Discoveries

We discovered a state park with a swimming hole, dressed up like a beach, just 30 minutes from our house. Everyone had so much fun playing in the water, even I had to roll up my jeans and get my feet wet.
***credit to AuraJoon for sharing her inspiring photos and animated pictures on her blog, and the secret of how to make them***

Noe discovered the joys of the sitting in the cool sand (because there is no warm sand in northern CA). She also discovered her feet! Once she realized those toes belonged to her, she didn't want to let go.

Even seasoned beach goers were full of discovery.

Free

Feeding my obsession

Or as my mom corrected, "FEETING my obsession." Ha! I LOVE my new maroon sequence TOMs!!

And thanks to Grandma for getting Ronnie and Lila silver sparkle ones. I guess we will spare Ben and Noe for now.

Summer treats

Yogurtland is my favorite treat, conveniently located between my office and the parking lot. But I suppose I should take the kids with me every now and then.

And of course it really has nothing to do with summer. It's a year-round indulgence!

Extreme Toddlers

This is what you get when you go to a three year old's birthday party whose father did high altitude rescue in the Himalayas.

Fun with Feathers

Ever since Ronnie got her feathers, I have been noticing them everywhere! I couldn't help buying a big bag of feathers to play with, all different colors and sizes.

Here was my first creation - sterling silver and chicken earrings.



Yes, it seems all of the feathers people are wearing these days are chicken feathers. Doesn't sound as exotic as peacock. But I love the way the feathers are so light (as in they don't weigh much), and blend in with your own hair, or feathers, if you are a chicken wearing feather earrings.

And don't forget to enter the Under Her Charm give away!

Give away!

Look down two posts! You can win the Lucky Mom necklace HERE

Seriously?

I'm not a huge complainer (well, don't ask Edwin or my mom). But really, I don't complain a lot, but this is ridiculous. Ronnie and Ben's camp is in a school in the Berkeley Hills. When I get there in the morning, I am faced with this.

Sixty-two steps, of which I need to get Ronnie, Ben, Lila and Noe to the top of, without any casualties. It only gets worse at the end of the day, when I rush to the top with Noe and Lila to get there in time. With everyone exhausted and holding handfuls of projects, lanyards and pipe cleaners, I can't believe we have made it 3 weeks without anyone toppling down.

It is a great camp and Ronnie and Ben are having fun doing science and art. Today was crazy hair day and Ronnie was crazy cute... not sure if that falls into the science or art category.

Ben was too self-conscious of his spiky hair and laid it totally flat before we reached stair 14. Then put on a hat to be sure.

Don't forget to enter the Under Her Charm give away! Just look down one post.

Under Her Charm Give Away!

Most moms I know would consider themselves pretty lucky, so I'm going to give away this "LUCKY MOM" necklace. This necklace features a 15mm gold rimmed sterling disc stamped with LUCKY MOM. It is accompanied by a swarovski crystal and gold vermeil lotus.

HOW TO WIN: Become a follower of this blog, if you are not already. Leave a comment on THIS post about why you are lucky (lucky in love? work? vegas?). Giveaway ends July 31st, and I will use a random number generator to pick the winner on August 1st. I will announce the winner on August 1st, and let you know how to contact me to get your necklace!

Shaken out of bed

This poor little guy was shaken right out of his nest Friday night. There was an earthquake in Berkeley, and I guess mama bird couldn't hold on quite tight enough.

The nest is right above the stairs that lead up to our front door. We've seen mama bird for a few weeks.

Edwin was shaken out of bed, too, but I slept right through it, and so did our little chicks.

Whew, that picture on the right reminds me of something Tim Robbins would have seen in Jacob's Ladder. Now that was a spooky movie. Anyone? Jacob's Ladder? So good!! I saw it twenty years ago and it still gives me nightmares...

Four of a Kind Friday!

Faithful Josh.

He has been a part of the family for fifteen years (he was a package deal with Grandpa Terry), living in Houston with Grandpa Terry and Grandma. The kids love him, and I think the feeling is mutual. Whenever we visit, Josh is right by them, especially when we go for walks.

Here is Josh walking along side Ronnie, Ben, Lila and Noe over a span of about seven years, during each of their first walks with Grandma in her blue stroller.



I think the kids help keep Josh (and Grandpa Terry) young!

Fun new necklaces, mixed metal

This morning I went back to an early morning pilates class (after a year!). The logistics of getting everyone to camp/day care an hour earlier is a nightmare. It means an hour less sleep for me, waking up very sleepy children, and, with Edwin's help, rushing like madmen. It was SO worth it! I love that I always seem to park in the same parking space, where someone has written this nice little message on the wall.


I don't know why, but for some reason it helps.

These new necklaces are now in my etsy shop. They are all mixed metal, with sterling silver and gold vermeil.

Gold vermeil is a heavy gold plating, 24K, over sterling silver. It is a gem quality plating that is 40 micro inches thick with a fine layer of nickel over the silver. The plate is very reliable, with a soft satin finish.

Newest little model

Noe made the perfect little model for this new sterling silver baby cuff.

The cuteness is out of control.

We'll be back

We left Texas yesterday, and we are back home in California. In honor of our trip. . .

Find it in my etsy shop, of course!

Sunrise, sunset

How in the world did THIS happen?

This was Ronnie (right) and her friend yesterday (if yesterday was 7 years ago).

Here they are today (if today was 10 hours ago).

In case you didn't see, they got feathers today. Ronnie picked pink and turquoise.

Maybe Ronnie's mom also got a feather. A well hidden pink one :).

See ya.

Mmmm...

Seriously.

My favorite Texas bbq - Pappas.

Childhood memories

I grew up going to Miller Outdoor Theater, sitting on the big hill to watch free performances and having picnics. Yesterday we took the kids to see the Houston Symphony and watch fireworks. They were playing the 1812 overture, complete with real cannon blasts at the end. Edwin had been watching it with them for weeks on the computer, telling them the story of the French and Russians.

Everyone loved it, especially the fireworks.

The previous two fourth of Julys, we sat huddled under layers of blankets with whipping winds watching fireworks through the fog at the Berkeley Marina. Although, after standing through the Bellaire parade in 100 degree heat yesterday, I'm torn which has harsher fourth of July weather, Berkeley or Houston.

One special little girl got to ride with her grandmother in the Tradition Bank car at the parade!

Land of Abundance, part deux

Still in Houston.

Still enjoying an abundance of:

space
family
bbq
H-O-T (yes, I meant to say an abundance of H-O-T)
free babysitting
shopping
love and kisses

Noe bonded with her Great Grandma Omi at the "meet and greet" that Granny had for Noe and cousin Zachary today. Noe is meeting Omi for the first time on this trip, and she was SO comfortable in her arms all afternoon. Hopefully Omi's arms weren't too UNcomfortable!

And thanks, Granny, for the beautiful afternoon.

Land of Abundance

Perfect title, being that we are in Houston this week.

I just got these tiny pomegranate charms from Israel. I stamped this one with AHAVA (love in Hebrew). The pomegranate fruit (rimon in Hebrew), with its abundance of juicy seeds, has been regarded as a symbol of fertility for thousands of years.

It reminds me of when I was in Tzfat and I got fresh pressed pomegranate juice. That was some fibrous-y juice.

Speaking of abundance, here is my newest cluster necklace, that I have been wearing for weeks now. I've got a letter or disc for everyone in my family, each with its own style and personality.

I was very proud of my seasoned travelers on the flight to Houston yesterday. Ronnie handled herself so well when she set off the airport scanner 5 times and had all sorts of airport security surrounding her, all for a thin bangle she's been wearing for a year! She's been wearing it for a year because it won't fit over her hand any more. Edwin was not aware of that little fact, and quickly MADE it fit over her hand so we could clear security. She was a trouper, such a mature seven year old.