Tag Archives: oakland

December 2023

So much happens in December. We made crafts and knitted, made spiced nuts and carefully wrapped gifts. We ice skated and ate meals with friends and family and had so much fun that I did not take any pictures at all. Still, I am so glad that I continue to share a few photos here to help me remember. And I know this is true at the end of every month but somehow at the years end I really want to hold it all and not let it go. This blog has preserved the sweetest moments for me to look back on. It is my heart on the internet. Thank you for visiting.

We brought Hugo, our Norfolk Pine inside and decorated our apartment for Christmas.

We attended a concert at the Paramount called “Let Us Break Bread” that honored Tina Turner. It was a lot of fun and totally worth it even in our top floor balcony seats.

We flew to Los Angeles to visit family.

Emma and Grandpa. We stay in Grandpa’s living room and watch old movies with him every day.

There were many old photo albums to look at and I snapped so many photos of my Mom. I still wear her blue shirt. 🙂

We had a wonderful time with family, delivering and opening presents and sipping prosecco (me) at the huge Christmas Eve party. Lots of sweets, yummy food and good conversation.


Stocking treats for me.


Here is Emma sporting a new shirt and jewelry and eating blueberries on Christmas day. Such a lucky kid.

After Christmas we are eager to return home to maiki.

We walked around the lake and visited the library in Chinatown.

Spent the last day of the year in Dimond park by Sausal creek with friends.

photos from November


Walk on the first night of the autumn equinox.


Emma made a bonsai presentation for her charter school’s gathering of learners.


We took a family trip to the Monterey bay. It was so beautiful! This is in Santa Cruz (more photos to come!)


We visited Claude at the Academy of Sciences on thanksgiving day.


Our baby is getting so tall!



We went to Ardenwood farms with our charter school friends. Not much was happening that day but it was blessedly silent.

Puppet Fair at Children’s Fairyland

We recently visited Children’s Fairyland for a Puppet showcase. It was an amazing day and the perfect opportunity to return to a favorite place. The line up of puppet shows was so wonderful and we also saw the children’s theater perform. Emma is now interested in joining them!

We watched the “Three Dinosaurs Gruff” performed by Randal Metz of The Puppet Company, “Jack and the Beanstalk” performed by the Children’s Theater, “The Frog Prince” performed by Fratello Marionettes, “It Could Always Be Worse” performed by Children’s Fairyland and A Bob Baker Marionette variety show.

“The Frog Prince” was the highlight of the day. maiki snapped a picture of me with the frog on my head. 🙂

There were many puppets presented from the archives. This is the dragon from “The Dragon Who Wasn’t.”

Kreepie & Batty are from “Tricks N’ Treats” which is my favorite puppet show from all the years visiting Fairyland. It is halloween themed and so funny and well written. We watched it for one season when Emma was small and have quoted it ever since.

Our last visit to Fairyland was for Halloween before the pandemic began. Emma Clover was already too tall to go on the carousel. We feared it may be the last time inside our neighborhood haunt with our maturing child.

Emma Clover was ecstatic to be back inside the park and raced around showing me her favorite details.

summer adventuring

Summer vacation so far has been action packed. We began with our L.A. trip and that was so special. Our family hiked in the redwoods and took trips to San Francisco for the Cal Acamedy of Sciences and Japantown. Next Emma had a three week stint at A.C.E. camp (half day) with Hacienda Peralta. The 4th was spent watching the Oakland Municipal Band in Lakeside park. We visited the Alameda County fair and Emma has swim lessons for all of July!

The next month will hopefully include some warm weather for free swim, homeschooler park days and a more relaxed vibe. Sundays afternoons for concerts in the park are the leisurely style we live for. I am looking forward to lizarding a bit and laying down on a blanket to just look up into the trees.