Weekend Fun

My dad is off this weekend in Canton, NY for the Van de Water family reunion. From all reports, they are having lots of fun, with talent shows, foot races and euchre tournaments. Since my mom and I couldn't go, we have been keeping ourselves busy around here. I learned to make a cake! Here I am stirring the flour before carefully mixing it into the rest of the ingredients. I also had a chance to read some good books to my dolls.Looks like only one of them has fallen asleep - I think I might be a natural at this teaching thing.

H...O...T... HOT!

Global warming has come to Oakland. Record temperatures the past 2 days (high 90s with no relief at night) have left us feeling sluggishand contemplative. That is, with the exception of the occasional game of sharks, fishies and tickle monsters. Thanks Anne, Dave, Kelsey and Jeremy for inviting us to the fun at your pool!

North to Arcata

Last weekend, we drove up to Arcata to see Uncle Corey's beautifully renovated coffeeshop Muddy's Hot Cup of Northtown,

to taste the "baby au lait" (steamed milk), and to go to Ro-Ro's 10th birthday party, complete with enormous inflatable slip-n-slide. In celebration of our arrival, Arcata brought worm composting to the farmer's market and threw a big party: the Arcata Bay Oyster FestivalThanks Uncle Corey and Ro-Ro for showing us the sights and Papa and Debbie for driving me up!

Happy Fathers Day!

My dad is always lots of fun. For example, this weekend, we decided to learn how to play the guitar together. Here he is giving me some tips about how to hold it. After I heard him play though, I thought there must be some other way!This afternoon, as a special treat, I took him on a solar powered carousel. I was a little bit nervous about riding around and around on a swan, but with my dada I always know I have someone to hold onto.

Happy Fathers Day! I love you Dada!

Chickens on Walker Ave

During our block party on Sunday, Esperanza let us kids see the baby chicks she's raising in her backyard. I got to pet one, and "Fee-ya" got to squeeze... er... HOLD one.

4th Annual Block Party

Today was our annual block party where we close off the street, invite all the neighbors, and eat lots of good food. This year, the big hit was the arrival of Oakland Fire Engine #10 and four of Oakland's finest who let us climb in, on,and all around the truck. It was pretty awesome.

It wasn't all silly faces over Memorial Day weekend.

We also walked to the park on Lake Merritt, went to the farmer's market and slid down the inflatable slideturned into fairy princesses at Fairyland and played among the mushrooms,

learned to use chopsticks at Little Shin Shin, ate lots of yummy food (like blueberries!), and did some more sliding at Dracena Park.Thanks for coming out to Oakland everyone, we all had a great time!

Omma, Pop, Julie, Chris, Courtie & Lily came for a visit this weekend. We had a lot of fun.

Counting in Swahili

If you thought counting to ten in English was pretty good, check me out counting to ten in Swahili!

LEGEND:
1 = Moja
2 = Mbili
3 = Tatu
4 = Nne
5 = Tano
6 = Sita
7 = Saba
8 = Nane
9 = Tisa
10 = Kumi

Thanks Josephine!

M&D's Anniversary in Yosemite

Tomorrow is Mom and Dad's 3rd anniversary

so we went up to Yosemite to celebrate this past weekend.We stayed in one of the Redwoods in Yosemite cabins near Wawona where we could hike to lower Chilnualna Falls,enjoy the all-you-can-eat BBQ on the Wawona lawn,

and quickly get into the Valley for some funin the sun on the Ahwahnee lawn.