Ice Skating at the park

Swim practice has been moved to the mornings for this this week and is being held at the high school.  The kids told me they like this pool better because it is warmer.  When we got there lots of steam was coming off the water.  The kids had a good practice and will swim again on Wednesday before Serafina has a break because of the surgery.  

 This afternoon we went to a nearby park that has a temporary ice rink.

 The kids had to relearn how to ice skate.

Serafina was super cautious and didn't want to fall.  

 Leo was flaying around like a loon and fell a lot.  The park had a staff member on the ice checking on people, kind of like a lifeguard, and he came over to Leo dozens of times to make sure he was okay.

 Leo claimed he was having fun and didn't care he was falling so much, but eventually he got frustrated.

 Right when we was getting upset, our friends Ana and Navid (and their mom) showed up.  That cheered Leo up and got him back on the ice.  Navid was even crazier than Leo and spent more time on his butt than on his skates.

 I think this gave Leo confidence because he started trying harder to skate correctly and got much better towards the end of our skate time.

Serafina also became more confident and skilled. 

 Here's Tom photobombing the kids' picture.  

 We all had a very fun time on the ice.

The kids want to go back, but I'm not sure if we'll get a chance to before the close down the rink.  Maybe we'll get a chance to skate in Tahoe this season.

Date night with Dead & Company

Tom gave me a pair of concert tickets for Christmas to see Dead & Company, which consists of former Grateful Dead members and a few younger musicians like John Mayer.  Nana was nice enough to babysit so Tom and I could head to the city last night.  We had a delicious vegan meal and then got in line at the concert venue.  It was right next to a festively lit city hall.

It was cold out.

We got pretty close to the stage and had to wait a while for the music to start.  We chatted with some people, including a woman who broke her left radius and had surgery just like I did many years ago.  When the music started the band sounded great - better than any of the times that I saw the original Grateful Dead in fact.  Of course, when I saw them it was towards the end of Jerry Garcia's life and he wasn't doing so hot.  John Mayer is an excellent musician who makes ridiculous faces as he plays guitar.

During the second set, our view was obscured by Bill Walton, former NBA star and big Dead head.  Very big in fact, since he stands 6 foot 11 inches.  Thankfully, the crowd shifted and I was able to get a better view for the rest of the show.

It was a very fun night out, but pretty tiring.

Merry Christmas

We had a very nice Christmas and truly broke in the kitchen over the last two days.  I was determined to make our annual butter cookies on Christmas Eve even though I had to borrow a mixer from my friend because mine is stored away a little too good still.  

 In addition to the cookies, Nana brought a tiramisu cake and some mini mocha cakes from a bakery near her apartment.  These yummy desserts ended a great meal of shrimp and sole that Tom made.

Nana went home after dessert and watching Scrooged with the kids.  The kids went to bed and didn't get up until 7:45 this morning!  It was a Christmas miracle.  I hope it happens every year.

Leo got this warm hat in his stocking.

There were lots of fun presents to open.  No new Christmas pajamas though which I realized this morning they definitely need because these ones aren't fitting very well any more.

 Serafina got a cute hat too.

 Leo got a few Lego kits, including this Eiffel Tower we built together.  He also got more snap circuits, good books and a Miposaur - a interactive robot dinosaur.

 This is Serafina's pet panda, Pom Pom.  It is also an interactive robot toy.  Not quite as sophisticated as the Miposaur, but she loves it.  It was the year of the personal robot, I suppose.  She also got lots of cute clothes and crafty items and Legos too.

 Here's Nana watching Serafina assemble a Lego ornament.  She came over in the morning and again in the late afternoon to have dinner with us.

Tonight Tom made lamb, which the kids liked, and this gorgeous lasagna.  It tasted even better than it looks.  

I've been feeling a little down this Christmas because I miss my dad.  I also feel out of sorts about Serafina's surgery just around the corner.  The kids were so happy though it cheered me up and we had a very lovely Christmas.

The spirit of the season

We have spent the last two days feeling like hostages in our own home.  The floors in the main living area and new office were receiving their final coat.  We couldn't walk on them Monday or Tuesday.  We had to enter through the side door to get into the master bedroom and stay only in the bedrooms and bathroom.  It seemed like no big deal when the builder told us about this plan, but it was actually pretty annoying.  We survived, but because we knew this part of the project was happening soon, we didn't put up our Christmas tree or any decorations really.  It has made it a little tough to get into the spirit of the season.  Of course the kids are excited about Christmas but because I haven't been able to decorate or bake or hang stockings, it hasn't felt very festive around here.  

Since our house wasn't very habitable yesterday, we got out and took care of business.  That included going to a furniture store to order a sleeper loveseat for the office.  Once it's here, we will be able to accommodate guests much better.  

While we were there, the kids tried out this automatic recliner.  It was pretty awesome.  

 In the afternoon, the kids went to swim at the high school pool which is where they are holding practices during the break.

 We spent a good amount of time a Nana's yesterday, who was very nice to host us.  Last night the kids stayed with her and today they went on a walk.  Apparently they raided her closet before leaving.  She sent me this picture during their walk.

 In the afternoon, Serafina had her pre-op appointment for her tonsil/adenoid surgery in two weeks.  The doctor is great, but I'm definitely feeling anxious about the situation.  I'm hoping for a speedy recovery and I know Nana's nursing skills will kick into action and help us too.

 Tonight we finally got a few Christmas items out.  Like these hats...

 And the tree!  Tom set it up with record speed.  Our neighbors came over for some cheese and wine and company.  We had the added bonus of the girls - Colleen and Julia - helping the kids decorate.

 We only got out two boxes of ornaments this year.

 The tree still looks nice and the kids are happy to have it up finally.

 The backsplash tile went in last week and it brings awesome life and color to the kitchen.

The cupboards and drawers still need hardware so the blue painter's tape is serving as our drawer pulls for the time being.  

It's hard to believe tomorrow is Christmas Eve.  I don't feel ready.  I am determined to make the butter cookies that are our family tradition but I may have to borrow a mixer...and measuring cups...and measuring spoons.

Holiday celebrating and Leo's dance

It was a celebratory day at the elementary school.  Here's Serafina and Sonja before school dressed up for their holiday party later in the day.  

 I did my usual volunteering in the morning - kindergarten and second grade.  After, I headed over to the preschool where my friend Kristi is a teacher and was having a holiday party with her class.  I was there to see her dad dressed up as the man in red.  Here we are with Santa Maynard.  It was the highlight of my day.

 After a brief break at home, I was back at the school, with Nana this time, to see Leo perform a dance with his class.

 The PTA funds an arts program which provides music, dance and theater classes for the students.

 They performed three dances.  Here's a clip of one of them.



Serafina's class performed yesterday but I didn't know about it until too late.  She wasn't upset that I missed it.  I've seen a lot of her dancing recently and she really prefers a big stage.  This is a little "small potatoes" for her.  Leo enjoyed the class but turned down my offer to sign him up for classes at Serafina's dance studio.

After a little break, Nana and I were back at the school for the kindergarten holiday party.

They lined up to sing us some songs.

The teacher had them start over three times.  She declared the first attempt "dreadful".  It was hilarious and awful at the same time.  

Here's one of the failed attempts.

This one was more successful.  

Then it was time for snacks.

Nana jumped in and helped pass out food and open food.  It was great because even though there were tons of parents there, most of them just stood around as you can see in this photo.

Kinder Gingerbread Houses

The kindergarten gingerbread house decorating tradition continues.  Leo did it two years ago with his reading buddy.  Today was Serafina's turn.

Here are all the "naked" houses.  

 Serafina's class has 30 kids.  I think there are about 30 third grade reading buddies.  A few kids were absent but there was still a whole lotta kids in the room.

 Serafina was excited.  I'm trying to get her to smile like a sane person but so far no luck.

 Serafina's reading buddy is her real life buddy, Ana.

 Serafina managed to get icing on her face and in her hair.

 Here's her creation.

 Another crazy face from Serafina.

This was just as exhausting as last time, but it's so fun for the kids.