Rumpus: The Chronicles of Max and Henry

Fiesta Time!

2012-02-01T16:49:00.011-05:00

That's right -- another kindergarten party! After completing a unit on Central and South America, the kids performed a number of song and dance routines, whacked a pinata and ate some tacos. Good times!

Hanukkah 2011

2012-01-23T17:53:00.007-05:00

Henry Learns to do the Monkey Bars

2012-01-21T13:44:00.000-05:00

Wild Animal Park

2012-01-21T13:37:00.004-05:00

Picnic in La Jolla

2012-01-21T13:33:00.007-05:00

Christmas 2011

2012-01-21T13:26:00.008-05:00

Gingerbread Houses

2011-12-16T23:00:00.006-05:00

As a last hurrah before winter break, Max's class made gingerbread houses today. It was a messy activity, but lots of fun, and even Henry was allowed to join in!

Max and Molly

Cleaning up some evidence

Bella and Mick

Proud Henry

The finished masterpiece

Native American Celebration

2011-12-14T16:04:00.006-05:00

Today was yet another "party day" in Max's kindergarten class. They performed a number of adorable songs as the culmination of their social studies unit on Native-American people. Max was very proud of the headdress and "tunic" he created. He wasn't the biggest showman in the group, but he's certainly come a long way from the preschooler who refused to sing at all during class performances!

Enjoying pizza after the performance

Max with his buddies Mick and Jacob

The whole class

Max doing sign language

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-12-08T11:43:00.002-05:00

50th Day of School

2011-11-21T11:18:00.006-05:00

In honor of the 50th day of school, Ms. Corpuz's kindergarten class had a 1950s party. The kids looked adorable in their poodle skirts and rolled up jeans and muscle shirts. They danced the twist and the bunny hop and enjoyed hot dogs and milkshakes. Max is loving kindergarten this year. Is it any wonder?

Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T13:09:00.011-04:00

Halloween is a HUGE deal in Alameda, and once again, we pulled out all the stops! Scott and I attended an Edison PTA fundraiser party and had a great time getting dressed up for the occasion. I was able to wear my mom's dress from the late 60s and she was on hand to "rat" my hair and give me makeup advice (liquid eyeliner is b*&%tch). The boys attended one celebration after another -- school carnival, preschool parade, party at the Goddard's house and trick-or-treating with the neighbors and grandparents. Whew! We had a lot of fun, but I'm kind of glad it is over. This tired mama needs a break...

"Giddy-up and Go-Go"

The Dynamic Duo!

Max's Class

Max and Mick

Henry launching the water balloon canon

Preparing the pumpkins

Vampire Skeletons

Preschool Parade

Trick-or-treating with the Neighbors

The boys and their grandparents

Soccer Team 2011

2011-10-20T12:56:00.001-04:00

Go Netherlands!

A Visit From the Evans Family

2011-10-20T12:28:00.015-04:00

Last week we had a wonderful visit with our good buddies from Virginia. Bridget, Johnny, JJ, Keegan and Annabel were out in the Bay Area for a wedding, and they were able to spend a couple days at our house. In addition, Henry and I tagged along for a day on their trip to Wine Country. I can't believe that I've never been to the Napa area before! We had a blast touring a couple different wineries. I sampled some wine and Henry sampled some grape juice, and we both enjoyed the beautiful scenery and spending time with friends. Let's hope it won't be another three years before we see the Evans family again.

Henry and Keegan

Henry and JJ riding the gondola at Sterling Vineyards

Workers dumping freshly harvested grapes into "Crush Zone One"

Our crew of crazy boys

JJ and Annabel

Bridget enjoying a tasting

On the tour

What a backdrop!

The Evans Family

Good buddies having fun

A little local tourism -- checking out the Golden Gate Bridge

Kindergarten Apple Party

2011-10-17T20:34:00.006-04:00

Ms. Corpuz loves to party and she has the patience of a saint! First up this year was a party in honor of apples. The kids sang some songs, read some poems, and ate a lot of apple-themed treats. Yum!

Rosh Hashanah 2011

2011-09-30T17:33:00.002-04:00

Apples, honey, snazzy outfits, and friends for dinner.

Another lovely holiday!

Another Milestone

2011-09-14T18:39:00.003-04:00

Max had his first afternoon of Hebrew school yesterday. I was worried how it would go because (1) 4-6pm is a long time after a full day of school and (2) he doesn't know anyone in his class since we just recently joined the synagogue. I needn't have worried. Max is so "chill" about things like this. He went right into his class and had a great time. He came out two hours later knowing all about his Hebrew name, and the upcoming holiday of Rosh Hashanah (including a few cute songs!). I am very pleased with the program at Temple Beth Abraham and I think it's going to be a great experience for Max. What a year he's having!

Sorry for the blurry camera-phone image. Max is at the front left wearing a yellow shirt. Rabbi Bloom is leading the kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd graders in some Rosh Hashanah "hits"!

Henry's First Day of Preschool

2011-09-12T13:43:00.009-04:00

Well, it's done. My last baby is off at school. (Insert hysterical sobbing here)

Yesiree...it's been an emotional morning in the Gerber residence -- for mom but not for boys.

Young Henry set off on the first stage of his academic journey and started at preschool. He has been eagerly awaiting this day for weeks (years?). All weekend long he kept reminding me, "Mom! I start preschool on Monday!" Yeah kid, I know. Thanks for reminding me.

This morning he was up early and was dressed and wearing his shark backpack a full 1/2 hour before we had to leave for MAX'S dropoff! We took Max to kindergarten, scooted home and got in the car to drive to preschool. "Mom! This is the way to Max's old school!" Henry exclaimed.

"No, Henry," I responded, "This is the way to YOUR school."

"That's right!" he said, "I'm in preschool now!"

Needless to say, the dropoff went smoothly. There were a few hysterical three-year-olds around, but Henry walked right into his class and wouldn't even let me help him hang up his backpack. "I can do it myself!" he said. He then proceeded over to the rug and sat right down in that "criss-cross-applesauce" position that he's been practicing all summer. He looked like a pro. I snapped one quick shot from the door (see below) and then I walked away. And teared up. And got in my car. And teared up a little more.

It's been one hit after another this year -- first kindergarten for Max and now preschool for Henry. That's how parenting goes. It's our job to let them go, but sometimes it hurts like a "MOTHER".

Lucky for me, I didn't have to suffer alone. My friend Emily was also dropping off her baby at school this morning. We went to breakfast together and commiserated. That's right -- a breakfast WITHOUT any little people! Emily still grabbed a stack of napkins large enough to swab off an army of sticky, snotty, spilling toddlers, but we figure that rehabilitation is going to take some time. With luck, we can someday feel like women again and not just moms. But then again, I have a feeling that the "mom" part never really leaves you even when the kids do...

Proud Henry ready for school

Check out the cool shark backpack! (thanks, Dodie)

So excited!

Checking out the equipment before class

Criss-Cross-Applesauce

Cheering the Cardinal to Victory

2011-09-04T16:24:00.007-04:00

We took the boys down to Stanford yesterday for their first football game. We had a great time even though the stadium was pretty hot. The boys hung in there for three quarters (a constant supply of snacks helped). Stanford crushed San Jose state and we enjoyed being part of the excitement as Stanford launched what we hope will be their best season ever!

On a separate note, it's always a kick to return to "The Farm", but I felt a little old this time. All of the current students wandering around looked SO YOUNG! I feel as though I just graduated a couple years ago (and running into a guy from my freshman dorm reinforced that feeling), but then I looked around at all the kids masquerading as college students and I realized that it has actually been 14 years since I left. Jeez! Where does the time go?!

Existential crisis aside, however, it was a really fun day and now that the boys are old enough to stick it out, we hope to attend many more games.

Max's First Day of Kindergarten

2011-08-29T16:13:00.002-04:00

I've been dreading this day for weeks, not because I thought Max couldn't handle it (he may be the most even-tempered and matter-of-fact child in the world), but because I wasn't sure how I would feel. Max is my baby, after all, my first born. I've spent more time with him over the past five years than anyone else, that's for sure! Kindergarten seems like such a big milestone, the "first day of the rest of his life". Would I cry? Would it be hard to let him go? I was not looking forward to it

As it turns out, however, it was a very pleasant morning. I walked over to Edison School with a huge neighborhood contingent. Max and his buddies were excited to be together and even Henry got in on the excitement by filling a backpack full of maracas and wearing it to school and back (believe me -- everyone heard us coming!). Once we arrived at school, things were crazy and chaotic, and before I knew it, Max was whisked away by the competent and extremely friendly Ms. Corpuz. After that, with Henry whining about needing a snack and a bathroom, I didn't have time to get sentimental.

Henry and I picked Max up a few hours later and he was calm and cheerful. I didn't get too many details about the day (he ate his snack in the shade, didn't get to play very long, colored something, wrote his name and received doughnut from his teacher).

And so it goes. My little guy is a not-so-little elementary school student and I'm still standing, at least until Henry starts preschool in a couple weeks.

Ready for School

Lookin' Cool

Henry had to get in on the "backpack action" as well

The neighborhood crew

Mick had a hard time this morning, but rallied once class started

Lining up for class

In the classroom Max is front and center!

Dinnertime Entertainment

2011-08-29T14:15:00.003-04:00

Sometimes it takes a village to get dinner down the gullet of a cranky baby...

What a Difference a Year Makes

2011-08-28T21:14:00.021-04:00

I have always loved my annual trip up to June Lake in the Eastern Sierra. My family has been going there for decades, and I have so many fond memories of fishing with my dad, climbing up rocks with my cousins and singing with the whole family around the campfire. It has been a real joy introducing my boys to this special place over the past five years, but as anyone with children can tell you, vacation isn't the same once kids are in the picture. Yes, I still loved June Lake as much as ever, but instead of sitting peacefully by the lake, I found myself running after toddlers and making pot after pot of "stone soup" to keep them entertained (Dodie's great idea, of course!). Instead of enjoying a few late night cocktails at the Tiger Bar, I found myself home putting sleepy babies to bed while everyone else stayed out for hours.

This year, however, something was different. Apparently 5 years old and 3 1/2 is some sort of magic threshold. Max and Henry were actually engaged in the fishing (and caught nine and five fish respectively!). They were able to skip naps, go with the flow, and stay up late hanging out. Scott and I were in absolute heaven, and as much as I sometimes miss the snuggly little babies I used to cart around, I have to admit that there's something to be said for the "big-kid crowd"!

Two cuties ready for fun

Hanging out with sister and niece at Ellery Lake

Dodie and Olivia

BBQ at the Landberg/Gruber residence

Up at the Virginias

A truly "epic" day of fishing!

Posing in front of Mono Lake

Mother and Daughter with tufas

Early morning at Silver Lake

Taking a spin on the pontoon boat on June Lake

All the young cousins at Steve's cabin

Family shot

The whole gang (minus Olivia and Scott) in front of Steve's cabin

Concentrating on reeling in his first fish

Success!!!

Snow in August???!!! (yes, it was that kind of winter)

Nicolle, David, and Olivia

Henry and Dodie with one of his first fish

Holly and Virginia with their "lunker"

Cousin Love

2011-08-28T20:56:00.008-04:00

As if our summer weren't wonderful enough, we also had the opportunity to spend a week down in San Diego hanging out with Dodie, Aunt Nicolle, and Cousin Olivia! The boys had never met their baby cousin before and at first they weren't terribly interested in her. By the end of the Brooks family month-long visit, however, they were working hard to make her laugh -- bringing her toys and letting her "pet" their heads. It was sweet to observe the beginning of the relationship between these three. No doubt there are many, many good times ahead.

Max and Henry enjoying the pool at Dodie's house

Olivia meeting Great Grandma Mimi

This girl likes to eat!

Even buckets are tasty

A gorgeous day at Del Mar beach

Camping at Memorial Park

2011-07-21T11:01:00.017-04:00

This summer we've been lucky enough to sneak away on two separate camping trips. The destination last weekend was Memorial Park in San Mateo County. I love this place because it has everything -- redwood trees, a perfect creek for wading, large sites, a general store and flush toilets. Hurray! In fact, I love this campground so much that I got up at midnight a year ago to book the exact sites that I wanted. Some might call me crazy (Scott), but I believe that a little organization goes a long way. A good time was had by all and the three sites we had down a private little cul-de-sac were just perfect (and yes, I already have them booked again for next summer. If you're really nice to me, maybe I'll invite you to join us!).

My three guys

Henry helps with the tent

By the fire

Christy and Camille on dish duty

Scott and his "mini-me"

Jake playing with the gang

Henry and Claire make mud pies

Cute Max

More kids in the mud

Seneca tests the water

Alice

Best Friends

Jen reading to the kids

Baby Ari wants some real food!

Max's Fifth Birthday

2011-07-18T21:08:00.007-04:00

July Fourth Revelry

2011-07-05T16:31:00.010-04:00

We really know how to celebrate Independence Day here in Alameda! We started things off with a kick-ass hometown parade followed by a BBQ and illicit fireworks with friends. Nobody lost a limb or ended up with a hangover, so I'd call that a success.

All decked out in our holiday finery for the parade

Lovely neighbors Emily and Addie

More lovely neighbors, Liz and Bea

A gorgeous patriotic girl!

Watching the parade

Max and his first sparkler

The kids watching Mark blow stuff up in the street

Friends having fun

A budding pyro?

Even Dodie got in on the action

Ah, sweet freedom!

2011-07-05T15:55:00.012-04:00

This past weekend Scott and I went away to stunning Carmel. It was the first time since Max was born five years ago that we were able to get away for a whole weekend, and it was absolutely lovely! We ate out, read on the beach, went to a movie, lounged by the pool, and found that without two little people to look after, we could completely relax. Thank you, Mom, for coming up to Alameda to babysit! Hopefully it won't be another five years before we can sneak away again.

Taking a photo of ourselves

Our hotel

The beautiful hotel garden

Camping at Big Basin

2011-06-28T11:23:00.016-04:00

It finally feels like summer around here! The weather has warmed up and we were able to get out of town to enjoy a fantastic camping trip with the Luton family. We stayed in Big Basin State Park up in the Santa Cruz mountains. It was kid heaven up there -- tons of space to roam, tree "caves" galore, banana slugs, s'mores, a cozy tent for sleeping. What more do you need?

All the kids on top of a redwood stump

Max in a tree "cave"

Emily and Michael

A REALLY BIG redwood tree

Cuties among the trees

Max Gerber AKA Spiderman

Dappled kids by the falls

Hiking

Gotta love the name of this tree!

Taking a break

Listening to the ranger (sort of)

In the roots of a fallen tree

The Luton Family

Sempervirens Falls

My Fifteen Minutes of Fame

2011-06-22T10:48:00.009-04:00

A couple weeks ago we came home and found a note stuffed in our mailbox. "Our design team loves your home," it said, "and we think we can give it that little something extra to make it really shine." The note was from one of the producers of HGTV's Curb Appeal: The Block, a show that I have watched and enjoyed for years. I was beside myself with excitement and immediately fired off an email from to the producer. We spoke several times over the next few days and eventually they chose our house for one of the neighborhood "mini" makeovers.

This week they were finally ready to focus on our house after spending considerable time on the main makeover house around the corner. On Monday evening they arrived to shoot the intro scene. I had just walked across the street to leave the boys with my friend Emily, and as I left her yard I saw two of the hosts of the show, John Gidding and Kim Lacy, standing in my driveway talking and pointing at my house while two cameras filmed them.

"Crap!" I thought. "I'm supposed to be inside the house now so they can knock on the door and surprise me with the big news!" I crept around behind the crew so I wouldn't get in the shot and talked to a woman who looked like she was in charge.

"You're Danielle? Great. Let's put this mike on you and you can walk right into the scene," she said.

Ack! I've never been on a TV show before, obviously, and I was pretty nervous. So nervous, in fact, that I had rushed out that morning to buy two new shirts. You can't go on TV wearing the ratty old T-shirt you wear when taking the kids to the park, right?!

In any case, I walked right into the scene and introduced myself to John and Kim. We talked for a few minutes about the house and John told me how much he liked the paint color of the house (hallelujiah!) and that mustard is difficult to pull off (no kidding. I just about had a nervous breakdown choosing the color). For all of you Curb Appeal fans, I just have to tell you that John is even more gorgeous in person! That guy can work on my house any time (sorry, Scott).

After that scene wrapped up, they did an interview with me where I had to parrot back some of the phrases the producer fed to me. No doubt you will eventually hear me saying silly things like "This makeover will really be the icing on the cake for our house" and "Curb appeal is especially important to us because we live on a busy street."

On Tuesday morning a huge crew showed up early and Kim took the lead. Alas, no more John... They filmed me all morning long watching Kim unload the truck, helping Kim paint pots, Ooohing and Aaahing over every detail. I was surprised how much work Kim actually did. She installed our new porch light by herself and it must have taken her 45 minutes. She also did some planting. There were four other people there working on the various projects along with two camera guys, one sound guy, and a producer or two. Crazy!

After a few hours of this, they sent me inside while they finished up. I was grateful to my neighbor Emily who sent me texts to keep me informed about how things were looking out there! Shortly before three they were ready for the big reveal. The producer wanted Max and Henry in the shot. Poor Henry was just up from his nap and he was sweaty and sleepy looking. Neither boy was enthusiastic about the idea and I had to bribe them with animal cookies. Good parenting there, right?!

They brought us outside and had us walk up to the house as though we were just returning home. I had to oooh and aaah some more and they had me talk about how much I loved the shutters at least three or four times. There was one more post-makeover interview scene with me and then they were done.

All told, it was a great experience. I really love much of what they did -- the house numbers, the front planting bed and some of the smaller details. The pots on the shelves will look great on TV, but they are not practical. I can't water them without soaking the painted shelf and I can't open our windows while they are there. We'll have to make some creative adjustments! Everyone was super friendly, even the "stars." It was such a fun experience and I feel so grateful that our yard has been professionally landscaped and I don't have to pay for it!!!

The show will air sometime in the fall. I'll keep everyone posted about the date and time. Until then, enjoy the photos...

Our house when we bought it in 2008

Our house after we finished painting it a couple weeks ago

Our house after the big Curb Appeal makeover!

Fishing Fun

2011-06-18T22:00:00.007-04:00

We had a great time today exploring Shadow Cliffs Regional Park with Papa and Nana. We fished, picnicked, and watched the boys swim in the lake -- and all this only thirty minutes from home!

Cousins

2011-06-14T10:54:00.011-04:00

We had a great time visiting with Cousin Benjy (and Aunt Steph and Uncle Josh as well!). We wish you guys didn't live so far away!

Preschool Graduate

2011-06-03T17:18:00.007-04:00

It's official! Max is a preschool graduate. Watch out, kindergarten, here he comes!

Max receives his "diploma"

Posing with his teachers -- Ms. Adele and Ms. Evelyn

The proud graduate!

Posing with his best buddies Mick, Ian, McKinley and Angus

Congratulations Class of 2011!

Henry's First Trip to the Dentist

2011-06-01T10:20:00.002-04:00

Henry did a great job on his first trip to the dentist. He was cheerful and cooperative and Dr. Perry said that his teeth looked great!

The Paint Job is Finished!

2011-06-01T10:16:00.002-04:00

We're thrilled with the new paint job on our house! Now we need a little landscaping, a new porch light and some house numbers and then we're done with "Project Curb Appeal."

Almost There

2011-05-29T11:27:00.000-04:00

Getting Better

2011-05-25T15:51:00.002-04:00

A little trim work and a little rainstorm.

Grrrr...

Can't wait to see this thing finished!

All-Over Gold Primer -- Not a Good Look

2011-05-24T14:27:00.002-04:00

Much-Hated Vinyl Siding Comes Off

2011-05-24T13:21:00.002-04:00

A Work in Progress

2011-05-19T17:17:00.007-04:00

We are finally taking the last, long-anticipated steps in sprucing up the exterior of our house! Earlier this year we replaced the windows, and more recently we had the vinyl siding ripped off. I was never so happy to see something go in my life! Luckily, the 1940s wood paneling was in good shape underneath! Our handymen built two "pot-holders" as per the original blueprint for the house, and they removed the cracked, slippery tiles from the front steps. Now the tough work of picking a paint color remains...

Scott and I want to go with some sort of gold because we love how gold houses look with black windows. Who knew that there would be approximately 1,843 shades of gold at the Benjamin Moore store. Ack! I think the painter is getting sick of me, because today, without my knowledge, he had one of his guys paint the entire front of the house -- 1/2 is a bright-ish gold and the other 1/2 is a more muted, "tanner" sort of gold.

So what do you think? The left or the right? Or do you think, as does my 80-year-old neighbor, that we are completely on the wrong track? She told me, "Oh you don't want to do that, dear! It looks like the inside of a baby's diaper!" Nice.

Next I need to pick a color for the trim and the steps and we need a new door and new hardware...

Remind me never to design a house from the ground up. I'm not cut out for this.

The house back in September

The house a couple hours ago

Which color????!!!!

Fun with Bubbles

2011-05-19T15:11:00.005-04:00

A sunny day, a new bubble machine (thanks Steph, Josh, and Benjy!) and an adorable little neighbor -- what could be better?!

Mother's Day 2011

2011-05-08T18:58:00.006-04:00

I had a great Mother's Day today with my two little guys. Grandma Rhona was visiting and we started things off right with a delicious brunch at the Lake Chalet restaurant in Oakland. Later in the afternoon, Max had a t-ball game and all of the boys walked out and gave their moms a rose. So sweet!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2011-04-28T16:01:00.006-04:00

Very well, thank you! This year we're off to a good start with Sun Gold tomatoes, Early Girl tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, red peppers, strawberries, lettuce and herbs. Our weather is warming up and the plants are taking off. I can't wait to taste the fruits of our labor!

Max and Henry climbing the magnolia tree like little monkeys.
Is it any wonder that Henry has a black eye??!!

The Garden

The Gerber Family slogan

Passover Bunny?

2011-04-20T17:51:00.003-04:00

So Max came home from preschool today wearing this get-up. I asked him what it was for and he said, "Some holiday we don't celebrate." I asked him if he knew what the holiday was about and he said, "I think it's about eggs."

Passover 2011

2011-04-19T11:00:00.010-04:00

All dressed up for Passover

Can we EVER get a photo with the kids making "normal" faces??!!

Plagues finger puppets?! A bit on the insensitive side, don't you think?

Max is ready for the seder

Henry making another crazy face

The seder crowd

Papa reads the Haggadah

Uncle Omri and "Aunt" Alexa

Aunt Polly and Uncle Sonny's 50th

2011-04-18T14:23:00.005-04:00

We had a great time this weekend celebrating Aunt Polly and Uncle Sonny's 50th wedding anniversary. Cousins Kelly and Brian hosted a family BBQ at their home in Laguna. Scott and I decided to throw the boys into the Subaru and head south to attend this gala event. It was a lot of driving for a 30-hour trip, but totally worth it! Polly and Sonny are an inspiration -- fifty years together and still going strong! I hope that Scott and I are so lucky.

West Wind A's

2011-04-13T21:35:00.009-04:00

Ladybugs to the Rescue!

2011-04-08T22:13:00.007-04:00

For the past couple years we've had a lot of trouble with aphids in our roses. I tried the organic insecticides, and they seemed to have little to no effect. I have been reluctant to try anything stronger because the rose bushes are right next to our vegetable garden.

This year, the roses are just starting to fill out and bud, and already they are COVERED in those nasty little aphids. A friend suggested ladybugs and what do you know -- they sell them here in town in neat little plastic containers! Apparently, ladybugs love aphids more than anything and can eat hundreds of them per day. The boys and I "released" the ladybugs into our garden this evening and marveled as we watched them crawl up the plants and start in on their favorite cuisine.

We wish our ladybug friends "Bon Appetit"!

Henry's Third Birthday

2011-03-27T19:53:00.008-04:00

Purim Fun

2011-03-20T13:39:00.002-04:00

A Bad Idea?

2011-03-15T23:00:00.001-04:00

Olivia on Playmat

2011-03-07T14:37:00.001-05:00

I forgot to include this video in my last post. What a cutie!

My Trip to London

2011-02-28T16:51:00.012-05:00

It's really nice to have a new member of the family that I didn't have to give birth to myself.

Four weeks ago, my sister had a baby girl, Olivia Rose Brooks. This past week I was lucky enough to fly out to England and get to know this adorable little bundle in person. The week was fantastic, but the lead in was tough. Flying off to a foreign country sure isn't as easy as it used to be. I had to recruit live-in childcare (Thank you, Grandma Rhona!). I had to cook and freeze a number of meals. I had to type up a four-page memo about the boys' schedule and care. Then, I had to agonize over my decision to "abandon" my family, alternating between excitement over getting some time to myself and crippling guilt about leaving my babies. What if they were miserable the whole time? What if I crashed and died in the Atlantic? What if Grandma Rhona couldn't find her way to Max's preschool?

Of course it won't surprise any of you to hear that everything went just fine. In fact, it appears that my boys didn't miss me at all. Every time I called, they didn't want to talk to me on the phone ("Not now. We're watching Handy Manny"). They made it to school on time, enjoyed play dates at the park and ate out at a number of exciting restaurants (That Panera is REALLY hot stuff. A yogurt tube AND chocolate milk...). For my part, I missed the guys, but I really, really enjoyed a life free of responsibilities. I stayed up late and read three separate books. I slept in every morning and nobody was clambering for me to cook oatmeal. I snuggled my adorable niece, and then handed her back to her parents when she was inconsolable or needed to eat. In short-- it was heaven.

At the same time, it was also really nice to come home. The boys gave me giant hugs at the airport and Henry said, "We really missed you, Mama" (yeah sure, kid. That's not what I hear!). It was great to snuggle up with Scott on the couch and watch the Oscars, and it was wonderful to sleep in my own bed.

Young Olivia is off to a great start in life. She has two adoring parents and a "sweet crib" in an area of London affectionately known as Nappy Valley. Babies change so quickly, and it was really special to be able to spend time with her when she was only three weeks old. I am tremendously grateful to everyone who helped make the trip possible. I probably won't be heading back to London anytime soon. The cost and the logistics are just too daunting. But, I'm already counting the days until Olivia and her parents make the trip Stateside this summer!

David feeding Olivia her first bottle

Olivia posing for a baby announcement "photo shoot". Do you like the sexy sheepskin rug?

Snoozing on Mommy's shoulder

Out for a walk around town (Yes, it was cold there)

Proof that I was actually in London and not just down the freeway in San Leandro or something

My favorite "sculpture" at the Tate Modern. No woman could look at this without thinking about the mountain of laundry she had awaiting her at home.

The Thames River and St. Paul's Cathedral in the distance

Olivia catching a nap in Max and Henry's old sling

Three generations of LaLone ladies!

Snow Weekend

2011-02-14T16:22:00.014-05:00

As has been noted before (both here and elsewhere), vacations are not the same once you have kids in the picture. What might once have been a winter idyll -- sitting beside a roaring fire in a cabin in the woods, watching snow fall outside while reading a book and sipping cocoa, or a weekend of college debauchery -- fifty people from a dorm crammed in one decrepit Tahoe rental condo, partying all night and skiing all day, becomes something quite different when you're traveling with two four-year-olds, two two-year-olds and one other set of frazzled parents.

To be more specific, what you end up with are kids who have a hard time falling asleep because they're (1) insanely excited and (2) sharing a bed for the first time with a sibling ("Mom! Henry keeps poking me with his feet!!!!!"). The next day you end up spending twenty minutes getting everyone suited up in snow gear only to find that (1) some kid needs to go to the bathroom or (2) five minutes of snow time is enough and someone really wants to watch Toy Story. You visit a couple of ski resorts and spend hours using brute force to hoist your four-year-old up again and again as he struggles to balance on skis for the first time (Go, Scott!). Meanwhile, you also do your best to pacify a two-year-old who wails loudly for over an hour and wants to go home because he is so strung out from lack of sleep (see above).

At the same time, you also realize that the Sierra Mountains in winter are absolutely gorgeous and that it feels fantastic to get away from your home and your routine for a few days even if "relaxation" isn't exactly part of the equation. You find that it is a big rush to see your four-year-old master the first stage of skiing and coast down a bunny hill all by himself, and that you'd put up with a lot of sleepless nights and aggravation for the squeal of joy your two-year-old gives as he plunges down a slope in an inner tube, his cheeks pink from the cold and his eyes shining. You realize how special it is to share a couple beers and a conversation with another set of parents who know EXACTLY where you're coming from -- what you've given up and what you've gained by being right here.

Boys on the Deck (Maybe Henry's eyes are so crazy because he's holding a block of ice!)

The chef "statue" in the rental kitchen. The boys had that knife out of his hand and were chasing each other with it within 30 seconds of our arrival.

Cutie Max in his snow gear

Scott and the Freund family at Soda Springs Resort

Henry tries tubing for the first time

Scott helps Max into his skis

Max bites it for the 100th time

The boys enjoying a post-bath snack

The beautiful river near our cabin

You Can't Catch Me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!

2011-01-25T09:58:00.003-05:00

Thanks, Dodie, for sending the book and the cookies to decorate. The whole project was a big hit with the boys!

Henry Rides a Bike

2011-01-22T00:52:00.002-05:00

Two years, ten months and already riding a two-wheeler!

Potty Training the Hen

2011-01-06T17:29:00.004-05:00

I'm sure I'm cursing myself by saying this, but I think that Henry is pretty much potty trained! Over the past few months, Scott and I have been bickering about when to start the training process. Henry would tell us IMMEDIATELY when he was dirty or wet and he enjoyed watching other members of the family use the toilet, but he showed little to no interest in actually sitting on the toilet himself. We didn't own a small potty, because that was never Max's "thing." Max, in fact, insisted upon using the big toilet from day one. He would hang his little bottom down in there and cling to the sides for dear life. While this technique worked for him, it was clearly not going to fly with his little brother.

So, one day last week, Scott suggested that we could get a small potty for Henry. Henry was very enthusiastic and wanted to go to the store that very moment to pick one out. We hauled the family over to Tot Tank, a local kids' supply wonderland here in Alameda, and let Henry peruse the offerings. He picked out a snazzy green and white number which we are now calling the Cadillac of potty seats because it turns out that the damn thing cost $43!!!! We picked up a potty watch, some bribes, and some underwear and settled in for Potty Training Boot Camp.

All day last Sunday I stayed home with Henry while Scott got Max out of the house. I put Henry on the potty every ten minutes whether he liked it or not (and initially, it was mostly "not"). Eventually, he had a success and was rewarded with M & Ms (yes, I feel terrible about bribing my child with food, but I was already not going to win the parent of the year award after letting my kids watch too much TV and ride bikes at the professional BMX track). In any case, we went through a lot of underwear and pairs of pants, but about four hours in, Henry really began to get it. By the end of the day, he was even telling me when he needed to go!

Monday and Tuesday were better and better and the kid was even pooping in the potty by Wednesday. Last night Henry got up to use the potty at midnight and then went right back to bed. First thing this morning, he and his brother went to the bathroom together and when I walked in, I found them each enthroned on their respective seats. Pretty exciting stuff!

I am so proud of Henry, and I'm very excited about being done with diapers. At the same time, like most milestone moments, this one is tinged with sadness for the Mama who is gradually losing her baby. As Henry said to me yesterday, "I'm not a little big kid anymore. I'm a real a big kid now."

Stanford in the Orange Bowl

2011-01-06T17:25:00.003-05:00

We enjoyed having friends over to watch Stanford crush Virginia Tech in this year's Orange Bowl. Go Stanford!

Legoland Video

2010-12-30T00:42:00.003-05:00

Christmas Silliness

2010-12-30T00:37:00.002-05:00

Christmas in SoCal

2010-12-30T00:09:00.022-05:00

We had a great trip down to Southern California for Christmas with my side of the family. As usual, it was a whirlwind -- hours in the car, lots of family time, celebrations at Dodie's house, celebrations at Kelly's house, trip to Legoland, etc. There are a lot of stories to tell, but I will let the pictures speak for themselves...

A Christmas Hug for Dodie

Rare Family Portrait (with cranky Hen)

The Kids' Table

Mimi and Her Grandchildren (We missed you, Nicolle!)

A Little Cousin Love

LaLone/Gruber/Landberg/Goldsmith/Gerber Women

LaLone/Gruber/Goldsmith/Landberg/Gerber Men (with cranky Hen)

Gee. Do you think we're related?!

Mama and Boys

Silly Dada and Max

Legoland!!!!

Cuties Inside the Shark

Getting Wet on the Pirate Ride

The Log Ride

Handsome Max

Another Rare Family Portrait

Yum! Ice Cream!

Home Makeover -- Alameda Style

2010-12-11T12:10:00.015-05:00

Slowly but surely we're whittling away at the many home projects that face us in this 1940 Split-level Traditional that we call home. Since we moved in two years ago we've removed the carpet, painted almost every room, removed two giant juniper trees and installed a new deck and fence. The latest (and most expensive!) in this long line of projects has been installing new windows throughout the house. I knew these windows would improve our energy efficiency (ie get rid of the bitter cold wind blowing through the old aluminum windows). I knew they would cut down on street noise. I also knew they would enhance the look of the house, but I had NO idea what a big impact it would be! We followed the original architect's 1939 plan for the house and put in windows with grids. The overall look is so much more finished and formal than what we had before. I am absolutely beside myself because I love them so much!

Of course now that I've seen what a difference the windows make, I'm all the more eager to remove the vinyl siding, paint the house, landscape the yard, replace the front steps, etc, but we're not made of money around here, so these changes will have to wait. Stay tuned!

Our house when we bought it

House after tree trimming

House minus awnings and with new windows

Detail of boys' window

Side view

Front window before

Front window after

Living room before

Living room after

Dining room before

Dining room after

Boys' room with new windows

Bathroom with new windows

My "Little Big Kid"

2010-12-09T16:08:00.004-05:00

I'm starting to come to grips with the fact that my baby is going to be three years old in a few months. Of course to Henry himself, babyhood is already a distant memory. "I'm not a baby," he'll tell you, "I'm a little big kid."

That's about as apt an assessment as anyone could offer for a boy who will clutch his stuffed dog and cry for me to hold him one minute, and then the next minute calmly inquire of his father, "How was your day today, Daddy? Was there traffic?"

Henry is sweet, and thoughtful, and cuddly, and adventurous, and smart. He is constantly cracking us up with his exclamations and observations. A few good ones from the past week:

"Mama! I fell down and hurt my schnoz!"
(upon opening his Hanukkah present) "Race cars! I can't believe it!"

Henry had all the parents in his Play Place class rolling last week when in the midst of a story about cows he yelled out, "We saw jumping cows at the Oakland Zoo!" (Editorial note: Sadly we did not, in fact, see jumping cows at the Oakland Zoo. Now THAT would be something!).

Henry is a second child. He definitely doesn't get the one-on-one attention that his older brother got there for a couple years. You'd think that this might make him slower to pick up on certain things. If anything, however, the opposite appears to be true. Henry is living proof that one-on-one attention is completely overrated. This kid learned the alphabet on his own, and surprised us all by singing it in its entirety one day (see video clip). Sometimes, the depth and breadth of his knowledge is truly astonishing and I'm left scratching my head and wondering, "Where in the hell did he learn that?"

One great example of this was a couple weeks ago when Henry asked me to trace his hands to make a turkey. We did this and then he wanted me to draw the turkey's face. I thought I had done a passable job, but he sternly reminded me, "Mama, you forgot the wattle." Wattle?!! Where did that come from??!!

There's also been evidence that all of a sudden Henry is starting to consider some deeper issues. He finds certain cartoons and movies "scary" in a way that his brother never did. He also stopped me in my tracks the other day by asking out of the blue, "Why were the bad guys in the synagogue?" I just about had a heart attack wondering if my 2 1/2-year-old was asking about the Nazis, but then quickly realized that he must be referring to the Hanukkah story. We talked about the ancient Syrians and left the Nazis for another day.

Little "Hen" is full of surprises, and it is such a joy watching him grow from a baby to a boy.

Trial Run

2010-12-09T10:38:00.003-05:00

My friend Courtney from back in Virginia is trying to help me learn how to increase photo size on the blog. HTML code is not my cup of tea to say the least, but let's see how this works...

Eight Days of Eating (and other revelry)

2010-12-07T17:32:00.011-05:00

Mmmmm....cookies...

Why does my "Dreidel Cake" look like a shovel?

Party Animal!

Holy Batcave, Batman!

Presents Galore

A Hanukkah Feast

The Family (and my first brisket!)

We found Max's old Hanukkah bib

Max wearing the bib 4 years ago for his first Hanukkah

Thanks a Lot, Rainstorm.

2010-12-07T17:30:00.000-05:00

I guess I should get out the rake.

First Night of Hanukkah

2010-12-01T23:05:00.006-05:00

"Traditional" Dinner of Hanukkah Mac 'n Cheese

My Guys lighting the menorahs

Beautiful Candlelight

Playing with their gift -- Hot Wheels racetrack and race cars

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-30T10:44:00.008-05:00

This year Thanksgiving week was a non-stop party. We're talking one birthday (Scott), two baby showers (Nicolle), two Thanksgivings, and hundreds of miles of driving up and down the state. We gorged ourselves at restaurants (thumbs up for Hernandez's Hideaway, thumbs down for Mimi's Cafe), and had a great time hanging out as a family. Nicolle and David were over from England, and it is hard to believe that the next time I see them, they'll have a baby girl!

Max and Henry did a great job with all of the events and location changes. They were their typical entertaining selves. Max's best comment of the week was when he saw a large cross outside of a church and exclaimed, "Wow! Look at that glowing sword!". Henry, whose vocabulary is exploding, fell off of a chair and announced, "I fell down and hurt my schnoz!" I guess this goes to show that they're both growing into good Jewish boys!

We're all a bit tired from the constant revelry, but true party animals never sleep. Hanukkah starts tomorrow. We're breaking out the dreidels and menorahs around here, so keep your eyes peeled for updates and photos coming soon.

Thanks for the cute outfits, Mona Mona!

Kicking back before Thanksgiving feast #1 in Valencia

Great Grandma Sophie

A Bun in the Oven

Family Baby Shower at Cousin Kelly's House

3 1/2 LaLone Ladies!

Halloween 2010

2010-11-02T20:39:00.017-04:00

Halloween is VERY big in Alameda. We're talking a week's worth of community festivities as a lead-in and then bus loads of kids trucked in from Oakland and elsewhere for the actual trick-or-treating (This is not an exaggeration. There were THOUSANDS of kids thronging the East End where we live). My mom was able to come up for the whole week this year since she is a recent retiree. A great time was had by all, and once again, we ended up with no surplus candy because the boys love handing it out even more than bringing it in. YES!

Henry "I'm a hungry shark not a nice shark" Gerber

The parade at Henry's Play Place class

The whole Play Place crew

Max's preschool class performed some Halloween songs and poems

Carving our pumpkin at the Goddard's Halloween party

A pumpkin with his pumpkin

Max and Mick up to no good

No bones (or trucks) were broken in the taking of this picture

Too much sugar?

Trick-or-Treating with the neighbors

Spiderman Max and his sidekick Henry the Shark

Papa Ron meets a fellow Trojan

A giant spider rigged on a pulley system

The boys and their grandparents (we missed you, Mona Mona!)

San Francisco Fun

2010-10-27T00:35:00.006-04:00

A gorgeous day, a visiting grandma, cable cars, seafood lunch at Fisherman's Wharf, ice cream at Ghiradelli Square. What could possibly be better?!

Rainy Pumpkins

2010-10-25T13:25:00.003-04:00

Why did we wait 30 minutes in the rain for free pumpkins at the annual Alameda Fire Department giveaway, especially considering that we already had three pumpkins at home?

Because they were free, damn it! Everybody loves free stuff. Leaving early would have been a sign of weakness. Pumpkin picking isn't for pansies, right boys?!

Raider Nation

2010-10-10T18:03:00.002-04:00

Field of Dreams

2010-10-08T16:42:00.005-04:00

Thanks to Papa Ron, Scott, Max and I were able to enjoy a playoff baseball game last night in San Francisco. Being a die-hard Dodgers fan, Scott had a rough time attending a Giants game, but he at least managed to maintain a neutral demeanor -- neither booing nor cheering. Max, Ron, and I did not suffer any such divided loyalties, and we enjoyed whooping it up and shaking our "rally rags." I'm not quite sure that Max was really old enough for this experience, however. He was weeping with exhaustion by the 6th inning and when asked, he said the best part of the experience was riding in a taxi. Oh well. I guess we're laying the groundwork for future baseball fandom, right? God help the kid if he doesn't grow up to love the sport!

As for Henry, he spent the evening with our good buddies Jeff, Megan, Ben and Alex. Jeff is apparently some kind of "toddler whisperer," because he was able to get all three boys to sleep in under 30 minutes. Jeff -- would you mind coming by my house tonight to deal with Max and Henry after their bath?

Fall Fun

2010-10-02T14:32:00.008-04:00

The first few weekends of fall have been busy around here. Last weekend we had Grandma Rhona in town. We all went to the Dragon Boat Festival on Treasure Island and enjoyed watching boat races, playing games in the kids' pavilion, and snacking on yummy bao buns fresh from the best-named food truck I've ever encountered:

This weekend is off to a good start as well. We set out early to check out a pumpkin patch near Pleasanton. We were literally the first visitors of the year and they weren't quite ready for us. A fork list was still delivering pumpkins and the rides weren't up and running yet. Apparently somebody (and I'm not saying who, but she used to start working on her Halloween costume in June, and she loves to decorate) was just a wee bit over-eager. Oh well, water under the bridge. We still managed to pick out and overpay for several nice pumpkins:

Next on the agenda -- a block party Oktoberfest extravaganza and a community bike ride and BBQ. Hurray for Autumn!

First Day of School

2010-09-13T14:12:00.001-04:00

Holy Zucchini, Batman!!!

2010-09-13T14:09:00.002-04:00

Buddies from Brooklyn

2010-09-13T14:02:00.009-04:00

We had a great time visiting with our friends Troy, Carlyn, and Caleb. Come again soon, guys!

Boys, Boats, and the City by the Bay

2010-08-25T16:30:00.011-04:00

In an impressive last hurrah, summer has decided to finally settle in around here. We've been shivering and wearing fleece jackets for the last few months, squinting our eyes in the fog and dreaming of sunny days at the pool. Now, all of a sudden, the temperature has leapt up to 90 degrees, 95 degrees, 100 degrees and we're all sweating, staggering around, and bitching about the lack of air conditioning. That's human nature for you. The grass is always greener...

In any case, some of Max's preschool colleagues decided to take advantage of the warm weather for a boat ride to San Francisco, and we were only too happy to tag along. It was a great adventure, if a bit chaotic. We had six boys tearing around the ferry boat, literally climbing the walls, yet thankfully we managed to avoid losing anyone overboard. Back on land, we explored Pier 39, checked out the seals, engaged in passionate, teary battles over a loan crab leg found on the deck, rode the overpriced carousel a few times, purchased some tourist schlock, fought over a pay telescope with views of Alcatraz, scarfed some lunch on the run, and sent our blood sugar levels through the roof with mammoth ice cream cones. Then it was back on the ship, more tearing around, and a short drive home from the Alameda ferry terminal. Both of my boys are dead asleep right now, the surest sign of all of a summer morning well spent.

Swimming Footage

2010-08-19T22:30:00.002-04:00

Today was the last day of swim lessons, so I decided to bring a camera to document Max's progress. Clearly, I should have done this on a different day, because today was mostly a free-for-all with pool toys. Even still, I captured a few moments. Max is front and center with his teacher and another little girl in his class.

June Lake 2010

2010-08-18T16:06:00.016-04:00

It wouldn't be a vacation with small children unless there was some element of disaster involved, and this year, disaster -- thy name was "Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease." Poor Henry fell ill a couple days before we left -- fever for two days followed by mouth sores. By the time we hopped in the car to drive up into the mountains, Max was also running a fever, and in a particularly delightful turn, he managed to throw up all over me in the back seat. I knew my fate was sealed at that point, but it took a couple days for my own symptoms to set in. I lost a lot of valuable vacation time to this stupid illness, but there were at least two pluses: (1) I got to stay home by myself and read (The Passage by Justin Cronin is every bit as addictive as the publicity hype would like you to believe), and (2) I didn't gain as much weight eating crappy vacation food because my throat was too sore. Hurrah!

By mid-week everyone was feeling much better and we somehow managed not to infect the rest of the family. We spent a lot of time fishing and exploring old favorite lakes and discovering new ones. We hung out with the extended family and celebrated my mom's retirement after 23 years of teaching. As always, the week went by too quickly and I'm already dreaming about next year...

Dodie and Henry check out boats at the Gull Lake Marina

The view from our condo did not suck

One of my favorite pictures of Max. He's getting so big!

Another favorite shot taken at Silver Lake

Is this boy cute or what?!

Dodie, Max, and Henry at Ellery Lake

All the ladies (and Max) at Ellery

Singing songs around the campfire

Morning at Silver Lake

I had to bribe them to get them to pose for this shot

Dodie and her sons-in-law

Toasting my mom at her retirement soiree

Family Poker Tournament (Scott was the big winner!)

David and Nicolle (yes, she's knocked up!)

Video Clips

2010-08-05T16:35:00.003-04:00

A couple video clips discovered on our old camera:

Silly Boys

2010-07-30T10:44:00.008-04:00

Sitting in Boxes

Dancing

Hanging Around

Dressing Up in Matching Outfits

Santa Cruz Boardwalk

2010-07-24T23:19:00.008-04:00

Happy Birthday to Papa!

Scott's "Photo shoot"

2010-07-19T22:28:00.005-04:00

Swimming Lessons

2010-07-16T17:35:00.005-04:00

No actual swimming yet, but Max is making progress. It's great having his buddy Hayley in the same class!

Happy 4th Birthday, Max!

2010-07-16T17:32:00.003-04:00

Camping at San Mateo Memorial Park

2010-07-16T17:24:00.011-04:00

Three families. Five boys. Two nights in a tent. Eight fish caught. One fantastic camping trip!

New Bed, New Sleep Training, Pneu-Monia

2010-07-13T11:04:00.004-04:00

It's been quite a few weeks around here!

About a month back Henry started climbing out of his crib with greater and greater frequency. Scott and I were afraid that he would climb out some night when he was half asleep and hurt himself, so we took the big leap of buying him a big-boy bed. This was a fraught experience on many levels for me. There was the whole "My baby is growing up and we have to put away the crib" angle and there was the "Oh my God, putting Max in a bed was a nightmare for a good six to nine months how can we be doing this again?" angle. And yet, it had to be done.

Henry LOVES his bed (see photos below) and the transition hasn't been as tough as it was with Max. In part, I attribute this to Scott's excellent sleep-training suggestion. With Max, we would stand outside of the bedroom door and when he got out of bed and opened the door, we would put him back in bed and put him back and put him back and put him back and put him back....

You get the idea.

For Max it became a fun game that could last for hours until I was screaming and raging mad and exhausted. Not a good sleep-training state of mind.

This time, Scott suggested (a la Super Nanny) that we should stand next to the bed and slowly back out of the room over time. This way, if Henry sits up, he's sees one of us standing there and so he doesn't actually get out of the bed and the whole process is much faster and more efficient. This technique seems to be working great and many times we don't even need to do it because Henry falls right to sleep. He's a different kid than his brother (surprise, surprise, right?!) -- a little less stubborn, a little more tractable, and he has Max as a role model right there in his own room. "Max isn't getting out of his bed, maybe I shouldn't either."

The bottom line is that the bed thing is working out great. Unfortunately, however, the health situation around here hasn't been as great.

Shortly after we bought the bed, Henry developed a high fever. He also had a little cough and a little runny nose, but his worst symptom was a fever that would not quit. It was frequently as high at 104.9 and it lasted for SIX DAYS -- long enough for me to start freaking out and imagining crazy things such as, "Henry must have picked up a roundworm parasite from the raccoons that frequent our backyard." Three trips to the pediatrician, one trip to urgent care, and one trip to the hospital for chest x-rays suggested that Henry had pneumonia. He went through two courses of antibiotics, neither of which did any good, and then finally the fever broke on its own. Thank God! There is absolutely nothing worse than a sick child.

Max and I ended up with nasty colds ourselves, but luckily no more crazy fevers. Everyone around here is on the mend, and I have never been so grateful for good health.

San Diego

2010-06-20T16:44:00.015-04:00

The boys and I spent last week in San Diego visiting my mom. As a kid growing up in suburban San Diego, I always used to complain about how BORING it was there. It never rained, the weather was always the same, the suburbs were so dull, blah, blah, blah.

Indeed, it didn't rain the week we were there and the weather was in the 70s the whole time. We checked out gorgeous, safe, well-designed parks and playgrounds all over my mom's suburban community and gee, wasn't it terrible?!. What the hell is wrong with teenagers that they have to always find something to complain about?! I'm sure someday Max and Henry will complain about Alameda. I can hear it now: "Why in the world would you want to live on an island? It's so boring here! There are parks all over the place. The land is flat. The schools are so predictable and high-quality, blah, blah, blah"

Anyway, for what it's worth, I apologize, Mom, for all of that negativity. San Diego is a great place, and I'm lucky to have grown up there.

All ranting aside, we really did have a good trip. Things got off to a great start with the boys rolling their adorable train carry-on bags all over the airport (Thanks, Aunt Brigitte!). The flight down was uneventful and although I started off the trip with a bit of a cold, it went away quickly and nobody else got sick (knock on wood).

We all enjoyed a trip to the Del Mar Fair. Henry was technically a tad too short to make it on the rides, but his shoes were high and the ticket takers were lax, so he was able to join his brother on the "big-boy rides" for the first time and he LOVED it! Both of those boys are fearless.

Grandma Rhona joined us for a day and we went to the Children's Museum in Escondido. We also took my mom out to dinner at the Olive Garden in honor of her retirement from teaching. I know, I know, you're thinking, "That woman retires after 23 years of teaching first grade and all you do is buy her a stinkin' bowl of fettucine?!" Look -- when you're dealing with a toddler, a preschooler, and an 86-year-old grandmother, The Olive Garden is a "fine dining" as it gets!

On Friday we drove up to Claremont to visit cousins Joyce, Missy, and Greg. It was a quick trip, but so much fun to get together. We miss you guys!

In the midst of all the fun there were, of course, certain inevitable setbacks. Max stepped on a bee. It was a classic mother "I-told-you-so" moment -- Max running away across the grass, me running after him and yelling, "You have to put on your shoes!!!!!" and then -- wham-- he falls to the ground clutching his foot. Poor little guy. Luckily, the sting wasn't bad and he didn't go into anaphylatctic shock. I guess we now know that he isn't allergic.

Henry has begun climbing out of his crib with more regularity. Friday night he must have gotten out of that thing eight or nine times and he didn't fall asleep until 9:30 or so. The biggest problem with this was that we had an early morning flight home. WORST FLIGHT EVER WITH CHILDREN (and I've done a lot of flying with the kids). We're talking kicking the seat, yelling, running down the aisle, throwing things (all Henry. Max was an angel). Once we arrived in Oakland, Henry had a full meltdown on the jetway -- he wanted to roll his backpack. No, he wanted to wear his backpack. Hell no! He wanted nothing to do with that backpack! The next thing you know, he has collapsed in a sobbing, screaming heap on the floor and disgruntled fellow passengers are trying to pick their way around us on the way to baggage claim. I had to hoist him up kicking and screaming while simultaneously pushing the stroller and juggling his bag and my own while trying not to lose Max in the rush. Good times.

We're home now and happy to see Scott and Fang. It was a good trip, but I'm not eager to get on a plane with the kids anytime soon. Sorry, Aunt Nicolle. The boys may not be visiting you in England for a VERY long time. I'm thinking their early twenties...

Father's Day 2010

2010-06-20T16:28:00.007-04:00

Brunch at the Lake Chalet in Oakland.

Yum!

Wilson-Fest 2010

2010-06-08T23:50:00.020-04:00

The Wilsons were in town last week, and we had a great time hanging out with the family! The week was JAM PACKED with outings and get togethers. We're talking barbecues, Oakland Zoo, Roberts Park, Alameda Beach, Bay Area Discovery Museum, and more. The boys had tons of fun playing with cousin Benjy who is just three months older than Henry. They taught him how to get in trouble by jumping on the ottoman or launching off of the plastic slide, and he taught them to say "No Thank You" when someone does something annoying or untoward. Hmmm...who got the short end of that stick? Sorry, Steph and Josh. I hope you'll still come visit us again sometime even if our children are a bad influence!

Our Biggest Zucchini Yet!

2010-06-08T23:38:00.001-04:00

Future X Games Stars?

2010-06-08T23:21:00.011-04:00

So today we took Max, Henry, and Mick to the BMX Park in Pleasanton. Keep in mind that Max has only been riding a bike for a few weeks. His friend Mick, by contrast, is an "old pro" at this point, having mastered the two-wheeler over a year ago at the ripe old age of three. I wasn't sure if Max would enjoy the park or become easily frustrated and ask to leave. I figured Henry would have fun puttering around in the dirt on his balance bike. As it turns out, all three boys had a blast! Henry was all over the place on that balance bike, earning stares and nods of appreciation from teenage daredevils. Max was absolutely fearless and he took a couple hills that almost threw me into cardiac arrest. I wasn't sure if I should feel proud of him for his skill and his nerve or if I should castigate myself for being the most irresponsible parent in the world (what kind of mother takes her not-quite-four-year-old son to a place where he can hurl himself down huge hills at great speed on top of a vehicle that he has only just learned to ride???!!!). The answer, of course, is that I felt both proud and terrified at the same time. Kind of sums up parenting, doesn't it?

From Garden to Table

2010-06-02T17:53:00.005-04:00

Max's Preschool "Graduation"

2010-05-28T16:02:00.010-04:00

I simply cannot believe that Max has finished a year of preschool. One more year and then he's off to kindergarten. After that he'll be bringing home girls, borrowing the car and leaving for college. ACK!!!

I feel so fortunate to live in Alameda where we have an amazing preschool program offered through the Park and Recreation Department. Max has learned so much this year -- both academically and socially. I am so grateful to his patient, creative teachers, especially the head teacher, Ms. Vee.

Today's culminating "ceremony" and luau potluck was a typical Ms. Vee production -- creative, fun, organized, and age-appropriate. I will never understand how that woman manages to produce so much with a group of three and four-year-olds. People sometimes marvel that I used to teach middle schoolers, but I'll tell you -- those twelve and thirteen-year-olds have nothing on a rowdy group of crying, hyper, overly-enthusiastic, toy-flinging, bathroom-flooding preschool boys and girls.

Thank you, Ms. Vee, and thank you Park and Rec. for a wonderful year! We can't wait to see what is in store for Max over the summer and next year.

Max and two of his classmates

Ms. Vee addresses the group

Max sings a song about a shark

Whoops! Max falls off the stool while accepting his "diploma"

No harm done! A picture with Ms. Vee and Ms. Katie

Max grows bored with the proceedings

Finally! Released from his chair

Having lunch with buddies Ori and Mick

New Bike

2010-05-24T22:58:00.004-04:00

In one week Max has gone from a kid who rode a balance bike by pushing with his feet to a boy zipping around the neighborhood on a two-wheeler with no training wheels. And when I say "zipping," I mean REALLY ZIPPING -- riding off curbs, turning corners, racing his Dad. It's amazing to watch. He suddenly seems like such a big kid and I can see flashes of the daring, independent child he is becoming.

For a couple days we borrowed a bike from Max's friend, Mick, but then we were fortunate enough to come across a real find at the local elementary school's annual flea market fundraiser--a cute little red Trek bike. We paid $15 for the bike only to discover when we "googled" the bike later on that new ones cost anywhere from $170-$300. Score!

Pretty soon Max will be too tall for this bike, but it is perfect for him right now, and I think his little brother is not far behind him in terms of bicycle readiness.

Let the good times roll!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2010-05-24T22:48:00.005-04:00

Very well, thank you!

We have two tomatoes on the Topsy Turvy hanging container and several zucchini growing on the monstrous zucchini plant. The strawberries are a bit of a disappointment. We've had a few small ones, but I suspect that some creature has been getting to them before they can really grow. Herbs are thriving and the cherry tomato plant is covered in blossoms.

More updates to come soon...

Two Birthdays and a Baby Shower

2010-05-16T22:41:00.010-04:00

The social calendar around here has been packed lately. In the past seven days we have been fortunate enough to celebrate two birthdays (Mick and Alex) and one baby shower (Kimiko). Also this week, Henry learned to pedal a tricycle and Max learned to ride a two-wheeler with no training wheels! Just another week in the life of the Gerbers...

Mother's Day: A Retrospective

2010-05-09T17:41:00.008-04:00

Mother's Day 2010: Breakfast in bed, a hand-made butterfly pin, brunch with family, hugs and kisses from two sweet little boys...

What could possibly be better?

I feel so blessed to have these two wonderful little ones in my life, and I can't believe how quickly they are growing and changing. I'm not generally prone to nostalgia, but somehow this holiday brings it out in me. Four years ago I wasn't a mother, and now I'm a mom twice over and my life is infinitely richer (and more exhausting) for that.

I love you Max and Henry.

2007

2008

2009

2010

Another Trip to the Zoo

2010-05-06T20:53:00.006-04:00

I know, I know. You're probably thinking to yourself -- "Jeez! These folks are ALWAYS at the the zoo"-- and you would be more right than you know. After all, my children often behave like they belong in the zoo, and my house certainly looks like a zoo, but beyond these more esoteric connections, it is also true that we find ourselves at the actual zoo quite a bit.

I mean, what's not to like? We have a membership, so admission is "free." There are goats to brush, monkeys and tigers to ogle, rocks to climb, rides to, well, ride, and great picnic spots. I also feel like it is a totally new trip every time we bring along new friends. Today we were lucky enough to be accompanied by the lovely Jillian and Addy (and their mom, of course!). I think that Max and Henry are a little bit in love with these two, and who could blame them? Check out the photos...