Summer School Weather

 

So school has started relatively successively with a few glitches, bumps, and tears along the way. To remind the kids about how wonderful their parents are even though we make them go to school, we took them to Golden Gate Park the weekend after school started. The weather was fantastic in the city. Bright, warm, sunshiney. We took a paddleboat ride at Stowe Lake and then followed that up with a surrey ride around the park. Nate and Julie took turns steering the boat while Michael commandeered the boat paddling (good job, hon). Then the kids got front row seats on the bike. Brave little souls...even braver parents I'd say. They loved it.

First Days of School!

 

 

 

 

It's been a couple of weeks now, but I had to mark the occasion of Nate's first day of Kindergarten on Sept 2 and Julie's return to preschool the day after. What a couple of brave kids. Nate dutifully prepared for school while Julie completely lost it emotionally (note the teary eyes in the car), but then everyone put their best feet forward when it came for actual drop off a mere six blocks from home. It also helps that Nate's teacher Robbie seems to be the favored teacher by parents and kids at Orion Elementary. The following day Julie donned her Beresford uniform and made her way to classes, only clinging to legs slightly during our goodbyes. Since these initial days, we've become fully involved with Orion (fundraising, web design, library help, teaching help, gardening help, etc). And Nate expressed some separation anxiety symptoms a few times at home, but through a lot of talking and new house rules -- which everyone signed -- we seem in better shape than before. Onward & upward.

Vasona Park

 

 

 

 

The best outting we took while Gina was away: Vasona Park in Los Gatos with our friends from San Francisco. We enjoyed a narrow-guage steam train ride around the park, carousel ride, ice treats and then shady picnic while the adults ate and kids climbed the trees. Afterwards we braved the heat to do a little park play on the fire engine, wooden train, play sculpture and jet plane. It was a great end of summer outing for the two new Kindergartners and their younger siblings. Do these kids know how nice they have it?

Creations

 

While Gina was away for a brief respite with her brother Dan, Nate and Julie entertained themselves with crafts and a couple of outings. Here's Nate drawing his experience in the giant redwoods, and Julie with the Playdoh creation of "Nate, Mommy, Daddy, and Julie under a blanket".