Hello,

We are still trying to sort out the purpose of this blog, at the same time as we are increasingly busy and find ourselves forgetting to take photos and videos with the same avidity to which we were prone earlier in our parenting careers. Life goes on happily, and most of our family and friends are pretty well caught up on the doings of our foursome.

The notable aspect of the period since our last post (the past six months) has been how very, very busy we seem to be--without adding anything to our schedule, and despite the fact that we've thus far held out on offering/forcing Martha (or Tom) to take part in any organized activities (such as aikido, ballet, soccer/football, etc). It seems to be all we can do to get up, get to school/work, get home, get dinner, bathe (or not), read books, and get to bed. On the weekends, we vary the routine a little with a visit or two (usually with family or friends whose kids are of a similar age to ours) and a few extra errands--weekly shopping at the Bowl, laundry, maybe a spot of garden maintenance. But I find myself often echoing Virginia Woolf's musing in her journal, which first resonated with me when I read it back in college: "And with it all, how happy I am...if it weren't for my feeling it's a strip of pavement over an abyss." That sounds a bit dire but I think it's not inaccurate to sum up how I feel. In my angsty youth I think I felt it just as a psychological idea, but now I feel ever conscious of the preciousness and fleeting nature of our family life, especially in the context of our troubled political times. Not to get too heavy on you all or anything!


Camping at Mount Diablo, west of Berkeley


Mount Diablo again


Walking on a (disused) railway near Point Richmond


Running in Cesar Chavez park in the Berkeley marina

So, our last few months have been filled with daily life and with many family visits, as usual: we've been to the beach twice and hosted many Johnstons here a few times, and have visited with Grandma and Granddad Martin here and in Kent.


With the Johnstons in the garden in Berkeley


With the Johnston at Seacliff


Seacliff

We've also continued our campaign of sharing with M and T our mutual love of the outdoors, managing some hikes and one more overnight to Mt Diablo; my new year's hope is to get our four or five more times before next fall, on trips of increasing ambition. Martha is a good walker and Tom can bustle when so moved, but he's currently in the maddeningly slow phase of stopping to look at every other stone/leaf/blade of grass.

Our nightly reading routine has recently undergone an exciting evolution: it is now possible to read to both kids at once, cozily sandwiched together on the sofa, although the reading is frequently interrupted by the clamoring (and indeed clambering) of the younger child, whose attention span is still on the short side. We continue to enjoy picture books, notably the Knufflebunny series, Shirley Hughes, and Richard Scarry, although we're also trying out various chapter books with Martha.


On the plane to the UK in December. This was well after Tom was sick - everywhere. Wisely Carrie was not on this flight.


In the garden at mum&dad's


Playing Bob the Builder sticker with grandad


Way back from UK - no being sick

Martha knows all of her letters, except J and K, quite reliably, and is beginning to show an interest in sounding out words both in writing and reading. So long as she doesn't think we're trying to teach her, that is. She is more confident with numbers and likes to do sums whenever the opportunity arises (though she doesn't recognize the numbers from 5 till 9!). She is a good runner and confident on her scooter and bike (with training wheels). However, she is easily frustrated and averse to trying things she doesn't think she can do well. We are struggling with this!


With Carole

Thomas can count to 10 and he loves to do so before jumping off of something, often something so high that he has to fall a bit after landing. He is the picture of rambunctiousness but also very tender and cuddly. Tom is in the stage, which we remember from Martha a few years ago, when he retells certain stories ad infinitum...whenever there's a lull in the conversation, and often apropos of nothing. In current rotation are the tales of "I was sick on Daddy on the airplane" and "I saw a fox...at Uncle Tim's!"


Making things for Halloween with Noah

Since Tom is such a precocious climber we have had to take apart the bunk beds; now the kids are both in single beds in their room and it really gives a taste of their unfolding future as chatting, feuding siblings--people together, as opposed to babies always in our care. Since Tom left his crib, they frequently wake up in the morning and spend up to half an hour quietly (or not so) talking, playing, and quarreling before coming to seek us out.



The kids are currently attending a local preschool, The Model School, which they really enjoy; they come home full of stories and go to sleep VERY easily after their hard days of structured play, circle time, etc. Next year, Martha will be in kindergarten, and we're currently in the process of learning about the Berkeley schools. I am excited about all of the options, but not sure how we're going to manage when we have to drop the kids at two different places. But that's a quandary for another post!



Tom Eats dinner, December 2010