Mt. Tam

 

 

 

 

Another vacation day, another day trip. This time to Mt. Tamalpais, with a quick stop in Fairfax for lunch-time energy. The highlights (besides few people and many trees): we scampered up an incredible lookout with a 270 degree view to the mountain and east bay. We then followed trails and walked around a lake noticing a large number of brown california newts. Apparently it's mating season, so they're on their way to laying eggs in the streams. We picked them up and then gently put them down to let them continue their way....pretty cool!

Blackhawk Museum

 

 

 

 

Another day trip: the Blackhawk Museum in Danville which sounded hokey since it was in a mall development, but ended up being incredible. So much auto history, including a replica of the oldest commercially available automobile, so many rare vehicles, and even the first collector car (a limo) ever traded by China. I walked out wanting to collect old cars myself. Julie liked the pink cars, of course, and Nate had a hard time peeling himself away from the train exhibit downstairs.

USS Hornet

 

 

 

 

What a fun outting -- with Uncles Mark, Dave & Len we drove through gritty Alemeda and toured the USS Hornet, a large aircraft carrier (by WWII standards) with an amazing history of WWII battles and subsequent use as pickup for the astronauts who went to the moon in the 60s.

San Francisco Golden Gate Park

 

After a week of holiday home celebrations, we left the comfortable confines of our home and met friends we knew at Beresford Montessori preschool for much needed play and lunch in San Francisco.

The Martins on Christmas Day

 

Santa's Bag

 

Going up the chimney late on Christmas Eve.

SF Ballet - Nutcracker

 

 

 

 

 

Our big holiday outting this year was at the Nutcracker Ballet in San Francisco. It seemed like a natural thing to do since Nate and Julie love to listen to the music year-round, so we bought tickets early. We spent the day in style by dressing up and first having lunch at the Palace Hotel followed by a walk through City Hall, and then to the ballet at the War Memorial Opera House. Julie and Nate teetered on two seat cushions to get the best view, and Julie especially seemed glued to the dancing. We rented adjoining rooms at the King George hotel, a nice but funky and old hotel one block from Union Square. My favorite part: waking up to the city the next morning and walking around unhindered by holiday crowds.

Biscotti for the neighbors

 

Kindergarten Holiday Sing

At Burton Valley Elementary. Julie's class:

Holiday Sing

At Burton Valley Elementary. Nate's class:

Rainy San Francisco

 

 

 

 

Last week's trip to San Francisco was a wet, soggy affair...but at least we got great parking. We continued our tradition of visiting the chocolate fountain at Westfield Center and looked at the less-spectacular lights/displays. Julie still clutches to my leg whenever we see Santa. After lunch we went to Union Square to watch ice skaters in the rain and to visit the huge St. Francis hotel castle made of sugar.

Snow!

 

We woke this morning to snow...snow covering the cars, the trees, the lawns. I'm sorry we missed the falling snowflakes, but at least Nate and I had a couple of good snowball fights. Julie just liked sliding around in her silver (not for snow) shoes.

Back to Black Diamond Mines Park

This time with Uncles Dave and Len. Sunny but very windy hike with a group of great hikers. It was the last weekend of the season that the mines were open, so before we left the uncles and I grabbed hard hats and followed the railroad tracks to the back paths of the caves. The side excavation rooms in the cave are immense, like a stony, meandering cathedral.

Black Diamond Mines

 

 

 

 

Yesterday we took the kids to the Black Diamond Mines regional park in Antioch. We weren't sure what to expect, we just needed to stretch our legs. It turned out to be a worthwhile drive -- the park was had six small coal towns and railroads for sand and coal mining. We weren't able to enter any of the tunnels since they are closed for winter & repair, but we climbed up rocky slopes and dug for artifacts and interesting rocks.

New Passions

Nate now loves to play, among other things, handball, Connect 4, and yikes! games on Michael's iPod. I am closely monitoring the latter situation so I don't lose two Dawson boys to that darn machine.

Horsing Around with Daddy (he's the horse)