Clara Climbs (January 2011)

Nate had a climbing party this years. Here's the pictures of Clara enjoying the climbing:

clara get's set up to climb - I love how Clara has adopted Stacy as her mama and I'm standing back watching.

up she goes!

We're a two "car" family!

After much deliberation, and trying just about every means of transporting kids and goods on pedal power, I bought an Xtracycle Radish this week. In the end it came down to a box-bike (aka "Bakfiets"), which has a, well, box in front that the kids sit in, or the bike we ended up with. Since the local bike shop started carrying Double Dutch Bike's Taylor bike (a box/cargo/bakfiets with seats for three small kids) we were able to give it a spin. The kids hooted and hollered and had a great time. It rode beautifully, once I got used to the steering and balance.

But when we hopped on the Radish last Friday, Molly said it was the clear winner. She declared riding on the Radish (even behind her punky sister) more comfortable than the box bike and way more comfortable than the Trail-A-Bike (I think the padded seat has a lot to do with this, but also not hitting her head on the handlebars, etc.). And as the pilot of this ship, I declared it the easiest way to pedal three bodies at once. Plus! There's room for all the schwag we drag around with us!

Clara has been trying to turn it into a piece of gymnastics equipment (putting her feet up on the handle bars, laying down on the seat, etc - mostly when it's stationary) but hopefully will maintain a healthy respect for the vehicle in motion. The kids comfortably bicker ("Clara's hands are touching my part of the handle bar!"), and Molly makes every effort not to touch her wiggly little sister. And even so, Molly declares her love for it.

Molly and Zach took it to Trader Joe's this evening, returning with a full load of groceries. Here's to more runs to the grocery store, and here's to hoping I get in the habit of grabbing the Radish to run our local errands. And that the bickering stays comfortable.

Sick Day

Last week Molly stayed home from school sick for two days. By the afternoon of day two we were sick of being in the house (and, as you can tell, Molly was feeling much better). So we took a quiet walk to the library.

black & white by Molly's request (she likes making pictures that look "old")

why is she looking at a concrete stamp? because she's my daughter, that's why. 

Sisters strike a pose.

She takes her Rescue Services badge very seriously.

Nona & Molly

On Sunday I had the honor of touring a couple gardens with Nona & Molly. They are so lovely!

Jelly beans after a good bike ride

Two headed... something

Mother's Day, with lots of mothers!

Zach orchestrated a most wonderful mother's day today. It was a day-long extravaganza of mothers and all things mother-ful. There was delicious food, wonderful people, and, of course, beautiful flowers. Everything was exactly as relaxed as I like it, with enough to keep folks busy. He's exhausted now, but he leaves three very happy mothers feeling very well-celebrated and incredibly loved. Thank you Zach!

"I heart MOMS" by Zach and Molly... with sneaky Clara hands trying to resist eating it right away!

sisters heart moms and grand-moms

but quickly begin squabbling over when to eat...

just some of the beautiful flowers....

roses from Nana's garden!

amazing co-grandmas

more of Nana's beautiful flowers

me and my mother

molly, Sofi, Nona

Nana, Molly, Sofi, Nona

All the Zander-Franklin-Gabardi girls!

grandmothers, busy co-grandmothering

the amazing dad who orchestrated this amazing day! 

kids, with the neighbors

Clara enjoys her grandmas

gratuitous shot of the sage
(I was trying to take a picture of the humming bird, but, well, you can imagine it's there somewhere...)