Cherry Time

In what has become a Greenberg family tradition, last weekend we headed to Brentwood to go cherry picking.

Cherry picking season is very short here, one, maybe two weekends.   Last year we missed it.   This year we almost missed it as we couldnt make it the first weekend, and by last weekend many orchards were already picked out.   But we did find a few that were still open and headed out.  

Ethan really enjoyed it this year and was quite a sticky mess by the end.  And Alaina seemed happy to hang out outside.

 

Ethan was thrilled to find a tractor to sit on at the farm.

And as an added bonus we also picked a few peaches and nectarines.  Yum!

Janet Visits!

This past weekend, one of my oldest friends, Janet, came out from Chicago for a visit!  Now this was an especially big deal because besides the fact that she flew out, she also left her 4 kids (age 6 years to 7 months) at home with dad!  I think she got a well-deserved break--although we did a lot!

On Saturday, we took the ferry downtown to the farmer's market and then went shopping.  We went to dinner that evening with Ethan and Alaina, and managed to cause quite a scene when Ethan accidentally tipped over Alaina's high chair with her in it--luckily she was in the car seat and was ok other than being scared and surprised.  Perhaps Ethan was just trying to help Janet feel less homesick!
Sunday we headed to "mountain theater , an amphitheater on Mt. Tamalpias where they do summer musicals, and saw The Sound of Music.  And Monday before she left we were able to check out the west part of San Francisco--Baker Beach, Lands End and Ocean Beach before heading to the airport.  So great to have a visitor!

Aloha Again!

Yes, we just got back from another trip to Hawaii!   I really wanted to get away before going back to work, so when I found a sale on Alaska Airlines to Maui we booked.   The crazy thing is that the flight is just slightly longer than flying to Chicago!

We stayed five nights in a condo.  Now travelling for pleasure with children is different than travelling with just adults.   We certainly dragged Ethan around a LOT when he was an infant, so we were better prepared for our first vacation with baby #2.  First, we stayed in a condo with a separate bedroom (essential for naps and bedtime).  Next we STAYED there.   The entire time.   No sightseeing.  Just the pool, and two short trips to the beach.

The condo had an onsite restaurant where we had a few dinners.   We cooked breakfast and lunch, and had a few dinners in too.  We barely used 1/4 a tank of gas for the entire trip, and considering the airport was a drive from the condo, that is impressive.

We had small crises on both of our travel days--those were rough on the kids, especially Alaina, who still hates taking drives in the car.

Ethan had so much fun in the water.   He even got to try out SNUBA in the hotel pool.  (where you can swim underwater connected to an air tank on the surface by a hose).    He loved it--and apparently when he got back to school he told all of his friends that he "SCUBA dived with sharks"!  And the sunsets were just amazing....

 

 Shave ice--our favorite hawaiian treat!

Ethan watching the Hula dancer in the evening at our condo

 What a pair!

An another!

We are so lucky to have such a beautiful place so close to us!!

Our big 4 month old....

Weighing in at 13 pounds, 6 oz and 25 inches long!

Cow of the Week

A few weeks ago, Ethan was chosen to be the "cow of the week" in hi preschool class.  No, they weren't saying he was  a hogging the toys or eating more than his fair share of food.  His classroom is called the "cow" room (all the rooms are farm animals--last year he was a horse, and next year he will be a llama).   And each week in the cow class, one child is selected to be the cow of the week.  

Now, despite my asking, I am not quite sure what honors the "cow of the week" gets to participate in.   There is something about turning on the classroom lights, and something about checking the weather.   Nonetheless, it was a big deal for him.   Each cow of the week gets their very own cow of the week poster, where classmates dictate messages to the teachers who dutifully transcribe them.  

The cow of the week poster is now proudly on display in Ethan's room.   It is hilarious.   Some of the comments include, "I love you and I want to play baby and mommy with you and play superhero with you-Parker"; "I want you to break the pickle-Jason"; and my favorite "Please come to my house.  Please come to wine country with me.  Clay".   Simply precious.


In other news, Alaina has recently earned the "baby-of-the week" designation  as she *finally* slept through the night last night--7:20-6am, with just a bit of fussing around 8:30!  Also she has learned to roll over from tummy to back!