Down by the River Side

In mid May, we made the drive to visit our dear friends, the Yalins, who moved away from Alameda for some country life. We had an amazing weekend with them.  

 

There was all sorts of wildlife around.  First, Easton got a kick out of following a tiny frog around that some how got inside the house.  The kids and Lane found a tiny little turtle, and there were caterpillars and cocoons all over the place.

So, did I mention this is what their backyard looks like? It is unreal - beautiful trees, giant boulders and a rushing river.

The boys just jumped in the water for a refreshing swim in the afternoon. 

Gabriela was really anxious to get in the water too!

Later that day we went on a tour of this organic farm called Harmony Hills Farm. You know you have good friends when they suggest you go to hear a talk on composting together and it's everyone's idea of a good time!  We actually misses the talk, but the farm was perfect. Everyone was so genuinely friendly, we saw their chickens, different gardens that were growing, and they had baked fresh cookies to share with visitors. 

Easton was happy to meet the puppy dogs.  

It just melts my Jett to see these two playing together like this. 

Heather wanted to buy some produce and the farmer said we would have to wait because she needed to pick it, or we could go pick it ourselves!  Of course we couldn't refuse that offer. She handed us baskets and off we went together. Farm freshness at its best, second to growing it in your own backyard of course. 

Easton and Rowan both picked some Swiss chard. Gabriela learned from the farmer how to know which leaves to pick. 

Meanwhile, the boys played and giggled on the farm with their Swiss chard toys. 

Next, we drove to a winery.  As we rolled into he parking lot, Gabriela exclaimed, "oh! I love this winery!!!"  She got busy snacking in the fancy chairs and exploring the gardens. 

Lane and I were taking turns sipping wine and plying with the kiddos. Daddy is always playing chase with these guys. 

The next day we packed a picnic, complete with icy cold mojitos and took a little hike down to a different area of the river that was perfect for the kids.  There were tons of tiny pools, the water was shallow and still. Easton and Rowan threw rocks together while Gabriela climbed and splashed around.  

Serkan, relaxing in the river ;)

Heather and I even took a dip in the super cold water. 

We miss our friends terribly, but are so happy that they have so much nature to explore with Rowan, space for a garden, and a river to swim in anytime they want. 

They sure know how to show us visitors a good time. We had so much fun spending  the weekend together and we can't wait to go do it all over again. 

Gilroy Gardens

 We went to Gilroy Gardens with Grandma last month.  Check out this stud muffin.  We are lucky that Easton is so easy going and just happy to come along for the ride.

He really liked driving the fire trucks.

Easton loved the hot air balloon ride. I was a little nervous about how he would react since it goes up pretty high, and then spins all around.  But he kept saying "up" and "more" so he's a fan.

It was quite a warm day, and the water play area hadn't opened yet for the season, so Gabriela spent some time playing in the waterfall.  We also had ice cream cones, as usual.  That cooled us off too.

We are ready to return to Gilroy Gardens with Grandma and Grandpa this summer! 

CuriOdyssey

So last month we went to San Mateo to check out this place called CuriOdyssey, recommended to us by one of Lane's coworkers.  We knew it was going to be cool when we passed this playground on our way to the park.  I mean, how could we not stop to check it out???

 Super duper giant fancy slide

 Gabriela was, obviously, a fan.

 Easton was begging to go down the slide too. How could I deny my little daredevil this experience?  So we went down the slide together... several times.  He was a fan too.

We got half priced admission because we have a membership at the Oakland Zoo. Gabriela saw some cool things in microscopes, made wildflower seed bombs, and put together a nature journal.  Easton loved the wind tunnel.

Then we saw the falcons and other cool birds really up close. 

This is a view I never see.  Yeah, I wonder where Gabriela got that profile from.

Golden Eagles are no joke, people.  Those birds are HUGE!!!

We also saw this giant turkey vulture.  Gabriela will tell you, without hesitation, that when turkey vultures are in danger, they vomit in order to gross out their predators and also to make themselves lighter so it's easier to escape.

She was excited to see the owls up close, especially after reading Harry Potter.

This is a peregrine falcon. Gabriela will also tell you that it is the fastest animal in the world.  It was such an interesting experience to see these birds up so close.  They also have coyotes, bobcats, beavers, river otters, and lots of other animals there.  All of the animals at CuriOdyssey are there because they have had some sort of injury and they are being cared for until they recover, or indefinitely because they can no longer survive in the wild. 

Releasing Butterflies

We had a wonderful experience watching our caterpillars grow, eat, change into chrysalises, and emerge as butterflies.  We made a journal too, just like we did with the ladybugs.  I can't recommend these activities enough!  Gabriela learned so much, and we had a ton of fun.  It was so fascinating for the grown ups too.  I had never watched this process before. 

Gabriela and Easton were both so excited to see the butterflies up close, and also for the chance to hold them.

 

Our butterflies immediately landed on some nearby plants and Gabriela is convinced that every butterfly we see near our house is one of hers.

Mother's Day weekend

Wow. This was the first weekend in ages that we have actually been in town for the whole weekend. No packing bags for long drives and overnight excursions. It was nice to be home.

On Friday night we went to see a play for Family Fun night. Alameda Children's Musical Theater out on a darling performance of The Wizard of Oz. Gabriela was so excited to see Glinda. It was a great experience since she knew the story from reading the book. It is also one of Gabriela's favorite movies and the play had all the same songs, interlude music and even the same dialogue for much of the play. Easton even paid close attention for much of the first act, clapping and everything. But he had to get get up and run around and then fell asleep during the second act. Gabriela was thrilled to meet the actors after the show. Every time we see a play she asks when she can be on stage. I am not going to lie, I can't wait either. I think she would do great.  But I don't know how I would do. I was practically in tears at some parts of the show, watching these talented kids who worked so hard to put on a show. I was so proud of them and I have never even met them. 

As we laid in bed on Saturday morning, I thought about how we haven't been home in ages to make a big yummy weekend breakfast. Gabriela must have read my mind because she asked Daddy if she could help him make pancakes. Lane made pancakes and eggs and breakfast potatoes and melon. What a breakfast!  Gabriela made a birthday card for her friend and then we headed to the most over the top amazing birthday party we have ever attended. 

I just hope Gabriela doesn't think we will be hosting parties like this for her. Everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly.   We arrived at noon, left at six, bathed the  kids and they were out for the count. 

Sunday was Mother's Day and while we were in bed, Lane informed me that I had a massage appointment later that afternoon. It was heavenly relaxation   I felt amazing afterwards. What a wonderful Mother's Day gift. I also received the cutest drawings, some flowers, and a husband-made dinner. 

Sunday was also Easton's half birthday. my

baby!!!  So we had a cake, put his birthday crown on him, sang "happy half birthday to you" and Easton surprised us all by gracefully blowing out his candle on the first try. 

A new haircut for my big girl.

Last Thursday, while we were having a drink at coffee shop, I casually suggested to Gabriela that we take her for a little haircut. Technically, this would be her third cut. When she was one, she pulled out  nearly all the hair on one side of her head so Lane evened it out. More than a year ago, I gave her an uneven trim, long enough to make all those sweet baby girl ringlets disappear and for me to cry about it (thank goodness I saved one).  But this would be the first time someone else would cut my baby's hair. Gabriela immediately agreed and announced she wanted her hair cut thiiiiiiis short, putting her hand straight to her chin.  I admit it, I got a little woozy.

After some deep breaths and asking her a few more times, I realized Gabriela had her mind made up. As much as I wanted to convince her that she didn't really want short hair, I decided to respect her decision. Let me just say it wasn't easy.

We walked to the beauty college and I started panicking a little. I envisioned Gabriela shrieking while having her hair washed and brushed, questioning the qualifications of the lady about to cut all my baby's hair off, and wondering if Gabriela would change her mind half way through her haircut.

Gabriela was perfect. She felt like a pampered princess and couldn't have been more excited when her long braid was chopped off. All that hair that she had since she was at least two fell to the floor and I was left with a super excited big girl. She couldn't stop checking to make sure her hair was still short. And, this may sound strange, but I totally noticed a change in her behavior. Gabriela was somehow so much more grown up. I feel like she took a lot of pride in making such a big decision, going through with it, and then enjoying the results. Later that night she told daddy that she decided to cut her hair short so she could be like Ramona Quimby. How cute is that?

Gabriela has truly transformed in so many ways over the last year from how she acts at school, to the loving, helpful big sister she has become. She proudly proclaims that she is 4 and three quarters to anyone who will listen. As soon as we finished reading the Ramona books, she begged for us to start over. It's hard to believe she has been riding a two wheeler and has had her own library card for a year now.

I don't know how much longer she will want to be my baby, her haircut made me feel like she is heading into this new big girl phase. So right now I will take what I can get. Just tonight, as I tucked her into bed, Gabriela wrapped her arms around me as tight as can be and very sleepily hummed along while I sang her You Are My Sunshine as she drifted off to sleep. That was my most favorite part of the day. Oh baby girl, you are turning into a beautiful young lady, and I love you to the moon and back.

18 months old

It seems like Easton started truly trying to talk the day after turning 17 months old. Before then, he said just a couple words, but mostly signed a lot. In the last month, Easton started saying more, cheese, ball, book, moon, hot, auntie, apple, please, keys, I love you, and Gabriela. Although it sounds like "Allah". It is so precious watching him say her name or call out to her. Easton will say mama and dada over again when he wants our attention. And he doesn't stop until we respond appropriately. Usually, I hear  him from the other room on repeat, when I go check on him, he is pointing to a picture in a book and eagerly waiting for me to name the object for him. 

We haven't really taught Easton more signs this month, apart from strawberry, which he uses often. Easton did make up two new signs this month. One is for sneeze or nose blowing. He puts his hand to his nose and scrunches up his nose and forehead. The other is hug. Easton folds his arms and squeezes them close to his chest. 

Another new thing for Easton this month is that he is constantly reenacting things with sound effects to tell us what is going on. So my whole life is basically a long game of charades, or better yet soundstage from Cranium. Like after the garbage truck leaves,  Easton quickly jerks his hands up high overheard with a dramatic grunt and then brings them down again with a different sound effects. 

Easton's newest thing is spotting interesting vehicles on the road. Gabriela helps point out the garbage trucks, street sweepers, school buses, deliver trucks and other exciting vehicles. When Easton sees them, he gets a big grin and asks for more. He says Mama or Allah over and over again until he sees the next one.

I am glad about this distraction, because earlier this month Easton figured out how to unbuckle his car seat buckle and he just wouldn't stop. He isn't really doing that anymore now, but he loves to fasten and unfasten his high chair buckles and any others he can get his hands on. 

Easton still loves basketball and will point out any hoop he spots, but that's not his only sport. Easton is a football fan too! He really has quite an arm and can throw things to with excellent aim. Not only that, he's a pro at catching the football as well.

It makes me so happy to see Easton excited about spending time with other family members.  He leans over to his uncles and aunties, ready for them to hold him and play with him when we are together.  Lately, Easton is so excited for Daddy to come home at the end of the day. He sometimes stands in front of the window yelling Dada! Dada!  And then when Lane arrives, he immediately wants Lane to chase him through the house and give him pony rides.  

This month, I've started trying not to nurse Easton at bedtime.  So Daddy has been putting him down for the night.  It's not nearly as easy as Mommy putting him to bed, but we are trying to ease up on a little of the nursing, starting with that feeding.

Easton still isn't really much of an eater.  He just isn't interested.  So when he does feel like eating, I will just keep giving him food until he's done because I don't know when he will eat next.

Easton also recognizes when people are hurt, does his hurt sign, and offers kisses to make the owies better.  Sometimes, he is the one doing scratching.  He will stop, reenact the scratching, sign gentle, and give a kiss.

We love our growing baby boy so much and can't believe today he is one and a half!  Happy Half Birthday, Easton Michael.  We love you bunches!