines which is a topic I haven't touched in years. A photo app was recommended called "Photo Toaster". At the end of the day I collected various iPhone snapshots and played around with the filters. It's similar to Instagram, without the social network. Overall, an enjoyable mother's day!

Ten

2013-05-12T22:50:00.002-07:00

We made memory books for her 10th birthday. It was an ideal activity for this age group, and the creations were a hit.

Cowell Ranch Beach

2013-04-21T14:21:00.000-07:00

We returned to Cowell State Beach on a warm spring day, hoping for clear skies and cool weather along the coast. We'd seen the beach at the end of our Cowell-Purisima hike a few weeks back, and wanted to check out this pristine stretch on our next visit. Packing a simple picnic and a few beach tools, we dug into shell collection and beach art projects. My youngest was the designated artist, and we were her helpers. She gained some attention from beach walkers, complimenting her eye for design. Out by 10:00 am and home by 2:00 pm, we missed all of the traffic coming into Half Moon Bay in the afternoon.

Cowell-Purisima Trail

2013-04-07T22:45:00.001-07:00

We spent Sunday afternoon at the Cowell-Purisima Trail in Half Moon Bay. The trailhead is about three miles south of 92, just beyond the Ritz. Total length of the trail is also three miles, and mostly flat which makes it very relaxing and kid-friendly. There are plenty of educational signs along the way explaining the history, habitat, and farmland. I liked seeing the artichokes grow alongside stunning views of the ocean and cliffs. In spring, the flowers and birds are abundant. I am already looking forward to going back, and next time will take a detour down to Cowell's pristine looking beach on the north end of the trail head.

Colored Eggs

2013-04-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ventura art project, Easter 2013

Five Tips from a Decade of Parenting

2013-03-31T15:25:00.004-07:00

My older daughter’s 10th birthday is coming up in May. On occasion, I’ve written notes and letters of advice that I wished to share with other parents. Here are five tips that still apply today, even though the kids are getting older...

Community

Being connected with other parents kept me inspired and occupied when the kids were young. Starting with library storytimes, and progressing through playgroups and preschools, the mothers I met during the toddler years helped me by sharing information, establishing social connections, and by understanding the landscape of these new uncharted territories. If I were to do it all over again, I’d still make the same first move by joining a local mother’s club. Special thanks to the Redwood City Mothers Club for getting me started.

Time & Patience
Parents are rarely “off the clock”. Between school, after school activities, and bedtime routines, there is always something to be accomplished. By default, parents are busy managing the lives of their families, which means there is little time left over for personal interests. Keeping life’s obligations as simple as possible, by avoiding a tendency to “overcommit”, can help save your patience for when you need it most.

After School Snack
I’m fortunate enough to be able to meet my kids each day after school, pick them up, and take them directly home. Once they are home, they usually change into something comfortable and sit at the table for a full meal. Most meals are either pasta, turkey, yogurt, banana, cheese, or fruit. Their mood after eating is noticeably more positive than their mood before eating. Once they dishes are put away, I have this feeling that the family has been “reset” to tackle the afternoon’s events of homework, playing, a sport or activity, or just relaxing.

Books & Art
Mike read to our girls as soon as they came home from the hospital. Mike’s Dad sent boxes of used children’s books to the girls early on. And there was no problem that could not be solved without quiet time and a stack of Berenstain Bear books. Books offered a peaceful home and peace of mind on so many occasions. Likewise, our cupboards dedicated to open-ended art supplies like blank white paper, scissors, tape and markers helped create thousands of masterpieces through every age range. If I had just two choices to keep in the house for child entertainment, it would be books and art supplies.

Clear Plastic Bins
This sounds so practical, but those clear plastic storage bins from Target keep clutter at bay and creativity at hand. To manage “toy overload”, we stopped keeping all toys in the house and instead grouped them by bin, and stored the bins in our garage. For example, we have musical instruments, Legos, stuffed animals and ponies all in their own bins. This way, the kids weren’t tripping over stuff and the toys had some newness to them each time the bin came out. In addition, by grouping all of the same type of toys into a bin, their role playing lasted for longer because they created whole worlds out of the theme. Sometimes they blended themes by combining bins. Clean up is a cinch, because it all goes back in the bin.

For those of you have have lasted a decade or more... congratulations! ;) Also, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Which strategies, both philosophical and practical, have made the biggest difference in your home?

Spring Skiing at Sugarbowl

2013-03-26T13:25:00.000-07:00

We made it to the top of the mountain, just me and the girls. We took our time finding the friendliest way down, and ended up having so much fun we went up to the top a few more times. With the warm weather we've been having, you'd think Tahoe had no snow. But there was plenty to be had up at Sugarbowl.

The Vegetable Garden

2013-03-17T17:39:00.001-07:00

This year we tried cabbages, beets, broccoli, peas, radishes and various lettuces. A favorite has been harvesting the beets, boiling them, and soaking in vinegar and brown sugar. Broccoli tastes super fresh, and cabbages are huge. That was winter. Now, on to spring planting.

Turning Eight

2013-03-17T17:27:00.003-07:00

Happy Birthday Kiddo!

Point Reyes Station and the Tip of Tomales Bay

2013-03-03T20:42:00.003-08:00

At the southern end of Tomales Bay, near the town of Point Reyes Station, is a mellow hike that's perfect for kids. Entering the trailhead you will read about the Giacomini Wetland Restoration Project, which is restoring the wetlands back to their natural habitat. Based on the ponds, birds and natural wildlife in the area, it seems like the project is working. Nearby in the town of Point Reyes Station our crew took in the scene after our hike. Cold water, artisan cheese, public restrooms and a children's playground made for a perfect sunny afternoon. We wound our way up the bay along "oyster row", and stopped at Nick's Cove for a beach combing session. Perfection!

Cheese Tour

2013-02-18T14:57:00.003-08:00

Farmers Markets can do more than provide fresh produce. They can also inspire a weekend of fun. This President's Day weekend we scheduled a tour at Achadinha Cheese Company in Petaluma, California after receiving a recommendation from a cheese stall at our local market. This family owned and operated farm was a highlight for adults and children. The grown-ups got to learn how cheese was made (from milk to mold!) and the girls were able to hold new baby goats. If you are in the area, call in advance for a unique family field trip.

Winter Highlights 2013

2013-02-13T18:00:00.000-08:00

Sometimes you realize just how many photographs are lost in their own megabytes, stored on some hard drive that is rarely accessed. I pulled these out from the last several months, to remind me of some winter highlights: Colette's 4th grade circuit project; our boat trip to the back of Mavericks; a side trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium; a Marin day trip to Rodeo Beach; Colette's school basketball championship game; Noelle's performance in Willy Wonka Jr.; kitty in a basket; and last but not least - the Clifford School Frog Pond.

Edgewood Park

2013-02-11T18:36:00.000-08:00

I wanted to try out a new camera (Sony Cybershot) at our local open space preserve called Edgewood Park. This is where I walk most mornings, all year long. We are right on the tip of spring, when the wildflowers are in bloom. That will give me another excuse to try more of the camera's settings.

Ski Weekend

2013-02-05T20:55:00.002-08:00

Alpine, Lake Tahoe

February, 2013

School Frog Pond

2013-02-01T21:15:00.000-08:00

My new volunteer project at school

http://cliffordfrogpond.blogspot.com

Holiday Lights

2012-12-25T11:41:00.003-08:00

Christmas 2012

Snowflake Cookies

2012-11-30T09:49:00.001-08:00

Our first batch of cookies for the holiday season, baked fresh for a school cookie exchange. I rarely attend these types of events, but found myself enjoying the scene and meeting new parents in the neighborhood. Tis the season!

Homemade Halloween

2012-11-17T07:40:00.002-08:00

We used remnants of fabric and focused on making the "cape" the main part of the costumes, since I hadn't sewn in awhile. One costume was the "ocean", with the inside of the cape looking like waves, and embellishments of sealife attached. In her hair was a starfish and ribbons to give a hint to the theme. One costume was a bat, with gray fleece for the wings, and ribbon as the bat bones. The "bat jacket" kept her warm on Halloween night. I'm already looking forward to next year!

The Riverbed

2012-10-13T15:59:00.001-07:00

The girls and their friends spent five hours in the Merced riverbed playing granite factory and fairy family. Half way through we had to fill them up with peanut butter sandwiches so they could carry on with bows, arrows, and wooden instruments. This fall weekend camping trip took a day to pack for, a day to drive to, and a day to unpack from. But the days of play reminded me that the efforts are well worthwhile.

Day in Marin

2012-09-26T11:27:00.000-07:00

Our close family friends recently moved to the North Bay. What was originally a sad situation (friends moving away) has turned into a great situation because our visits are packed with fun things to do. We spent the entire day kayaking and hiking just north of the Golden Gate Bridge and beyond. Whenever it feels crazy to live in California, a day like this can set the record straight.

Afternoon at the Museum

2012-08-24T20:26:00.003-07:00

The San Jose Discovery Museum was a popular choice for us during the early years, but not a place we visit much during elementary school. This is our last week of summer, and the open agenda left us with some impromptu decisions about what to do. An afternoon at the museum was a perfect call because their art studios scale age ranges so well. Besides making mega bubbles, and adding a couple of corn husk dolls to their collection, they also used a hammer and awl to punch designs into aluminum lanterns. I wish there we MORE children's museums!

Cardboard and Scotch Tape

2012-08-19T14:31:00.003-07:00

Cardboard from house recycling, and rolls of Scotch Tape, have been important supplies these past few months. So much, in fact, that now we shop for tape at Costco, and store most boxes for future use.

The other day, when I was about to use a box for old kitchen storage, my youngest daughter claimed the box and inspected it closely. The next morning, that box was a castle. There was also a throne, a scepter, and a several trophies. A central ingredient is having a cupboard dedicated to art supplies. Note the pink "shoe" tape. Everything stops when we can't find the shoe tape.

The Anywhere Train to Paris

2012-08-06T10:50:00.002-07:00

Date nights are rare. So when my Mom decided to visit, we immediately made plans for an evening out.

By ourselves or with friends?

With good friends.

Where?

The City.

Restaurant?

French.

Transportation by car or train?

Train. Definitely train. That way we can pretend we are taking a train to Paris.

Ice bucket?

Oui, bien sur!

Coq au vin?

Delicieux.

By 9:00pm we spent three hours with fine cuisine and good cheer, and took off to catch the last train of the evening. We may have pretended to visit Paris, but the experience was 100% authentic.

Summer Days

2012-07-28T16:31:00.002-07:00

The post marks the beginning of our last month of summer. I've enjoyed this summer and I hope the kids have too. It's been great weather, with an ideal mix of relaxation and fun with friends. We've baked cakes for the 4th, roasted marshmallows over a campfire, cycled around San Francisco Bay, created art projects on the living room floor, floated lazy rivers, and practiced swim team race starts. I'm glad we have August in front of us, because there is no good reason for July to end quite yet.

The Views From Yellowstone

2012-07-28T16:02:00.002-07:00

The rivers, marshes, valleys, bison, elk, trails, bucking broncos and runways of Wyoming made for an incredible view. Sure, the kids claim they aren't interested in "the views", but then why are they still talking about where the buffalo roam?