Friends: Old and New

Today I was missing Sacramento friends.  Having been at The Harvest Carnival at Ninos Park for the last twelve consecutive years, it felt really strange to be missing the thirteenth installment of that special event today.

Had I not just been at The GreenHouse on Thursday, delivering some donated couches for the new Clubhouse, I probably would have been there today.  But, it was too much for me to do that drive again today.  And actually, I'm thinking that it all worked out the way it was supposed to:  Me with my family in my new town, continuing to plant roots here and nurture new relationships;  The GreenHouse, growing strong on its own, developing new routines, carrying on community traditions.  (Though, I'm not gonna lie. It was hard for me to not be there today.  I would have loved to have said hello to all of the parents and given squeezes to all of the kids.).   

In spite of some sadness over missing friends from The GreenHouse today, I was moved with gratitude for the new friendships that are being formed here in Oakland.  One very special friendship that is growing is between Riley and his buddy from school Jaelyn.  They both love each other to pieces.   We caught them sharing a chair, arms around each other, after their soccer game today.  Sneaky Nicolas photo-bombed the picture, but I still love it and all that it says about how far we've come this past year. 

 
They couldn't have known how much my heart needed this moment today! 

Camp Stratton - Week Three (4th of July)

The biggest highlight from Week Three of Camp Stratton was going camping with friends on the 4th of July at China Camp State Park.  The boys were in heaven: dirt, sand, water, lizards, s'mores, scary stories, campfire, and excellent friends.  What more could you ask for?  Minus slipping on a rock and falling hard on my bum (and therefore bruising my tailbone for the next 3 weeks), I had a pretty terrific time, too! 

Pics courtesy of the fabulous DeAnna Gallardo   

 

 

 

 

Last Day of School

It's so hard to believe that the school year is already over.  It seems like just yesterday, the boys were starting Summer Orientation at Urban Montessori Charter School and we were frantically still trying to find a place to live so that we could be in Oakland for the start of school (two weeks later!)

First day of Summer Orientation at Urban Montessori - August 2012
This was taken on the porch of the Milheims, friends of friends who had never even met us but let us stay at their home for a week while they were on vacation.  We were thankful for a place to stay so the boys could attend 3 days of orientation and we could keep looking for places to live.  

Last day of school, taken on our front porch, the house we moved into three days after school started.  It was a wild and crazy school year, filled many ups and downs but we made it! 

Poor Jonah...after switching classrooms mid-year, his new teacher AND his new, beloved assistant teacher both resigned mid-year for various reasons, leaving the class with no teachers and no opportunities for closure.  They finished out the year with substitutes.  Really rough year for Jonah.  I don't even want to include the picture I took of him on the last day of school with the substitutes.  It's just too depressing!

On the other hand, Nicolas and Riley had a wonderful year in which they learned to read, write, add, subtract, multiply, and so much more.  They drew dozens of maps, learned about all of the continents and can name more countries in the world than I can.  Best of all, they formed a wonderful classroom community and made a ton of special new friends who they will get to be with again next year.

Riley and Nicolas on the last day of school with their super amazing teacher, Ms. Jen.  

We celebrated the last day of school with a special treat!  That afternoon, our old neighbors from across the street in Sacramento, came down to Oakland to go to the A's game with us.  It was the perfect way to kick-off summer vacation.

Jonah with one of his favorite people on the planet, Robbie.  These two grew up together and spent nearly every day with one another when we lived in Sacramento.  Jonah misses Robbie very, very much and was so happy to be at the A's game with his buddy!  

The crew, reunited!  They really wanted to catch a fly ball, but no such luck. 

 We went on a special Superhero Fireworks Night so when the game was over, we got to go down onto the field to watch the fireworks - super fun to be on the nice grass of the outfield!

It was pretty late by this time but rather than getting sleepy, Jonah got more and more hyper.  He was dancing around, being a goofball, and keeping everyone entertained while we waited for fireworks.  

Really fun family night and a great kick-off to summer!

The very next morning, Riley woke-up, went to the couch and starting reading the book that his teacher had given to him as a gift on the last day of school.  I think that's the sign of a good kindergarten year.  

First and third grade here we come!

December Was...

YiaYia's birthday lunch & snuggles with our cousin

Steve's work party in SF - a date night with dressing up!

Celebrating a very special friend with pedis and great conversation

Selecting just the right tree..

...from the oh-so-scenic Home Depot

Serving alongside women I love at the Melvin's Hope Christmas Store

Acting out the story of Christ's birth, as a donkey....

...and wise kings

Singing shoulder-to-shoulder with diverse groups of people at The GreenHouse

Relaxing in the evenings by our pretty tree

 Taking care of the class pet over the break (Jake the White Tree Frog)

Christmas Eve service at First Pres Berkeley with Grandpa

Opening matching jammies on Christmas Eve






Poses with favorite gifts
 (a stuffed penguin?! this from the kid who last year wanted a talking parrot and a "shaking-booty santa")

A trip to the Zoo with friends

Building new LEGO sets

Feeling proud of completed projects

Giving away $30,000 worth of UGG boots to the cutest kids on the planet

What a lot of fun we had!    

Thanksgiving Week

Dang it.  There goes another month.  Just when I thought I was going to start blogging more regularly.  Fail.  Again.   

I may or may not ever finish up my "rewind" posts from the summer (I hope I do, there are some fun memories in there).  I may or may not get around to writing about the massive transition that we've recently undergone and what it's like to adjust to life in a completely new environment.  And, who knows if I'll find the time and space to reflect on what it feels like to be in limbo at The GreenHouse.  These are all posts that would very likely appear if I had unlimited, distraction-free time with a computer.  

In the meantime, here's a photo recap of our Thanksgiving week.  It was really a wonderful week.  The boys were off school all week and we had some of the best family times we've had in a long time.  I hope your week was filled with points of joy, too.

Impromptu visit from Colin and Clare on their way to SF

S'mores on the kitchen island!

Encouraging GreenHouse youth as they make a presentation

Letters to Santa

Bowling with Grandpa

Hours of LEGO building

Thanksgiving Feast at our house with Nana

Sausalito with Papa

Catching up with my lil sister Emily (and Dave) in San Mateo

 Throw in 2 fun kid birthday parties, a family puzzle, and a quick visit from the Lindners (no pics of any of those things) and that about sums up our week.  So much to be thankful for.  Including all of you.