Martha's 5!!!! (And Tom is 2y 9m!)

Even more than when we last posted, I am conscious of how fortunate our lives are. There is so much uncertainty about the future, and some really terrible events in other parts of the world, that it makes me feel ever more aware that we should live each day as if it were our last. Yet I struggle daily, at work and at home, with the urge to get many things done rather than savoring the time with my children and my students. I do not feel hopeful about the world which our children will inherit, and too often I don't relish their little lives to the fullest, but I am keenly aware that I will be immensely nostalgic for this era when it is past.


Martha enjoying a birthday party at "Pump it Up" a child party venue for the brave. Pizza and cake come after jumping.


Steam train in Tilden Park


Pooh sticks in Strawberry Creek Park, Berkeley


Neighbour Dan reads to Rowan, Tom and Martha

Martha has a solid group of friends at her preschool. Sadly, she will not be attending school with any of the core group due to the complicated (but very righteous, not to mention right-on) enrollment system in BUSD. Of course we look forward to meeting her new classmates when she enters BAM next fall. Given the parlous state of public education in California, we are just happy to know we live in a city where residents have consistently voted to pay higher taxes in order to invest in our schools.


The grand candle lighting at the 40th birthday of Carrie. Cake was millionaire's shortbread made by Adrian.


A rainy weekend visit to IKEA (Emeryville). Here we are watching "Winged Migration" (looped) on the display living room. Such facilities, which provide entertainment for the whole family on a rainy morning, are very useful and we have a list of them.


China Camp campsite. This was 12th March, so the place was empty.


Meanwhile, Martha is joining three of her classmates for preballet class at the Y and so far she LOVES it. Her other recent passion, enabled by my far-from-negligible expertise in the area, is musical soundtracks. It started when she came home singing Doe a Deer and has since spread to encompass the entirety of The Sound of Music as well as our whole family (Adrian, poor thing, had never experienced the movie before, and though he pretended to sneer he actually quite liked it). I have been busily borrowing soundtracks from the library but so far the only other hits are Mary Poppins and Oliver!. I will restrain myself from moving her on to Gilbert and Sullivan until her appreciation of musicals is solid.


Pt. Reyes trip for Carrie and Adrian alone. This is the view close to Arch Rock.



Martha and second cousin Yannik close to the Tilden Park Little Farm


On a related note, we have lately been splitting up on Saturday mornings, with Martha attending her class while Tom joins in the weekly Berkeley Bowl shopping trip. Both Adrian and I have enjoyed having the one-on-one time with the individual kids, who continue to be unreliable in their ability to play cooperatively though they are improving in this area.


Orienteering in Tilden Park. Kids did the white course, and Adrian did the Brown course - see results


A pause by Lake Anza during the orienteering


Running along the boardwalk in Tilden Park close to the Little Farm


Singing at China Camp


More singing at China Camp