Friday, February 5, 2010
Mum has been visiting these last couple of weeks and we have had such a blast. On her last day we decided to be reckless and on the way to driving the kids to school I announced we would blow off school and take ourselves off on an adventure! Well not the most responsible thing to do you may say, but it is only preschool after all.
So around we turned and headed off home to pack up and head out to Joshua Tree, or Pioneertown to be exact. I’d heard about Pioneertown from a good friend who has been a bunch of times. It was just as I imagined it, like some scene from an old Western. Single dusty road, mock Western buildings on each side, small ramshackle hotel…
Well the hotel looks a lot nicer on the website is all I can say. It was cold as anything and they only had one room that was clean, despite showing ten rooms available on their website before we left. Moral of the story - it always pays to call ahead.
We ended up at a really nice Best Western - a first for me. It was comfy and the kids loved it. I got take out pasta from Sizzlers (yuh!) and some new PJS from Walmart for Lola (another first).
All in all we had a great time. Got to go to the park, climb some rocks and then head gratefully home.
Tags: Granny, Joshua Tree, Pioneertown
Monday, February 1, 2010
I can’t believe our little girl has turned 3. Coming in at a healthy 32 pounds and 36.5 inches, she is growing every day and is crazy smart.
We celebrated her birthday with a fantastic party - you can see the photos here on Flickr. A lot of folks, a lot of kids, with our core group of friends who stayed on at the end whilst the kids settled down to a movie - perfect.
Here are some of Lolie’s gems:
besert - dessert
comfyball - comfortable
psghetti - spaghetti
The list goes on! I love you my girl. You really are a girl of passion, joy and wit.
The world will be your playground.
Tags: Birthdays, Language, Lola
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Every time I go to the beach with the kids we have such a memorable time. I feel glad to be in Venice, glad to be near a beach full of such diverse characters, I feel glad they get to experience this and I get to be with them. It’s such a juxtaposition of colliding worlds: parents with strollers, guys playing basketball, kids hanging out at the skate park, homeless men setting up camp for the night, surfers and tattoo artists - you name it it’s here. Then you are running along the shore, splashing in the waves, careening down the sand dunes… You stop to take a breath and look out to the ocean and for a moment you are somewhere else and it feels just great.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
I don’t know what it was about the holidays this year but there was something magical in the air. We had Meme and Loring with us on Christmas morning, the kids of course were beside themselves with excitement!
We went to Mass the night before which was great. I’m not a Catholic and not sure if I ever will be, but certainly lately I’ve been feeling the need for something a bit deeper and more meaningful in my life. I’m not sure of church will be it, but I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a tradition I hope we will continue for many years ahead. The service was interesting, I felt welcomed, and it felt good to be part of a diverse community - mixing with people of all ages which is not something we often get to do. Oliver slept through the entire thing and Lola was captivated!
Christmas Day began with gifts and breakfast. This year I felt more organized than in past years and don’t feel we overdid it on the gifts. Lego is starting now to click with Oliver and it’s great to see him so absorbed. Lola got a wee kitchen (which Oliver loves too) and a toy piano so she can pound away when I’m practicing.
Cerentha, Brian and Morgan came for dinner, together with Cerentha’s and Brian’s kids Jack and Lu. Dinner - roast lamb went on for a good six hours - perfect. Good wine, great company. I think the fact that the kids are older just makes it all the more easier and more fun too, as you get to dive into the traditions of Christmas together.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
I’m not going to speak too much to these, except to thank our lovely friends Chip and Rachel for including us. Chip and Rachel have a Christmas Eve tradition called the Feast of the Five Fishes, which is pretty much what it says. Anyway, suffice to say they ended up with an excess of anchovies that they had bought from the bait shop for this extravaganza. So we joined them, with Meme and Loring, to feed the remaining anchovies to the birds and pelicans.
I was a magical night, the light was perfect. It was a truly memorable way to enjoy the run up to the holidays! You can check out all the pictures from that day on Flickr.
Tags: Christmas, Lola, Oliver, Pelicans
Sunday, December 20, 2009
It’s funny your expectations of your child and the school they attend… We are now just starting to think about where Oliver will next go to school for Kindergarten and I’m approaching it a little more cautiously than I would have done previously.
Both Oliver and Lola currently attend the Newpath Montessori school - which is a tiny school in Santa Monica run by the indomitable
Ms Ira. She adores the children but rules their world with a firm hand to say the least! Oliver was there for his first preschool experience but then I pulled him out to send him to a local French immersion school - Ecole Claire Fontaine.
ECF was local, they cooked and did yoga and Frend of course - it sounded like just what we were looking for! A perfect break from the, at times, apparently rigid and structured approach of Ms Ira; a more active environment for my rambunctious boy.
But a funny thing happened. Although great sounding on paper, the lack of structure didn’t work for Oliver who came back from school each day exhausted and spent. He’d been allowed to do exactly what he wanted all day alright, and that for him was playing chase in the playground. He was not particularly happy and furthermore there were bullying issues that were not being dealt with by the school.
It turned out it was a great school for me, but not for my son. I liked the other parents, the activities on offer and so on, but Oliver wasn’t happy. So we returned to Ms Ira’s familiar realm and Oliver is thriving - Lola too. The structure I was wary of, they revel in. The “jobs” are their favorite part of being at school.
So now as I look at new schools, top of mind is what is best for Oliver, not what seems right for me.
Tags: montessori, newpath montessori, School
Thursday, December 10, 2009
I can’t believe little Lola is about to turn 3 in a month! Seems time ahs passed so quickly. She’s so articulate now - following her brother in everything. Can draw a “t” and is starting to recognize letters. She also has a terrific temper - although you would never know it from this angelic photo!
Tags: Lola
Monday, December 7, 2009
For once I had my S*&^ together this year and we got in to see Santa in good time. The kids were a little overwhelmed - not sure they really knew what to make of it - but a good time was had by everyone and thankfully there were no crowds!
Friday, November 20, 2009
So Last Monday Oliver went to the Eye Dr… I don’t know quite what I expected - I think to go in, have a chat and then come out with all my fears allayed… It was not the case - we were in there for over two hours to be told at the end of it that Oliver has Accomadative Estropia. This means he has far-sighted and so his eyes strain hard to compensate and correct his vision. In doing so, one eye drifts inward when he is tired or concentrating very hard. By the end of our appointment, my son had glasses.
So a few things - first relief that we found the issue, we are getting it corrected. The good news is too, he will probably grow out of them… But of course - there is also some sadness. My perfect boy looks different now. It’s something to get used to….
I was so worried we would have to battle him to wear them but he has been a complete trooper. Puts them on every day, no drama. But aye aye aye - he looks so grown up!
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Lola had her first haircut today - well her first professional haircut. I can’t say she was overly excited by the whole proceedings, but she did sit still….
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