Made it to the beach!

The kids were great, the drive went smoothly, and the kids are enjoying the sand while Zach makes dinner. Love to you all!

Oakland Fun Run

We had an excellent time at the Oakland Running Festival yesterday! 

Woodshop Class

Molly had her third woodshop class with Opa today. They have a great time. She's a fantastic listener, totally thrilled to be learning how to use a saw ("I've never sawed before!") and a hammer ("the right way"). And she totally gets his box lesson - that it's the basis of all her future woodworking. And he's a fantastic teacher - he knows exactly the progression she needs to take to understand what she's doing and give her the "tools" to "build" upon. 

Today I spied on them and snapped a few photos:

Clara's "sick" day

Clara and I are having a "sort of sick" day today. We usually have adventures together on Fridays, and had planned a trip to habitot today, but she's developed a deep cough and I figured it's better not to spread the cough to all the kids at habitot.  So far we've had a morning of face painting and board games and now we're enjoying some quality video time with the kitties.

Molly's First Salary Negotiation

As Molly was getting her allowance this morning ($3/week), she said something to the effect of "When I started getting my allowance, you said I was getting half of my age..." It was clear that she was thinking of asking for a "raise" now that she has turned 7, but didn't feel comfortable with saying it. We said, "That's true. Let us know if you have anything you'd like to ask us." She still seemed hesitant, so I suggested she write down her thoughts before saying them out loud, and she did. Needless to say, her negotiation was successful. :)

A cat. By Molly.

Sick day

This is what a sick day looks like in these parts. Cozy! 

She's Seven!

Yes indeed you are, dear Molly!
It's been an amazing year for you. Tonight at bedtime you asked if we could sit together and talk about what's happened in the last year. So Zach, you, and I did. And we came up with quite a list. Here's most of what I can remember:
You turned six
You celebrated your sixth birthday with family, friends, and classmates (you remembered that I brought cupcakes to school after your reading buddy time and we both remembered that I made a really good cream cheese frosting for those cupcakes).
You finished kindergarten
You went to your first day camp (Kids for the Bay)
We went to Berkeley Tuolumne Camp (and you became a Tuolumne Ranger)
You went to your second day camp (Ha Ha Thisaway)
We backpacked to Angel Island and you climbed to the top again
We spent a week on the beach in Santa Monica
You started First Grade at a brand new school
You met your new neighborhood buddy Francesca
Your grandparents moved in next door
You went to Yosemite for the first time
Your first first cousin was born
You learned to read. I mean really read and enjoy the world of chapter books and staying up late with a flashlight under your covers.
You learned to ski
And, I would add: your mother quit her job.
It's been quite a year. I can't wait to see what you get into as a seven year old!

Molly on Friday

Clara on Friday