Gilroy Christmas

Christmas part 1 took place the weekend before Christmas in Gilroy. Perhaps the best present I received was my mother in law calling to see if she could come pick up the kids Friday late morning and take them home with her...which meant I had almost an entire day to myself. I believe this is the first time this happened for me. The other times the kids weren't with me, I was really sick with pneumonia or heading out of town. I had an amazing time. I did most of my xmas shopping on Main street, organized the kids' closet, caught up with old friends, read, rested, and had a wonderful dinner out with Adam. Crazy thing is I missed them so much the whole time. Saturday after teaching we drove to Gilroy to celebrate our first round of xmas. We packed a lot into a short amount of time, and everyone had a great time.

Friday night Pam and Mike braved the weather and took the kids to Gilroy Gardens for their nights of lights event. I think they were pretty much the only ones there...which was fine with Charlie...

They were able to drive the cars over and over and enjoy a nice train ride in the dark

How cute!

Saturday night we had our own little xmas, and the kids scored clothes, books, pajamas, a movie, and nice toy each. Kate was excited to get a jessie doll (don't tell Kate but Jessie must have escaped to Sunny Side....I honestly can't find her anywhere....I am sure she will turn up when/if we move this month.)

Charlie is all about Star Wars these days (despite the fact that he has never seen any of the movies), so he was stoked to get a new light sabor.

The kids helped me make Mike gingersnaps and Charlie was proud to give them to his Papa.

Dancing is a big part of our family life, we pretty much have dance parties every evening. Both kids have some amazing moves and lately Charlie has really focused on his break dancing moves. I was pleased when they both danced for Pam and Mike, I was afraid they would be too shy. This picture doesn't do the dancing justice, I have a video that I will post soon.
Kate scored some new tights, which I am just as happy about as she is...it is nice to have more than 2 pairs in her drawer....

Charlie is the best gift giver, he comes up with an idea all on his own, and they are thoughtful and sweet. He picked out a star wars book for Adam, and some yarn for me.

The kids had fun making snickerdoodles...

And Adam brought his collection of chanterelles and porcinis and made a delicious cream of mushroom soup

Everyone enjoyed the soup, even the kids....although they were tired and pretty much ready for bed.

Sunday morning we went to Monterey and visited Adam's grandparents. We took a fun hike in the wet forest, all of us searching for mushrooms throughout the whole hike. Sorry about the sideways pic, can't figure out how to turn them.

It makes me forever proud that my kids can frolick for hours in the cold and rainy forest without a single complaint.

We had fun visiting Nonnie Doreen and Grandma and Grandpa Underwood, the kids did their best to stay quiet and not too wild in the quiet areas....something they aren't great at, especially on rainy days...

December Outdoor Adventures

Despite the chilly and rainy December we have been determined to get out of the house everyday for hours on end. Something about no preschool, no swimming, no tennis class, and no breaks for me in the form of work....made 12 hours seem like very long days. Spending a good portion of each day outside made for happy kids and a more relaxed mommy.

One of our favorite holiday traditions is going to a tree farm and finding the perfect tree. This is something I always did with my family growing up, and it means a lot to be able to do it with Adam, Kate, and Charlie. As you all know the kids are in their element in forests, and they had a great time running around searching for this year's perfect tree....

Charlie, being the serious working boy that he is, jumped right in to help cut our small but wonderful tree down.

Kate monitored the whole thing. Our quest for the prettiest and smelliest tree was in no way met this year. Although he have still not managed to find a good looking tree that smells like the ugly trees we had growing up, we sure enjoyed our tree this year.

We continued to visit our most happiest place on Earth, the discovery museum in Sausalito. We spend hours and hours exploring, discovering, and playing. And after every trip I walk back to the car with the biggest smile on my face. K and C are thoughtful, great listeners, polite, energetic, sweet, creative, and just all around amazing the entire time we are there. This month we have made a few trips to the harbor to pick up some fresh crab for dinner. After over 2 years of going to the discovery museum at least once a month, they finally discovered this crab fishing thing. They played together for about 3o minutes pretending to be the fishermen/women.

Mr. Athletic started to really get the hang of hoola hooping....

And after watching him focus on this amazing Magna tiles for another 30 minutes, I rushed home and asked my mom to get the kids a set for xmas. They are pricey, but honestly one of the best toys ever. We have all enjoyed building with them ever since xmas.

We have continued to explore our nearby beaches despite rainy weather....this one afternoon no one was around and the kids and Lily sprinted down this beach from Popular to Kelly.

An hour later we surfaced quite far from our house and had to make the long trek home. We were wet, tired, hungry...and then it started to rain. Kate started to lag behind and when I turned around the check on her this is what she was doing....while walking

I asked her what she was doing and she replied: "I thirsty Mommy!"

We have also been enjoying long, muddy bike rides to the nearby forests. Not sure how much longer I will be able to bike along side them, especially on the long way home where you can see me biking, Kate in the front seat and me carrying her bike while trying to hold lily's leash. At least I used xmas gift cards to buy a helmet for when this scenario leads to a crash.

Kate has become quite the balance bike speedster. Her quads and butt are so muscular from all that pushing...

Adam and I have also been switching off taking the kids to the harbor with Lily. They love to dig holes and build castles by the waters edge because they sand is saturated with water and every hole dug fills in fast with water...

This month we have had our share of sibling bickering and battles. There have been times where I wonder why my kids are so wild and won't follow directions. Times were voices are raised and tears were flowing. But for the most part we have had moments like this picture or moments like what has been going on in our living room the past 1.5 hours. While I have been pressure cooking beans for our slow-cooked chili, doing dishes, and working on this blog the kids have played together nonstop. The living room has become an ocean, the cushions their boats, stuffed animals and dolls their friends....their imaginations soaring, laughter and conversation flowing between two siblings that are truly best friends. And in moments like these I know Adam and I have done something right.

December: Baking

Winter is a hard time to be pregnant. With all the baking, friends bringing over gifts of cookies and breads, and desserts to be had, how can one formally fit girl stay that way while also growing another child.
Throw in many rainy and cold days and you get lots of baking.

One morning while working out at FIT I got the idea of making a gingerbread house from scratch, so not my normal cup of tea. I swear the most random things pop into my mind while spinning or lifting weights.
I picked the kids up from the gym childcare and whisked them off to new leaf. They were all smiles when I explained our project for the day, and the copious amounts of candy we would need to buy from the bulk section. They were on board and eager to help.

After making the dough, letting it chill, rolling it out, letting it chill, cutting out the shapes, baking them, letting them cool, making the frosting and carefully attaching each part, waiting for it to dry and solidify, and then attaching the roof, and finally "decorating" it, I was practically in tears and definitely dropping F bombs left and right (something I have until that point in my mothering life drastically cut down on)
In fact Charlie actually said to me: "So mommy...when you make gingerbread houses it is ok to use the f*$% word.
All in all it was a day long project that the kids LOVED, I grew to hate....

Charlie looks so big in this pic....

Kate, well Kate is Kate...really feeling the flow of the dough

Until it was fully consumed Charlie would say, "Mommy I love your beautiful gingerbread house" every time he saw it, which was all day long. E

We also made the most delicious cookies ever. Peppermint bark Chocolate....YUM!

We made the traditional Christmas cookies, and as always the kids were focused, had fun, and did a great job!

We are officially on a sugar detox in this family. Charlie wakes up every morning and cries: We haven't had candy or cookies in so long.....actually sweetie we are just finishing up our first full week of no crap. From now on it is healthy scones, granola bars, and muffins....with all the baking and testing I have done this month it is a miracle I am still in my everyday clothes and haven't hit up the pile of maternity pants donated to me

The things they say...

Situation 1:

Adam was talking to Charlie about his upcoming trip to Nonnie's house. Adam said to Charlie that he might get to see Santa at Gilroy Gardens.

Charlie: "I like that Jolly Old Elf!"

Situation 2:

We have been taking night walks a few times a week. The kids and I get bundled up and walk into the cold, rainy night. We leave Adam at home cuddled up to his ipad. Every time we venture into the night I hear things like: "Mommy, we are so lucky...most people are sleeping, but here we are walking outside!" Of course it is 6:30 but I nod...yes honey you are so lucky because most people are already in bed. Two nights ago we were walking admiring all the xmas lights and we came across a strange large santa...very large. I said, "Hmmm Santa looks wierd."

Kate: "Don't worry mommy. He is just a big dude."

Next one:

A few weeks ago my dad injured his back attempting to break up a fight at the ranch (where he works). He was telling me the entire story and at the end Kate said, "Pa...did you get your gun and shoot them?" I guess you had to be there. My dad works at a rehabilitation facility for troubled men....but he does not carry a gun. We got a good laugh.

Next one:

Charlie; "Hey daddy...Fuck and Duck rhyme."

Adam: Taking a deep breath and trying hard not to break into a laugh "Yes, charlie they do rhyme, can you find another work that rhymes with duck..."

They say the most incredibly funny things daily, but my mind isn't as sharp as it usually is. I forget everything lately....which is a shame....

Random Ramblings

I think things are good now. For the most part. I knew I would get through the last few months, and that as my energy and health came back so would my patience and usually positive attitude.
I'm 16 weeks and love this new little baby floating around inside me...I still feel tired and sick to my stomach, but am getting so much better.
How I survived the past 10 weeks, kept my family fed, house clean (kind of) and kids happy and out of trouble, and managed to take on a new job...is beyond me. I really did wake up and dread each day. On top of it my mom got a brand new puppy. An adorable, well-behaved chocolate lab....but still a puppy with sharp teeth. So sending my kids downstairs in times of need became tricky. And playing in the backyard became almost impossible. This baby better be amazing in every way, because puking up to 8 times a day with two young kids sucked. The fridge became my worst enemy. I could be sitting on the couch and someone would open the fridge and the smell would send me racing to the toilet. On top of that all Charlie had a very very difficult month or so. Tantrums, incredibly sensitive, attitude, you name it...he had it. Now looking back I realize that he was probably picking up on being inside more, and seeing his normally happy mommy not looking so good.
I tried to tell myself it was all a stage, and deep inside I knew that everything I was feeling and going through was temporary, but in the day to day living...that advice doesn't help. I felt out of control. Emotional. Tired. Lost. And sad that my normally sweet son was slipping away.
The good news is that we are coming out on the other side. I have more and more energy. Haven't thrown up for 5 days, and Charlie is back to his charismatic, sweet, funny, lovable self.
I am really proud of him. Of the way he can make a mistake and apologize on his own, how he can think of solutions to make something better, how he can come up to me and give me a hug asking to "make up"
And I am proud of Adam and myself. We were at a total loss, and I started to find myself trying to put him in his room, threatening to take toys away, yelling, and crying. That is not me, and not the way I want to parent. I was able to step back after a week of trying these more conventional methods of discipline and realize that they didn't work with my son. I needed to have empathy, compassion, patience. I needed to overlook the little behaviors, but draw the line in the sand for the more offensive behaviors. Who knows why or how things went back to normal. All I know is that I am happy my connection to my son has returned. I adore him and all his incredibly cute and cool mannerisms.
And he has been sleeping all night alone in his bed. Just waking up once to pee and asking for a quick kiss and hug in the night.
It is good to be sleeping in my own bed all night.
And Kate. Wow, what a character.
Still sporting tights and boots with a great smile. She actually has added a new layer to her look, her swimsuit on top of her tights. sweet. Today before her nap she said over and over again: "You think I am going to nap?......."NO" with as much sauciness as anyone can ever have.
Her bangs are growing, and I just love watching her push her hair back. Still won't let us comb it or style it. but hey it is growing.
She loves Lily and Henry as much as a little girl can love anything. She cherishes her "special time" with me while Charlie is at nursery school, and truly there is no one I would rather sit down and play with than my sweet Kate.
She yells at the universe (or one of us) but quickly says, "I'm yorry" and moves right on. She says things like, "good night poppy head pa" And I love her for it. She insists on doing everything herself, even if it takes her 10 good minutes to get into her carseat and buckle herself in.
She can't wait to be a big sister but tells me everyday that she is still a baby. She has made her way back into our bed all night every night, and I love it. I snuggle up to her all night and don't mind because I know in just a few more months she won't be my baby anymore.
She reads for hours a day, either in some weird language, and a pretty accurate retelling of a book. And this little girl loves her dolls.
Every morning I lay in bed until 7 or 730 with these two incredible kids. We snuggle, giggle, talk about our dreams, the day ahead of us. We sing, play tickle fights, and just wake up together. This morning I looked at both of their beautiful faces and felt overwhelmed with love for them. I felt so excited for welcoming another baby Berkowitz into this family. What a lucky baby to be born and right away have two creative, sweet, fun siblings.
I hope to recharge my camera and capture some shots of my kids...afterall it has been over a month since I have snapped a non-phone pics.
Hope everyone is doing well!

Halloween carving

The kids really enjoyed carving a pumpkin this year. Like all their little jobs they do, they took it very seriously and watched Adam very carefully until it was their turn to participate.

First we went outside to pick out our perfect pumpkin. We played at 5 different pumpkin farms in the past month and therefore had quite a few pumpkins to choose from. Charlie grabbed the biggest one down by the strawberry bale and carried it up the stairs to the front door all by himself.

First the carving team talked about what kind of pumpkin they wanted to create. Of course Kate insisted on a "happy pumpkin" while Charlie really wanted a "scary one". Adam was the deciding vote.

I love how Charlie's arm is wrapped around Adam's, so sweet.

After the top was cut off both Kate and Char took turns taking out the guts. Charlie was successful on his first attempt....

Kate on the other hand had a bit of a harder time...

After failing at grabbing the guts, she looked at me for a little support.

Then decided to stand up and give it another try...

And came up with a tiny amount of pumpkin innards...from then on we gave Kate the job of separating pumpkin seeds, and Charlie the job of digging out the pumpkin.

The finished product:

I love this time of year....

As you know dress up is a huge pass time at our house. The kids dress up everyday, so actually choosing one thing to be for the Halloween parade at Los Ninos and the actual night of trick or treating was hard, and there was quite a lot of last minute sharing going on.

First up: Los Ninos Parade. The morning of Kate's nursery school day she was undecided on what to be. She put on her lion costume, no go. We tried her fairy princess super girl outfit, no such luck. It was no surprise to us since getting her dressed any ordinary day is difficult. Finally, Charlie suggested she borrow his batman costume, and her face lit up! She was the most adorable bat girl I have ever seen.

Kate's nursery school class is small and cute. There are 7 kids total and everyone is 3, except Kate. She has been dropping off and picking up Charlie for a full year, and so walks around like she owns the place. All of her teachers got a kick out of her costume....because the other girls were princesses, a cat, and a pumpkin. Kate was the only super hero in the bunch, obviously because she has an older brother.

The tradition at LN is to have a small party (snack time with costumes on) and then walk around the wonderful yard in the halloween parade.

Here are the cuties getting ready!

Batgirl's brother and dad getting ready to cheer her on. (love that adam works so close to our lives that he can steal away for a few minutes for these types of things)

Maybe the helicopter and dragon are intimidated by the strong batgirl in between them?

She took this parade thing very seriously, allowing stoping once to flex her muscles..

So slow that she is getting lapped, but hey when you are on the look out for crime you have to be thorough.

Friday afternoon it was Charlie's turn to have his Halloween parade. The class is 3 times bigger... can you find him?

Like Kate he took his job seriously. The other kids were being silly, falling over, running...Charlie just kept on marching with a straight face.

Charlie and his best buds Ian and Basel. Personally I like the shot of them all in snow white costumes better....

The kids had great fun cheering each other on, and I was so proud of Charlie for thinking to offer Kate his costume and for sharing it. These nursery school parades were part 1 of celebrations.