Visitors

Grandpa Al, Alex and "Digger Man"


Alex sitting in the big digger with Grandpa Al


Watching the action from the front sidewalk


A hike on the Land's End trail in Golden Gate National Recreation Area

We had a fun week with Grandpa Al and Cindy. Alex enjoyed showing them some of his favorite places, including The Oakland Zoo, The California Academy of Sciences, ToddleBop class, the Alameda Farmer's Market, and Land's End trail, as well as some of our favorite restaurants in the Bay Area. The weather cooperated for more days than originally forecasted, so that was nice. In addition, the "digger man" was working in front of the house again, so Alex and Grandpa had fun watching the action with that as well. All in all, it was a fun week, which I am sure Alex will fondly remember.

Breaking News!

The beloved garbage trucks have been found! All searches can cease, any replacement operations can be halted. This morning, exactly a week later, Alex recovered the lost trucks. As I was working on some posts in the backroom, he came back and was playing and proclaimed that he found "one, two garbage trucks in bicycle". Apparently, the area by the bicycles was the last place he was playing with them, and of course, I only did a cursory inspection of that area when I was searching high and low for these things, because that didn't strike me as where they would be....silly me, rookie mom! He was quite happy and even proclaimed "silly Alex", when I asked why they were in the bicycles. Too funny!

Well, now we have two of the small blue trucks and four more Waste Management trucks on the way. Never can have too many garbage truck backups, I guess! As a side note, if your child ever has something that they love, love, love to have with them and you see a replacement somewhere...buy it (I did not and kicked myself when I found out that Target no longer had any in stock)! I found this week that places were actually charging $20 on Amazon for these little garbage trucks that retail for $5, which indicates that desperate parents will do anything to replace these things in a pinch. I guess I was not desperate enough, because I only sprung for the $5 replacements, but maybe there is a business opportunity here.

Nice Spring Weather

Happy day at the park


Peek a boo!


Making an "eagle's nest" in the redwood tree


On the balance beam

Spring blossoms!

The weather has been great all week, so Alex and I have been trying to get outside and enjoy it while it lasts. As you can see, the spring blossoms are out and the smells of spring are definitely in the air.

Holiday Weekend Fun

Alex still likes the goats at the zoo


And riding on the tortises too!



Planting some seeds to start indoors

Helping take the broccoli rabe seeds out of the package

The long weekend was full of activity, from celebrating Chinese New Year to spending Valentine's Day at the Little Farm and steam trains in Tilden, to venturing to the Oakland Zoo (along with the rest of the East Bay) for President's Day. The weather was fabulous and we were also inspired to start some seedlings indoors. We planted broccoli raab, basil, garlic chives, eggplant and parsley this week and will plant some more next week. I'm sure Alex will enjoy watching them grow.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Check this spiky pineapple out


Pineapple tarts before baking


Eating up the pineapple tarts

Happy Lunar New Year!! As part of preparing for the new year last week, Alex and I made pineapple tarts, which happen to be a favorite of both David's and mine. Alex was a super helper, from making the pineapple jam, to rolling out the dough, cutting the tart crusts and putting the jam on top. Oh, and perhaps his favorite part was taste testing some of the dough (before it was even baked...no worries, there are no eggs in the dough) and then of course, eating the finished product. It appears that Alex likes pineapple tarts just as much as we do, so our supply did not last long.

We went for dim sum on Saturday and then had noodles for dinner to help round out our low-key new year celebration. Best wishes to everyone for a happy new year!

Really?

"Sometimes elephants eat tofu."

Direct quote from Alex while eating his Ma Po Tofu for lunch today. Sometimes he just cracks me up!

Baa Baa Blue Sheep

Alex's rendition of "Baa Baa Blue Sheep". Sometimes David sings it with blue sheep instead of black sheep, just to see the reaction, and obviously Alex likes it.

Wednesday's Outing

Searching for the perfect potato.


Let me ring that up for you.


BART trains!

Today we met up with Miles and Liliana at Habitot in downtown Berkeley for some fun. After splashing in the water tables, washing some dolls, playing in the firetruck, molding "potter's clay", sweeping snowflakes in the wind tunnel and playing in the cafe and grocery store, we all sat down and had a snack and then headed home. Another exciting part of today's adventure was the BART ride that we took on the way there and back. I decided that it would be easier than parking and the train ride would add another level of excitement to the trip. There was a bit of a delay on the way back, but the BART platform is a great place to view all kinds of trucks, buses and other vehicles on the freeway, as well as other BART trains on the various tracks, so it did not bother Alex one bit.

Lion Dance

Lion after jumping up on top of the benches


The lion coming down into the crowd


Alex in front of the lion after the performance
(a little distracted by all of the activity around)

With Chinese New Year approaching, we're getting into the spirit and to help us, we went to see a lion dance out in Danville today. The performance was sponsored by the Danville library and the team that performed today was from Leung's White Crane Lion Association, the same group that our wedding lion dancers were from. It was fun to watch Alex's reaction to the lion, especially since it was so close to us. Everyone was sitting on the floor and at a couple of points during the performance, they actually came through the crowd, so it was quite exciting for the kids. Now, we just need to get those pineapple tarts and some other kueh made and we'll be ready!

The 2 Year Photo Shoot

I am sitting in a tree, like an eagle!
(That's what he kept telling me very excitedly.)


I'm turning two!


Happy, happy boy!


Pensive boy

My cutie pie

I wonder what lives in this hole?

Alex and I went up to Joaquin Miller Park the other day to take some shots to mark his 2nd birthday. A break in the rainy week gave us the perfect chance to get out and enjoy the park.

Alex is 2!

Oooooh, candles!


Alex checking out the monkey on the cake.


The birthday boy taste-testing the frosting.


Mika and Alex playing with Alex's new stir-fry set, complete with wok and veggies you can cut!

It is so hard to believe that almost exactly two years ago, Alex joined us here in the big world and changed our lives forever! He has brought many smiles, laughter and joy to our household, along with his own crazy energy that keeps us on our toes at all times.

To think of how many changes have taken place in this little guy over the past two years, both physically and mentally is just mind boggling. He went from being this tiny baby who eats, poos and sleeps, to a super active toddler who is so animated and is talking, singing, running, jumping, hanging, learning everything he can about everything and reciting it back to you, and helping out in the kitchen and around the house. It is so fun!! Of course, he is a toddler and yes, they are mischevious and strong-willed, but that comes with the territory, so we'll take it. The bottom line is that we laugh to the point of almost crying on an almost nightly basis about something or many things he has done that day.

Today we had a few friends over for a little birthday party and Alex had a good time playing, opening some super cool presents and eating his favorite beef stew and some banana birthday cake. He especially loved the cream cheese frosting and was a bit mesmerized by the lit candles on the cake. Thanks to all who helped us celebrate Alex's birthday, whether you were with us at the party or sent greetings from afar. A special shout-out to Alex's buddy Johnny, who could not join us for the party. We missed the Lee family and hope that everyone is feeling better soon!

Baby Beluga

Alex's rendition of Raffi's Baby Beluga.

What he is singing:
Baby Buga deep boo sea
swim so wild and free
Heaven above
Sea below
Just a bit
Baby Buga
Sing little song for friends
Baby Buga
Swim so wild
Swim so free
Heaven above
Sea below
Lil bit

He's got the chorus down!

Here are the actual words with multiple verses:

Baby beluga in the deep blue sea, Swim so wild and you swim so free. Heaven above and the sea below, And a little white whale on the go. Baby beluga, baby beluga, Is the water warm? Is your mama home, With you so happy? Way down yonder where the dolphins play, Where you dive and splash all day, Waves roll in and the waves roll out. See the water squirting out of your spout. Baby beluga, oh, baby beluga, Sing your little song, sing for all your friends. We like to hear you. When it's dark, you're home and fed. Curled up snug in your waterbed. Moon is shining and the stars are out. Good night, little whale, good night. Baby beluga, oh, baby beluga, With tomorrow's sun, another day's begun. You'll soon be waking. Baby beluga in the deep blue sea, Swim so wild and you swim so free. Heaven above and the sea below, And a little white whale on the go. You're just a little white whale on the go.

Shoo Fly!

I heard Alex singing in the kitchen yesterday and I realized that there was a tiny moth flying around and he was singing "shoo fly, bugging me" to it. I guess that is his modern version of shoo fly, don't bother me.

A Visit to the Isenberg Crane Reserve

Rush hour traffic in the sky

Tundra swans

Little bird boy


Trying to get a closer look

Sandhill cranes lounging in the field


In flight, coming in for the night


Coming in

Sandhill cranes wading in the water at sunset


Sandhill cranes at sunset after landing

After reading last week, about the Sandhill Cranes which winter near Lodi, we decided to make a trip over there on Saturday afternoon. It was certainly worth the drive and we would recommend it to anyone who wants to see a dazzling display of birds. We arrived at about 4:00, which was an hour and a half before sunset and from the moment we arrived until two hours later when we left, there was a constant flow of birds flying over head, landing or just hanging out in the fields and ponds at the Isenberg Crane Reserve. In addition to the Sandhill Crane, which has a wingspan of up to 7 feet and are 4-5 feet tall, we saw Tundra Swans, Canadian Geese, egrets and Snow Geese, which all winter in the area from November until February or so.

During the time that we were there, you would hear birds in the distance from all directions and gradually they would either fly over us or come in for a landing in the reserve. At a few points there were multiple flocks crossing paths above us in the sky, basically like a bird rush hour. It was absolutely amazing. It looked like a constellation made up of birds. Alex had a fun time and was especially happy that he could see almost two entire pages of his Aububon Society bird guide, right there in front of us. There were many birders there, some with some really nice viewing equipment and one of the ladies spotted two Great Horned Owls in a tree in the distance, amid all of these other migratory birds. Alex was quite excited!

It was quite a cool evening. This will definitely be an event to put on the calendar for future visits. The pictures do not do it justice, but hopefully between the video and the pictures, you will get some sense of the atmosphere there. Remember, if you click on any of the pictures in any post, you will get an enlarged version.