Class Picture 2012

Caleb goes to preschool on Tuesday and Thursdays. It's odd to me that there's only one girl in his class. He took another great picture and has the same smile as last year. I wonder what the photographer's secret is!

Bay Discovery Museum

We had some special visitors for two nights. Jamie's birth mom and sister stayed with us for two nights. They arrived late on Sunday and were leaving on Tuesday morning so we really only had one day to do something. We ventured to the Bay Discovery Museum. They were having some Lunar New Year events going on but we missed the dragon dance and had to leave before the afternoon show. It was super crowded because it was a holiday but the boys still had fun. Pat and Caeli enjoyed watching the boys in their element.

We are bad picture takers and don't have one picture of Pat and Caeli with the boys but do have some of the boys enjoying the museum. I really liked it and would love to go back but it's a bit of a trek to get there since you have to drive through San Francisco and over the Golden Gate Bridge.

Really cool maze structure where the boys ran away from us and hid. It took a minute to find them.

Lucas getting wet looking for frogs and fishes in the stream

On the boat

Valentines

This is the first Valentines Day that Caleb was really into. It started out with making valentines for his classmates in his Parent Observation class. I took the easy way out and bought some cards but had Caleb decorate the envelope with stickers and a Happy Valentines Day stamp. The project was done pretty quickly and he wanted to do more. I had some heart shaped note cards and said he could decorate them and we could mail them. He made one for grandparents, aunts, godmothers, and cousins. We were supposed to have a playdate on Friday with his good friend R but she got sick. So then he wanted to make a valentine for her and one for N. He also made one for the nanny. Like I said he was way into making valentines. Lucas decorated some heart shaped cards too - for about 10 seconds. Maybe he'll be into next year.

Valentines Day celebration in class

The cards for his class

Small heart containers filled with homemade playdough for Lucas' Parent Observation valentine exchange.

For dessert I thought it would be fun to do chocolate fondue. I got this idea from a friend who did cheese/raclette fondue with her three girls last Valentines and it was a hit. It went fairly well. I had pound cake cubes, strawberries, banana slices, and marshmallows. Caleb was more into dipping the food in the chocolate and giving it to one of us rather than eating it himself. He did eat strawberries, pound cake and bananas without chocolate. Lucas ate things separately. He dipped his fondue fork in the chocolate and licked it off the fork. And then he ate some of the fruit. I had to confiscate his fondue fork in fear that he would hurt himself or someone else. Overall it was fun and a nice treat. It also was a lot more prep work than I had anticipated hence why the boys are in their pajamas eating dessert.

The spread

Dipping his fondue fork. It was taken away soon after.

A very covered chocolate marshmallow.

He kept losing his banana in the pot.

Happy Valentines Day!

Fun in the Snow

We planned a long weekend up in Tahoe with my father in law. I was very excited to take the boys up to play and have fun in the snow. We are having a very mild winter so the snow conditions were not great and to be real honest they were pretty bad.**

On Saturday we woke up late and decided to go sledding at the resort while Jamie's dad skiied. To my surprise Lucas was NOT into the snow. I'm not sure if it was because he was still feeling a little sick or having to wear all the warm clothing or being in the snow itself. We put him in the sled and he went down fine but whined to get out. He wanted me to carry him all the time in the snow. I think I got a pretty good workout carrying an extra 24 pounds while walking in the snow.

Can't sit up straight with all the snow clothing.

On the other hand, Caleb LOVED it. I must give credit to the show Caillou and the episode where he makes snow angels and goes sledding. The first thing Caleb did was lie down in the snow and make a snow angel. He enjoyed going down a sled with me and with Jamie. After some sledding we decided Lucas was in need of a nap. After an hour long nap, we met Jamie's dad for lunch and then took the boys to a nearby park.

On Sunday we went to Soda Springs to check out Planet Kids. It was a hit! This place is meant for kids under 8 with tubing, a tube carousel ride and skiing. Helmets, skis, and ski boots were included in the cost of admission so you could teach your kid to ski yourself. We opted to pay for a 1/2 hour private lesson. Caleb loved the tubing and the tube ride. When it came time for his lesson Jamie took him to get the equipment. We put him in the skis, held his hand and pulled him along. After a little while he said he was done and we said no you have a lesson. Luckily it was time for his lesson by that time. His instructor's name was Aaron. Aaron and Jamie took Caleb to the top of the hill. Jamie walked alongside Caleb his first run down the hill. Jamie had his hand on Caleb's shoulder and it looked like Caleb leaned on him for support and balance. After that first run Jamie left Caleb with Aaron. The whole lesson was Aaron trying to get Caleb to make "pizzas" and "french fries" down the hill. I lost count how many times Caleb went up and down the hill but each time it seemed like he got a little better. We were very proud of him and clapped every time he made it to the bottom. At the end I gave him a big hug and told him I was very proud of him for trying something new.

Tube carousel ride

At the top of the hill. Knees bent ready to go down.

Making a "pizza"

Lost his balance making "french fries"

Made it down the hill!

Lucas not happy/comfortable in the tube or in the snow so we gave him his pacifier.

Pulling his own tube up the hill.

**After our adventure at Soda Springs we went back to the hotel and left the boys with a babysitter so Jamie, Jamie's dad, and I could ski for a half day. On our third run, Jamie's dad fell. The fall didn't look bad but he banged himself up pretty bad. Bad enough to need a ride on a jetski gurney and a trip to the hospital. But fortunately no broken ribs or damaged organs (the on site clinic suspected spleen damage and so they had him transfer to the hospital.). Jamie's dad is one tough guy. Jamie and I had a late dinner that night.

I'm not sure when we'll come back. We may have to wait until Lucas is a bit older and not sick. I would love it if the boys learned how to ski so we could all do an outdoor activity together during the winter.

Old Sacramento

On our way to Tahoe, we stopped in Old Sacramento for lunch and also went to the California State Railroad Museum. We had no idea there was a railroad museum in Old Sacramento but once we found out we had to go. It was a great museum filled with trains. Of course Caleb LOVED it.

He loves trains!

Old Sacramento