Going Green

As a part of our home remodel, we had 220V plugs put into our garage.   This summer, when the lease was up on my car, we decided to put it to use:  I am now the proud owner of an electric car!
We got a Nissan Leaf, mostly because it was the most economical, and had a back seat big enough to comfortably fit the kids.  I use it as my commuting car--I get about 85 miles/charge, enough to get me to work and back with about 40 miles to spare each day.  I charge each night when the electricity is the cheapest, for about $1/night.   As an added bonus (and the real motivator in going electric for me), I get to use the carpool lane and pay a reduced toll on the golden gate bridge each morning.  So when you add it up, I am coming out ahead--both financially, and for the planet!  And I really don't miss stopping at the gas station to fill up each weekend.

Soccer Mom

Well, I have officially become a soccer mom.  Boy, does that make me feel old!  Ethan is doing kindergarten fall soccer.  He is a member of the Mustangs...and they have a 1-1 record so far this season.
While Ethan is still working on the basics, he really seems to love playing and practicing.  And the games a pretty entertaining to watch.  Go Mustangs!

Alaina starts school!

This is a belated post--I have gotten behind.  In the beginning of September, Alaina had her first day of "school"--the same preschool that Ethan attended.  Alaina joined the "Lamb" class.  It has been a bit of a ride--at first she seemed great.  Then, she realized that we just left her there.  For awhile, she would scream as soon as we pulled into the parking lot.  It is getting better now, but she is still not completely adjusted.   She also has not managed to learn how to nap well there, so that has been pretty exhausting for her.  She routinely falls asleep in the car on the way home--making for a very cranky dinnertime.  Finally, she managed to get two bad colds in two weeks with high fevers, one of which she managed to pass on to her brother and I.  Ugh.
So, all in all, it has been a bit of a disaster.   I am trying to not lose sight of the fact that it is great for her to socialize, get messy and learn a school routine.  I think we are close to turning the corner....I hope!

A Tribute to Sister Ann

Yesterday, we lost another member of our family.  Sr. Ann was my dad's aunt, and was 91 years old.  She was the last remaining of her 5 siblings, having been preceded in death by Louis, Joe, Stephen, Carl, and Madeline.  She was a nun, devoting her life to the Catholic Church and the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi.  She was also a scientist, holding a doctoral degree.  At the time she studied biology, I can imagine that there were very few other women getting advanced degrees in the field.  It makes me proud to think that she was a trailblazer of sorts, advancing the education of women in a time when so few pursued higher education.  She spent most of her career teaching biology to other learners at Cardinal Stritch University.  When I think of Sr. Ann, I think of someone who was humble, kind, and very generous.  The world was a better place because of her.  I am so sorry that she is gone, she will be truly missed.

A visit from the tooth fairy...

Last week was a big week for Ethan.  He made it through his first week of kindergarten, and on Thursday night, he lost his first tooth.  

That night, the tooth fairy, "Margaret" came for a visit and left him a dollar.  Pretty cute.

Alaina, on the other hand, continues to sprout baby teeth.  Her four canines are coming in now..she has quite a mouthful!

First Day of Kindergarten!

Today was a big day--Ethan's first day of kindergarten.  We have been anxiously anticipating this day for a long time.   Jason and I both walked him to the school--we feel fortunate it is only 3 blocks away--and dropped him off with his teacher, Mrs. Peters.  His class is called the "yellow ducks".  I was a bit teary-eyed...he is growing up.

Getting to ready to walk into class, waving good-bye:

We sent him to the after-school program that he will attend.  When we came to pick him up, he didn't want to leave...a good sign.  He enthusiastically told us that his day was "very good".  Unfortunately, I couldn't get much more out of him than that, but I guess I will have to be satisfied.  We will see how tomorrow goes!

Europe Trip-Part 2

After we left Jeremy we headed to Turkey for 10 days.  Everyone asks, "Why Turkey?".  Answer: it is the only place we could use our frequent flier miles to fly back to the US.  And why not?  I had heard some lovely things about the country, and Jason and I love a good adventure.

Our first stop was Cappadocia.  Cappadocia is a region in Turkey well-known for its strange geographic formations--rocks that have been carved into mountains and chimneys.  The rock has a unique property in that it can be hollowed out to make caves.  Historically a center of Byzantine Christianity, thousands of homes and churches are carved into rocks or underground.

A highlight of Cappadocia was a hot air balloon ride.  Taking a ride is a popular tourist attraction there, and every morning the sky is literally filled with hundreds of balloons.  Apparently the weather is just right for them, and they do give a birds-eye view of the rocks.

After Cappadocia, we headed to Istanbul.  Istanbul is a beautiful, chaotic, and vibrant city located on the Bosphorus Straight between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean.  Half-European, half-Asian, and historically very interesting--again an early site of Byzantine Christianity, and later the capital of the Ottoman Empire.  Now the country is 95% Muslim.  We were fortunate to visit during Ramadan, and got a sense of the holiday.  Geographically, it reminded me of San Francisco--hilly and surrounded by water, with several suspension bridges.

Istanbul highlights included visiting the Hagia Sopia--originally a Church built in 537, and then converted into a Mosque in the 1400s:

We also enjoyed the Topaki Palace--the center of the Ottoman empire, the Blue Mosque, and of course shopping!  Lots of interesting things to look at in the Bazaars.

Following 3 nights in Istanbul, we headed to the Mediterranean to cool off.  We considered taking a boat tour of the coastline, but decided instead to stay at a small hotel right on the coast outside of Oloduneiz.
 The ocean was beautiful, and cliffs went right to the sea--it reminded me of Big Sur, except the water was warm enough to swim in.

We returned to SF relaxed and rejuvenated.  But that didn't last long!--we have only been back a few weeks, but it feels like years ago!!