Children's Museum

Dr. Henry examining his patient.

Dr. Nora taking care of her patient.

Dr. Nora and her charges getting weighed.

She looks like she's on a grocery store shopping game show or something...

Rock climbing!

Chef Henry

Fun in the water room.

First time checking out the new outdoor section.

Putting on a show.

 A couple weeks ago we took advantage of the Garden Home Library's Cultural Pass and went to the Children's Museum. We were able to check out a pass to get in for free! Woo-hoo! We used to have a membership, but let it lapse and so we haven't been in quite some time. Not since Nora was old enough to really enjoy it. Of course, with her "hand-on" personality (meaning she puts her hands on pretty much every child she comes across), it was a little dicey taking her, but overall she did pretty well.

We missed the start to the traveling exhibit "Wizard of Oz" but I am planning to try and check out another pass soon so we can go again and check that out.

Driver Henry taking Bumpa and Nora on the bus.

Fall Soccer

Henry is playing soccer this fall with some fellow Capitol Hill students. Although it is not officially through the school I think all but one or two of his teammates attend Capitol Hill. They are divided up by age, so they are all first graders. He played this past spring as well, but this is a whole different experience. Last year it was "kick and chase" and they practiced and played a "game" (which was really just a scrimmage against each other) all during one, one hour session. Now they have two, one hour practices during the week and a real game on Saturdays. So far they have had two games and Henry is LOVING it. I was a little concerned that two practices a week plus school would be too much for him but he so looks forward to going to practice each week and so far has not wanted to miss a single one. I think going to the Timbers soccer camp this summer really helped him develop his skills and gain confidence.

That's Henry there in the middle at his very first game.

Taking a breather.

Henry right in the middle trying to get the ball at his second game.

Henry throwing the ball in after it went out of bounds.

First Grade!

Henry started first grade at Capitol Hill last Tuesday. He was excited to see his friends and especially to not be a kindergartner anymore! He kept talking about how the kindergartners would be so small and probably not even come up to his waist. When I pointed out that even Nora was taller than that he just shrugged. His teacher's name is Ms. Johnson and she has been a teacher for about 20 years - mostly at Capitol Hill but she's also taught other places (and different grades). She is extremely organized and I think will be a wonderful teacher for Henry this year. There are 30 kids in the class! They have PE on Tuesdays and Thursdays and Art on Wednesdays. I hope to be able to parent help more in the classroom this year.

The first day of school was a big rush and I wasn't able to get any good, posed pictures. The first picture here is in the van on the way to school...

 He looks a little excited, right? The next picture is in his classroom - already busy at work!

San Francisco Road Trip

I have been severely ignoring the blog this summer. I am hoping that once Henry's school starts again in a week I'll be able to devote more time in keeping regular updates. Until then, here are our pictures from the road trip that we took down to visit Geoff.

We started off the trip with a visit to the Wildlife Safari in Winston.

Everyone loved getting up close to all the wild animals.

Our next stop was a drive through the Redwood Forest.

Geoff's house in Berkeley.

This was the closest we got to seeing Alcatraz...a replica. I didn't realize you had to make reservations a month in advance.

Cooling off in Golden Gate Park.

Superman meets Superman at the de Young Museum.

Spike's coffee shop in the Castro.

Nora's face doesn't show it, but this was the BEST popsicle ever - it tasted like strawberry Quick.

Cable car!

Pensive on the cable car.

On the ferry.

Sundaes at Ghirardelli.

Checking out the butterflies at the California Academy of Sciences.

Touch pool at the California Academy of Sciences.

Dino bones - California Academy of Sciences.

Chinatown.

View at night from our hotel - Alcatraz in the distance.

Picnic in Sausalito.

Sausalito.

Cable car ride.

Cable car.

View from UC Berkeley.

Playing at UC Berkeley.

Photo taken by Henry at UC Berkeley.

Street car ride - we rode all forms of public transport - bus, cable car, street car, subway and BART.

At the Exploritorium.

Reading maps at the Exploritorium.

Checking out the view on the ferry.

Checking out the rays and sharks at the California Academy of Sciences.