Right about now is when the kindergarten quest goes from informing people to kinda creeping them out.
I guess I haven't realized how intense this whole thing can seem to everyone but the six people in my equally-obsessed kinder email group. Lately I've been getting more questions about my time and motivation than about actual schools. And that's fine. I get it. It is weird and obnoxiously suburban.
But also what people forget is that I'm a reporter. Since I was 17-years-old I've been finding facts, gathering notes and writing about what I see. You can argue that it's really one of the few things I can do well. Instead of using my interview/note-taking skills for an article, this time I'm applying them to my own life.
I'll admit that I've gone to a school or two that I wouldn't seriously consider. But so very often, I think I'm done interviewing people for an article and then I'll make one more call, or approach one more family at an event, and thats often the interview that makes the story. I go to extra schools because I never know which one could be the right ending for this particular story.
January is almost here and that means one more month of this stuff. It means serious choices and big decisions that go all the way into where we're going to live.
So I'm giving everyone fair warning that things are going to get a whole lot crazier, but be assured, I've been training for this for a long time.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Progress
Vacation cooking diary:
Day one - cranberry pistachio biscotti
Day two - orange pineapple salmon, Israeli salad
Day three - though I technically wasn't on vacation on this day, I cooked honey chili chicken and lemony peach quinoa.
Tomorrow - Chocolate banana muffins.
See? This project will not suffer the same fate as my disastrous running blog. It just can't.
Day one - cranberry pistachio biscotti
Day two - orange pineapple salmon, Israeli salad
Day three - though I technically wasn't on vacation on this day, I cooked honey chili chicken and lemony peach quinoa.
Tomorrow - Chocolate banana muffins.
See? This project will not suffer the same fate as my disastrous running blog. It just can't.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
A completely new, albeit temporary, project
I am (technically) on vacation! And I have zero school tours until mid-January!
What does one do with all that free time?
Because I bought a copy of that book "Julie & Julia'" at a school fundraiser, and because my last cooking story is due the minute I get back to work, I'm inspired to do an experiment of my own.
So it's this: Can I make something fresh every day that I'm home?
For the last week or so we've been stocking up on Trader Joe's frozen food and not feeling guilty whatsoever. But then a foodie friend of mine casually mentioned that she doesn't do Trader Joe's. That just about blew my mind. What does it even mean?? We live off those tiny yogurts and Orange Chicken and honey pretzels and beet salads (and I dont even like beets normally).
She pointed out that practically everything at TJ is packaged, not fresh. And after she said it, I had a totally cliche lightbulb moment. And now my love affair with TJ has been tainted! It's not quite on Fresh and Easy levels, but almost.
The project, which doesn't have a cutesy name, is starting off with my friend Kristin teaching me how to make pistachio biscotti. This just happens to be coincidental, something we were going to do anyway. But why not use it as a jumping off point?
What does one do with all that free time?
Because I bought a copy of that book "Julie & Julia'" at a school fundraiser, and because my last cooking story is due the minute I get back to work, I'm inspired to do an experiment of my own.
So it's this: Can I make something fresh every day that I'm home?
For the last week or so we've been stocking up on Trader Joe's frozen food and not feeling guilty whatsoever. But then a foodie friend of mine casually mentioned that she doesn't do Trader Joe's. That just about blew my mind. What does it even mean?? We live off those tiny yogurts and Orange Chicken and honey pretzels and beet salads (and I dont even like beets normally).
She pointed out that practically everything at TJ is packaged, not fresh. And after she said it, I had a totally cliche lightbulb moment. And now my love affair with TJ has been tainted! It's not quite on Fresh and Easy levels, but almost.
The project, which doesn't have a cutesy name, is starting off with my friend Kristin teaching me how to make pistachio biscotti. This just happens to be coincidental, something we were going to do anyway. But why not use it as a jumping off point?
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Dailard
What happens when you throw yourself a pity party? You get strep throat. Lesson learned.
Nonetheless, I hauled myself out of bed for my last school tour of 2010 (don't worry, January is a marathon of tours).
Dailard is in a hidden part of San Carlos and has an excellent reputation. I grew up around that neighborhood and we happen to live about three miles away and I had no idea it even existed until recently.
The principal is a young, earnest guy with kids of his own. I felt like the problems he has with his kids school in a different neighborhood are solved at Dailard. Like he hates all the nickel-and-dime fundraising he has to do and so at Dailard he asks for donations once or twice a year. He noticed that his own son didn't want to get dressed for school and wasn't talking very much in class, so he places great importance on mental health. Also, he was wearing a Red Sox lanyard, so . . .
One thing I don't like is the modular style design of the campus, to me it looks more like a college than a primary school. Like Green, the kinders are in one building and are separated by partitions, not walls. Because of this, the principal said their curriculum has to be more structured.
That being said, I found the classrooms bright, happy and not at all chaotic. Next year, all San Diego public schools are going to go to 29 students, which is very troubling to me. But I did feel this school was well equipped to handle it because partitions could be moved to fit extra kids.
Back to the mental health thing. There is a room dedicated for students who may not be adjusting or perhaps they are having troubles with friends or whatever. There's a staffer who does one-on-one play and we were able to see it in action. I was incredibly impressed. I am having issues with Ella being controlling about her clothes and not talking to her teachers, so I think it struck a nerve with me.
Other pluses: It has one of the only Dad's groups in the county, it has a strong music focus, there are other Jewish kids there, the principal knew every kids name, lots of playground space and is next door to a park.
Negatives: The 1970s modular building, the impending class sizes, I didn't really look into the upper grades program and I've heard both great and not so great things about it.
In the end I will confidently put this one down as one of my top five choices.
Nonetheless, I hauled myself out of bed for my last school tour of 2010 (don't worry, January is a marathon of tours).
Dailard is in a hidden part of San Carlos and has an excellent reputation. I grew up around that neighborhood and we happen to live about three miles away and I had no idea it even existed until recently.
The principal is a young, earnest guy with kids of his own. I felt like the problems he has with his kids school in a different neighborhood are solved at Dailard. Like he hates all the nickel-and-dime fundraising he has to do and so at Dailard he asks for donations once or twice a year. He noticed that his own son didn't want to get dressed for school and wasn't talking very much in class, so he places great importance on mental health. Also, he was wearing a Red Sox lanyard, so . . .
One thing I don't like is the modular style design of the campus, to me it looks more like a college than a primary school. Like Green, the kinders are in one building and are separated by partitions, not walls. Because of this, the principal said their curriculum has to be more structured.
That being said, I found the classrooms bright, happy and not at all chaotic. Next year, all San Diego public schools are going to go to 29 students, which is very troubling to me. But I did feel this school was well equipped to handle it because partitions could be moved to fit extra kids.
Back to the mental health thing. There is a room dedicated for students who may not be adjusting or perhaps they are having troubles with friends or whatever. There's a staffer who does one-on-one play and we were able to see it in action. I was incredibly impressed. I am having issues with Ella being controlling about her clothes and not talking to her teachers, so I think it struck a nerve with me.
Other pluses: It has one of the only Dad's groups in the county, it has a strong music focus, there are other Jewish kids there, the principal knew every kids name, lots of playground space and is next door to a park.
Negatives: The 1970s modular building, the impending class sizes, I didn't really look into the upper grades program and I've heard both great and not so great things about it.
In the end I will confidently put this one down as one of my top five choices.
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Pity party
Things that have happened in December:
1. I got bronchitis for the third time in one year.
2. Ella scratched my face and drew blood.
3. Also, she won't stop crying.
4. Survived a very awkward family blowout.
5. Got a correction in the paper.
6. Spilled salmon juice in my car and now it won't stop smelling gross in there.
7. Got trapped in a silly kindergarten related fight with a friend.
8. Had to call in sick for my first day of hospital volunteering.
9. Was in the same room with Mike "the Situation" from Jersey Shore.
10. I got PINKEYE and I am miserable.
1. I got bronchitis for the third time in one year.
2. Ella scratched my face and drew blood.
3. Also, she won't stop crying.
4. Survived a very awkward family blowout.
5. Got a correction in the paper.
6. Spilled salmon juice in my car and now it won't stop smelling gross in there.
7. Got trapped in a silly kindergarten related fight with a friend.
8. Had to call in sick for my first day of hospital volunteering.
9. Was in the same room with Mike "the Situation" from Jersey Shore.
10. I got PINKEYE and I am miserable.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Already there. Or, a somewhat melancholy post
Earlier this week I toured the kindergarten of the school we already attend.
As I mentioned, we are enrolled at a private school that goes all the way to 8th grade. I don't want to say the name for safety reasons, but I felt that it would be unfair to tour all these public schools and not look at what is right there in front of me.
I am not going to go into intricate detail about the curriculum and the campus because, for one thing, the school isn't necessarily an option to the general public. But also because it's really not fair to compare public to private.
The private school classes have about 15 to 18 students in each class with two full-time teachers. And, wow. That is a crazy difference to the public ratio, which has plans to go up to 29 kindergartners and one teacher per class.
I will say that I loved what I saw. Totally loved it. And I think Marina would be happy because there's a big focus on art, music and a Jewish curriculum, which she loves. It's also a familiar environment and we are already part of this school's "family."
The only concern I have is that the level of religion she'll get at home versus at school don't really match up. Will she start asking me why I work on Saturdays or why why eat cheeseburgers?
That's a pretty minor concern, though. A bigger issue is that there's a tuition that we can't really afford. So if we make the decision to keep her where she is, we'd definitely have to apply for financial aid.
What this tour really did, however, was put this entire search process in perspective. Do we really need to live in a bigger house? Do we really need to go out to dinner all the time? My mom made the sacrifice for me to go to a good school and that stayed with me longer than an extra pair of shoes or a house with a bigger room.
Now I see that I'm willing to do the same.
Still, I am desperately hoping to get into a charter because I think those are equally as wonderful as private. I think considering our lifestyle and our finances, a charter is our first choice.
I will also continue to tour schools so that I can confidently fill in my application to get into one of the five best traditional public schools.
But for all the kicking and screaming I did about finding the perfect kindergarten, I think one of our better and more realistic options is sitting right there in front of me.
As I mentioned, we are enrolled at a private school that goes all the way to 8th grade. I don't want to say the name for safety reasons, but I felt that it would be unfair to tour all these public schools and not look at what is right there in front of me.
I am not going to go into intricate detail about the curriculum and the campus because, for one thing, the school isn't necessarily an option to the general public. But also because it's really not fair to compare public to private.
The private school classes have about 15 to 18 students in each class with two full-time teachers. And, wow. That is a crazy difference to the public ratio, which has plans to go up to 29 kindergartners and one teacher per class.
I will say that I loved what I saw. Totally loved it. And I think Marina would be happy because there's a big focus on art, music and a Jewish curriculum, which she loves. It's also a familiar environment and we are already part of this school's "family."
The only concern I have is that the level of religion she'll get at home versus at school don't really match up. Will she start asking me why I work on Saturdays or why why eat cheeseburgers?
That's a pretty minor concern, though. A bigger issue is that there's a tuition that we can't really afford. So if we make the decision to keep her where she is, we'd definitely have to apply for financial aid.
What this tour really did, however, was put this entire search process in perspective. Do we really need to live in a bigger house? Do we really need to go out to dinner all the time? My mom made the sacrifice for me to go to a good school and that stayed with me longer than an extra pair of shoes or a house with a bigger room.
Now I see that I'm willing to do the same.
Still, I am desperately hoping to get into a charter because I think those are equally as wonderful as private. I think considering our lifestyle and our finances, a charter is our first choice.
I will also continue to tour schools so that I can confidently fill in my application to get into one of the five best traditional public schools.
But for all the kicking and screaming I did about finding the perfect kindergarten, I think one of our better and more realistic options is sitting right there in front of me.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Xara Garden School
Today was the kind of day where I went to a school fully expecting it to be a joke only to find that it was everything I'm looking for.
Xara Garden School is a teeny, tiny charter by my house that's located in an old church. The garden is a bunch of potted flowers and plants in the parking lot. I drive by it on the days I go to Starbucks before work and see kids frolicking around all the time, always thinking how odd that a "garden" school doesn't have much of a garden.
Wait. Let me back up. I actually first heard about Xara when I was covering an Earth Day festival in Balboa Park and the Xara kids, parents and teachers walked in a parade. They were playing music and giving off such a joyous energy that I wrote the school's name down in my notebook for future reference.
I have heard, though it's not confirmed, that the man who founded Xara is involved in the Burning Man festival. What's Burning Man? I got this from the website: "an annual experiment in temporary community dedicated to radical self-expression and radical self-reliance."
I'm not particularly a Burning Man person, though I'm friends with plenty of people who have gone. But you can pretty much use the above statement to describe Xara, and apparently I'm all about this philosophy in a school environment.
The principal said all the things I wanted to hear, like how kids will learn academics on their own time and they'd rather focus on curiosity and creativity and shift the class where the kids want to take it. This is a school, like Urban Discovery, that doesn't correct spelling at a young age so as to not limit them to use only the words they know. A kid will write extraordinary instead of good, for example, because they don't have to worry about red ink on their papers.
Like Burning Man, they are all about self-reliance and community. They don't raise their hands in some classes, instead they wait until there's a space for their voice. I like the idea of this, but I also worry that if you have a shy child, perhaps their voice will never be heard?
At snack time, I saw a teacher and a little boy sit at a table of food and together they figured out how to divide everything so that it would be fair to the class. They decided on one graham cracker, two apple slices and one spoonfull of almonds. I don't know why, but I loved this.
The thing is that it had like a scatter-brained feeling about it all. The principal, who used the word "man" a few times (as in "these are kids, man") may be a bit too mellow. Plus, they're moving from their current location next year, but they don't know where yet. There's just something I don't totally trust, even though I really want to.
Another thing is that there's not much security. A friend on the tour pointed out that we're used to Jewish schools where there's fences and codes and the like. But another male friend of mine said he was curious about the school for his daughter, stopped by randomly one day and was able to walk right in without question. Do not like.
I honestly went on this tour because I heard so many crazy things about it, how it's a mixture of genius and insane, and I wanted to see for myself. I didn't expect to be so conflicted.
Xara Garden School is a teeny, tiny charter by my house that's located in an old church. The garden is a bunch of potted flowers and plants in the parking lot. I drive by it on the days I go to Starbucks before work and see kids frolicking around all the time, always thinking how odd that a "garden" school doesn't have much of a garden.
Wait. Let me back up. I actually first heard about Xara when I was covering an Earth Day festival in Balboa Park and the Xara kids, parents and teachers walked in a parade. They were playing music and giving off such a joyous energy that I wrote the school's name down in my notebook for future reference.
I have heard, though it's not confirmed, that the man who founded Xara is involved in the Burning Man festival. What's Burning Man? I got this from the website: "an annual experiment in temporary community dedicated to radical self-expression and radical self-reliance."
I'm not particularly a Burning Man person, though I'm friends with plenty of people who have gone. But you can pretty much use the above statement to describe Xara, and apparently I'm all about this philosophy in a school environment.
The principal said all the things I wanted to hear, like how kids will learn academics on their own time and they'd rather focus on curiosity and creativity and shift the class where the kids want to take it. This is a school, like Urban Discovery, that doesn't correct spelling at a young age so as to not limit them to use only the words they know. A kid will write extraordinary instead of good, for example, because they don't have to worry about red ink on their papers.
Like Burning Man, they are all about self-reliance and community. They don't raise their hands in some classes, instead they wait until there's a space for their voice. I like the idea of this, but I also worry that if you have a shy child, perhaps their voice will never be heard?
At snack time, I saw a teacher and a little boy sit at a table of food and together they figured out how to divide everything so that it would be fair to the class. They decided on one graham cracker, two apple slices and one spoonfull of almonds. I don't know why, but I loved this.
The thing is that it had like a scatter-brained feeling about it all. The principal, who used the word "man" a few times (as in "these are kids, man") may be a bit too mellow. Plus, they're moving from their current location next year, but they don't know where yet. There's just something I don't totally trust, even though I really want to.
Another thing is that there's not much security. A friend on the tour pointed out that we're used to Jewish schools where there's fences and codes and the like. But another male friend of mine said he was curious about the school for his daughter, stopped by randomly one day and was able to walk right in without question. Do not like.
I honestly went on this tour because I heard so many crazy things about it, how it's a mixture of genius and insane, and I wanted to see for myself. I didn't expect to be so conflicted.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Ella's birthday, part one
Today is Ella's third birthday! Woohoo!
The celebrating started yesterday with a birthday party in her class.
Marina was invited to join the cookies, ice cream and fruit salad feast. It always makes me feel a bit guilty because Marina has a summer birthday and will probably never have one of these classroom parties.
After a short day at school, we'll continue the party with cupcakes in La Jolla followed by a Thanksgiving/family celebration tomorrow, an actual party on Saturday and Yo Gabba Gabba on Sunday!
The celebrating started yesterday with a birthday party in her class.
Marina was invited to join the cookies, ice cream and fruit salad feast. It always makes me feel a bit guilty because Marina has a summer birthday and will probably never have one of these classroom parties.
After a short day at school, we'll continue the party with cupcakes in La Jolla followed by a Thanksgiving/family celebration tomorrow, an actual party on Saturday and Yo Gabba Gabba on Sunday!
Thursday, November 18, 2010
We're so smart!
I'm learning that the most annoying part of touring schools is the parents.
Maybe it's the places I'm picking, but every time I go on a tour, a good 20 minutes is spent discussing the Advanced Placement or gifted programs. For kindergarten.
I have no problem with advanced curriculum, if Marina tests into those classes (which actually don't start until second or third grade), then good for her. But if she doesn't, she doesn't. I'm not one of these parents that behaves as if they've got some sort of genius child (even though I do).
The school I went to this morning was especially terrible about this. The place is called Grant Elementary and it a K-8th grade in Mission Hills, a well-to-do and trendy area of San Diego.
I know three people who went there and they are all great, smart, funny people that I like very much. It also has high test scores and high popularity rankings and I was expecting this to be my first choice.
Maybe that's why I'm extra disappointed.
I showed up five minutes late because of traffic and already they were talking about AP and GATE programs. And all the parents were asking all these ridiculous questions about tests and skill levels and are the smart kids separated from the "other" kids.
(There was a lot of discussion about separation at this school, actually. Smart versus regular/poor versus paid daycare/little versus big kids.)
The school used to be a science magnet but the district took away its magnet status a few years ago. I asked the principal and she said they weren't bringing in enough outside students, but she also insinuated that there was some politics involved.
I also got the feeling - and this is only a gut feeling - that the neighborhood wasn't so into being diversified. One of the people on the tour was a resident and she said "so there's no bussing anymore, right?" like it was a good thing.
Another issue is that the school isn't getting much money from the district because it's in such a wealthy neighborhood. They don't qualify for a lot of programs, like Title I, and so there's very little money for art, PE and extras. The campus isn't all that wonderful, either. Lots of trailer type classrooms. I can't even tell you what the actual rooms were like because they didn't take us inside. They didn't want to disrupt the class.
But I kind of tuned out when I heard that you have to apply for their after-school care. The day ends at 2:15 and there are two options for after school: the Head Start program which you have to qualify financially for and doesn't start until first grade. And a daycare that only accepts 150 students complete with a two-year waiting list.
If I have to point out a positive, I'll say that the kindergarten area is very cute, separate from the rest of the school and each class has its own bathroom so the kids don't have to wander around.
It does seem to have a very strong community feeling to it, but if you don't live there then what? If I did live in Mission Hills, I think I'd be perfectly happy sending my kids there.
But I don't. So the search goes on.
Maybe it's the places I'm picking, but every time I go on a tour, a good 20 minutes is spent discussing the Advanced Placement or gifted programs. For kindergarten.
I have no problem with advanced curriculum, if Marina tests into those classes (which actually don't start until second or third grade), then good for her. But if she doesn't, she doesn't. I'm not one of these parents that behaves as if they've got some sort of genius child (even though I do).
The school I went to this morning was especially terrible about this. The place is called Grant Elementary and it a K-8th grade in Mission Hills, a well-to-do and trendy area of San Diego.
I know three people who went there and they are all great, smart, funny people that I like very much. It also has high test scores and high popularity rankings and I was expecting this to be my first choice.
Maybe that's why I'm extra disappointed.
I showed up five minutes late because of traffic and already they were talking about AP and GATE programs. And all the parents were asking all these ridiculous questions about tests and skill levels and are the smart kids separated from the "other" kids.
(There was a lot of discussion about separation at this school, actually. Smart versus regular/poor versus paid daycare/little versus big kids.)
The school used to be a science magnet but the district took away its magnet status a few years ago. I asked the principal and she said they weren't bringing in enough outside students, but she also insinuated that there was some politics involved.
I also got the feeling - and this is only a gut feeling - that the neighborhood wasn't so into being diversified. One of the people on the tour was a resident and she said "so there's no bussing anymore, right?" like it was a good thing.
Another issue is that the school isn't getting much money from the district because it's in such a wealthy neighborhood. They don't qualify for a lot of programs, like Title I, and so there's very little money for art, PE and extras. The campus isn't all that wonderful, either. Lots of trailer type classrooms. I can't even tell you what the actual rooms were like because they didn't take us inside. They didn't want to disrupt the class.
But I kind of tuned out when I heard that you have to apply for their after-school care. The day ends at 2:15 and there are two options for after school: the Head Start program which you have to qualify financially for and doesn't start until first grade. And a daycare that only accepts 150 students complete with a two-year waiting list.
If I have to point out a positive, I'll say that the kindergarten area is very cute, separate from the rest of the school and each class has its own bathroom so the kids don't have to wander around.
It does seem to have a very strong community feeling to it, but if you don't live there then what? If I did live in Mission Hills, I think I'd be perfectly happy sending my kids there.
But I don't. So the search goes on.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Halloween 2010
This is to prove to everyone - mostly Matt - that I don't just think about kindergarten.
I do take time away from my own brain to celebrate certain occasions.
I do take time away from my own brain to celebrate certain occasions.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Green and Birney
Do you know how overwhelming it is to tour one school?
There's all this stuff you have to process: the campus, the kids, the test scores, the amount of hours each one devotes to art or p.e. or music, the after-school programs.
Well today I made the crazy decision to tour two schools: Green and Alice Birney.
Green is a P.E. magnet very close to my house and even closer to my grandmother's. It's a wide, open campus with its own sports field and a philosophy to live healthy. The principal is super personable and embodies the school motto by getting up at 4 a.m. everyday to run before heading to campus.
Do you know why he has to get up at 4? Because the school day at Green begins at 7:30 a.m. That's not a deal-breaker for me, though. What did bother me was that the students are overwhelmingly male. It makes sense because there's tons of physical activity going on all the time and it really helps hyperactive kids focus.
I just don't see my teeny, tiny daughter flourishing there. Even though they do gymnastics and even though they give all kids swim lessons (so awesome). I think she'd get lost among the kids, who the principal described as competitive.
The actual kindergarten classroom was laid out in a way I haven't seen. There are four separate kinders, but they are all connected by a little maze of doors. You can walk into all four classes from inside the building. I'm not sure how I feel about it, I didn't like it at first, then I did and now I'm just sort of confused all over again.
Next was Alice Birney, an IB magnet in University Heights. It only became an IB (which is like the international equivalent of AP) last year so it's still in transition from being an under-performing urban school to a desirable magnet.
The kinder building is new and each class had a huge library. They also have several pretty cool vegetable gardens and I was impressed that they have a full-time counselor on staff.
But Matt, who came with me on this tour, pointed out that there must be a reason to keep a school counselor during such bad budget times. And there definitely was a big-city kind of feel there, which means big-city problems.
I didn't see Marina there and Matt, who it turns out has even higher standards than I do, didn't either.
Touring two places in one day did leave me with this: I believe all the schools I saw are truly trying their best. They've all got good test scores, dedicated teachers, an involved PTA. For me, these numbers and facts are just running together and it's becoming more about feeling, about where I can imagine Marina.
There's all this stuff you have to process: the campus, the kids, the test scores, the amount of hours each one devotes to art or p.e. or music, the after-school programs.
Well today I made the crazy decision to tour two schools: Green and Alice Birney.
Green is a P.E. magnet very close to my house and even closer to my grandmother's. It's a wide, open campus with its own sports field and a philosophy to live healthy. The principal is super personable and embodies the school motto by getting up at 4 a.m. everyday to run before heading to campus.
Do you know why he has to get up at 4? Because the school day at Green begins at 7:30 a.m. That's not a deal-breaker for me, though. What did bother me was that the students are overwhelmingly male. It makes sense because there's tons of physical activity going on all the time and it really helps hyperactive kids focus.
I just don't see my teeny, tiny daughter flourishing there. Even though they do gymnastics and even though they give all kids swim lessons (so awesome). I think she'd get lost among the kids, who the principal described as competitive.
The actual kindergarten classroom was laid out in a way I haven't seen. There are four separate kinders, but they are all connected by a little maze of doors. You can walk into all four classes from inside the building. I'm not sure how I feel about it, I didn't like it at first, then I did and now I'm just sort of confused all over again.
Next was Alice Birney, an IB magnet in University Heights. It only became an IB (which is like the international equivalent of AP) last year so it's still in transition from being an under-performing urban school to a desirable magnet.
The kinder building is new and each class had a huge library. They also have several pretty cool vegetable gardens and I was impressed that they have a full-time counselor on staff.
But Matt, who came with me on this tour, pointed out that there must be a reason to keep a school counselor during such bad budget times. And there definitely was a big-city kind of feel there, which means big-city problems.
I didn't see Marina there and Matt, who it turns out has even higher standards than I do, didn't either.
Touring two places in one day did leave me with this: I believe all the schools I saw are truly trying their best. They've all got good test scores, dedicated teachers, an involved PTA. For me, these numbers and facts are just running together and it's becoming more about feeling, about where I can imagine Marina.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
I'm telling
Because I really want to finish what I start, and because I don't want any kind of bad karma, I will share what I saw at Urban Discovery.
The building in which it's located is really old. I used to have a pediatrician in that building and even when I was five-years-old I knew it was ancient. Also, it's directly across the street from Balboa Park, which along with being a good thing, does have it's element of sketchy characters and foot traffic.
Those are the things I was holding against it going in.
But the school is very secure. The only way in is through a front office with a giant glass window and the office people can see you coming from a good way away. Also, it was surprisingly clean and colorful.
The "thing" at UD is "the whole child," which means they treat all subjects with equal importance. But it's also about making education fun. And while that's something that would seem to be all talk, like a random idea they put on the brochure, it was pretty obvious when you walked into the classrooms that they mean it.
There are two kindergartens and instead of learning letters, they were learning "ap" words: tap, nap, cap, etc. They had lots of projects on the walls, including science explorations and pictures from a play they had put on.
We met both sets of K through 3rd grade teachers and they were all super enthusiastic and, though I didn't say this aloud, they all looked like Disney princesses. In a total, total good way - all smiles, stylish but not trendy, excited about their jobs.
If there's a downside I'd say it's that they don't have a physical playground. Instead they walk across the street for recess and PE. It's kind of weird to think of my little kid crossing a busy street, but they showed us how the kids link arms in sets of three. They walk to the crosswalk and then pick a spot directly in front of the school. They don't let the kids use the public bathroom, either. They said if a kid really has to go, they call the office and an adult runs over and brings the child back to campus.
Another thing that made it pretty desirable is that there's also a preschool. So if we did end up getting chosen, there's a good chance we'd use a preschool that's in the same building (and next door to a pediatrician's office).
That's it.
I think I'm done looking at charters.
Now I've got to concentrate on traditional public schools in my neighborhood. I've got to pick five schools and right now I'm only confident about two. . .
So I plan to look at Hearst, Green, Daillard and ? suggestions?
The building in which it's located is really old. I used to have a pediatrician in that building and even when I was five-years-old I knew it was ancient. Also, it's directly across the street from Balboa Park, which along with being a good thing, does have it's element of sketchy characters and foot traffic.
Those are the things I was holding against it going in.
But the school is very secure. The only way in is through a front office with a giant glass window and the office people can see you coming from a good way away. Also, it was surprisingly clean and colorful.
The "thing" at UD is "the whole child," which means they treat all subjects with equal importance. But it's also about making education fun. And while that's something that would seem to be all talk, like a random idea they put on the brochure, it was pretty obvious when you walked into the classrooms that they mean it.
There are two kindergartens and instead of learning letters, they were learning "ap" words: tap, nap, cap, etc. They had lots of projects on the walls, including science explorations and pictures from a play they had put on.
We met both sets of K through 3rd grade teachers and they were all super enthusiastic and, though I didn't say this aloud, they all looked like Disney princesses. In a total, total good way - all smiles, stylish but not trendy, excited about their jobs.
If there's a downside I'd say it's that they don't have a physical playground. Instead they walk across the street for recess and PE. It's kind of weird to think of my little kid crossing a busy street, but they showed us how the kids link arms in sets of three. They walk to the crosswalk and then pick a spot directly in front of the school. They don't let the kids use the public bathroom, either. They said if a kid really has to go, they call the office and an adult runs over and brings the child back to campus.
Another thing that made it pretty desirable is that there's also a preschool. So if we did end up getting chosen, there's a good chance we'd use a preschool that's in the same building (and next door to a pediatrician's office).
That's it.
I think I'm done looking at charters.
Now I've got to concentrate on traditional public schools in my neighborhood. I've got to pick five schools and right now I'm only confident about two. . .
So I plan to look at Hearst, Green, Daillard and ? suggestions?
Friday, October 29, 2010
To share or not?
Here's the thing.
I went to Urban Discovery. It was better than a French movie.
I know I said this before but I saw myself at this place. And because it's a new school, my chances of getting in are pretty decent.
So do I discuss it and hope that the karma of sharing will result in good things? Do I not talk about it for the selfish reasons of keeping applications low?
Give me some time to think it over.
I went to Urban Discovery. It was better than a French movie.
I know I said this before but I saw myself at this place. And because it's a new school, my chances of getting in are pretty decent.
So do I discuss it and hope that the karma of sharing will result in good things? Do I not talk about it for the selfish reasons of keeping applications low?
Give me some time to think it over.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Let's hope it's like a French movie
On Thursday I'm going to visit a school I know absolutely nothing about.
With the other places, I had one-word descriptions already formed: Longfellow = Spanish; Benchley = communications; Museum = awesome; you know, that kind of thing.
All I know about Urban Discovery is that it's another charter (and another lottery) that's located directly across the street from Balboa Park. I don't really know what their "thing" is besides that it's spoken highly of by hipster and suburban moms alike.
I kind of like being in this situation. It's very similar to when I'd get sent to review the most random, obscure foreign films and I had no idea what to expect. Often the movies were forgettable, sometimes they were awful. But once in a while a "Dreamlife of Angels" showed up and completely blew me away.
With the other places, I had one-word descriptions already formed: Longfellow = Spanish; Benchley = communications; Museum = awesome; you know, that kind of thing.
All I know about Urban Discovery is that it's another charter (and another lottery) that's located directly across the street from Balboa Park. I don't really know what their "thing" is besides that it's spoken highly of by hipster and suburban moms alike.
I kind of like being in this situation. It's very similar to when I'd get sent to review the most random, obscure foreign films and I had no idea what to expect. Often the movies were forgettable, sometimes they were awful. But once in a while a "Dreamlife of Angels" showed up and completely blew me away.
Friday, October 22, 2010
My birthday - a pictorial
I've been talking about having a roller skating birthday party for a good eight years. It's something that comes up, often at a bar, when I find out a friend has a birthday around the same time as mine.
One of these talks happened at a kid-friendly yet "hipster-approved" restaurant in which Marina heard the whole conversation.
So a few months later, when Matt asked her what we should do for my birthday, of course she said roller skating.
But I've always put ice above roller - especially when dealing with kids who learned how to walk relatively recently. So we headed for the ice rink.
The amount of time it takes for you to look at these photos is about as long as we lasted there. It was "too cold" or "too wobbly" or "too tight" or "too hungry for a cupcake from the cupcake store upstairs."
But for a few seconds, it was pure happiness. Thanks to my cousin Jacky for getting these shots.
Couples skate! I always had to sit out couples skate in high school, so this was both thrilling and foreign.
Bench-warming cousins.
. . .and, time to go.
One of these talks happened at a kid-friendly yet "hipster-approved" restaurant in which Marina heard the whole conversation.
So a few months later, when Matt asked her what we should do for my birthday, of course she said roller skating.
But I've always put ice above roller - especially when dealing with kids who learned how to walk relatively recently. So we headed for the ice rink.
The amount of time it takes for you to look at these photos is about as long as we lasted there. It was "too cold" or "too wobbly" or "too tight" or "too hungry for a cupcake from the cupcake store upstairs."
But for a few seconds, it was pure happiness. Thanks to my cousin Jacky for getting these shots.
Couples skate! I always had to sit out couples skate in high school, so this was both thrilling and foreign.
Bench-warming cousins.
. . .and, time to go.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Someone has to get picked . . . why not me?
Museum School was great. Amazing. Spectacular.
I saw things happening in that kindergarten that I haven't seen in any other classrooms - lots of singing, absolutely no chaos and the cutest way to learn the alphabet, ever.
It was almost too good to write about. Seriously.
There's only about 20 spots open and more than 200 kids trying to get in. It's all chosen by a random lottery so there's nothing I can do to help my chances except what I've done.
The place looks like what I remember, down to the clocks with Hebrew letters hanging on the walls and the floor that gets too slippery when it rains. But it also has it's own vibe thanks to the bright green and orange walls, a sweet little garden and one of the coolest principals around.
Here's other things I liked: the hours are perfect for my schedule, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; there's only 170 kids total in the school; they still do PE at Balboa Park; there's a kitchen/cooking class and sewing and tap and drama and gamelan instrument and art and math and writing and just about everything you'd want in a school. I also liked that the 6 to 6 program was held in a classroom rather than a giant playground where it's easy for kids to go unsupervised.
What I wasn't crazy about was the library, which looked EXACTLY like it did when I was there - just a few shelves of books and more of like an empty meeting space. There's a lot of construction happening on that block. And . . . I really can't think of anything else.
So, now I wait for the lottery pick, which happens in mid-February.
And in the meantime? Well, I'll keep going on tours. I've never won any sort of lottery or raffle in my life, and while I'd like to finally break that streak, I sure can't count on it.
I saw things happening in that kindergarten that I haven't seen in any other classrooms - lots of singing, absolutely no chaos and the cutest way to learn the alphabet, ever.
It was almost too good to write about. Seriously.
There's only about 20 spots open and more than 200 kids trying to get in. It's all chosen by a random lottery so there's nothing I can do to help my chances except what I've done.
The place looks like what I remember, down to the clocks with Hebrew letters hanging on the walls and the floor that gets too slippery when it rains. But it also has it's own vibe thanks to the bright green and orange walls, a sweet little garden and one of the coolest principals around.
Here's other things I liked: the hours are perfect for my schedule, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; there's only 170 kids total in the school; they still do PE at Balboa Park; there's a kitchen/cooking class and sewing and tap and drama and gamelan instrument and art and math and writing and just about everything you'd want in a school. I also liked that the 6 to 6 program was held in a classroom rather than a giant playground where it's easy for kids to go unsupervised.
What I wasn't crazy about was the library, which looked EXACTLY like it did when I was there - just a few shelves of books and more of like an empty meeting space. There's a lot of construction happening on that block. And . . . I really can't think of anything else.
So, now I wait for the lottery pick, which happens in mid-February.
And in the meantime? Well, I'll keep going on tours. I've never won any sort of lottery or raffle in my life, and while I'd like to finally break that streak, I sure can't count on it.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Great expectations
Tomorrow I tour a place called The Museum School and I am really, really excited about it.
Remember the idyllic elementary school experience I described a few posts ago? The one where PE was held at Balboa Park and in music class we learned how to harmonize to "Stray Cat Strut?" Where we broke in our hiking shoes for a class trip to Yosemite by hiking up and down Laurel Street?
It was at this exact location.
Back then it was called Beth Israel and it was a private school run by the synagogue next door. (Beth Israel has since moved to UTC and it only has a preschool, which we don't go to because have you sat in Golden Triangle traffic before?)
But the old building now houses The Museum School, a charter that's heavily involved with the arts. I've been very intrigued with the place, especially after going to some of its fundraisers that feature amazing local artists, designers and restauranteurs. It seems like a great community of parents and teachers.
Tomorrow I get to see what it's really all about. I'm going in fully aware that I'm putting unfair expectations on the place. I mean, I know it's not the same - but I'm hoping that it's just as happy an atmosphere that I remember from my time there.
We'll see tomorrow if that's the case.
Remember the idyllic elementary school experience I described a few posts ago? The one where PE was held at Balboa Park and in music class we learned how to harmonize to "Stray Cat Strut?" Where we broke in our hiking shoes for a class trip to Yosemite by hiking up and down Laurel Street?
It was at this exact location.
Back then it was called Beth Israel and it was a private school run by the synagogue next door. (Beth Israel has since moved to UTC and it only has a preschool, which we don't go to because have you sat in Golden Triangle traffic before?)
But the old building now houses The Museum School, a charter that's heavily involved with the arts. I've been very intrigued with the place, especially after going to some of its fundraisers that feature amazing local artists, designers and restauranteurs. It seems like a great community of parents and teachers.
Tomorrow I get to see what it's really all about. I'm going in fully aware that I'm putting unfair expectations on the place. I mean, I know it's not the same - but I'm hoping that it's just as happy an atmosphere that I remember from my time there.
We'll see tomorrow if that's the case.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
New age, new experiences
You are looking at a soon-to-be hospital volunteer.
For the past many years, I've been asked what I would do if the newspaper industry came crashing down. I think people expect me to say something like write a book or become a publicist, but that's not what I say.
I say I want to be a nurse.
Some people, the ones who know me pretty well, think I'm joking. And maybe the answer does have to do a bit with the glamour of ER, my once-favorite TV show, combined with a postcard I once got when I was five-years-old.
See, before I wanted to be a writer, I wanted to be a nurse, but the most I ever "pursued" it was by having a pretty sweet doctor's kit. Around this time, my grandmother went on a trip and sent me a postcard of a girl wearing a nurse's uniform. I loved it so much and it clearly it set off something that I still remember it so clearly.
But am I really going to invest time and money into something that I liked when I was five? Or because I thought Nurse Abby on ER was pretty great? I mean, maybe?
What if I hate blood, though? Or if I get grossed out? Or just realize I do not like people?
That's why I enrolled in a volunteer program at a local hospital. If I like it, I can be around that atmosphere and fill that professional void I think is missing. If I hate it, well, that was that, I guess.
But if I love it, and I kind of hope I don't love it, because then I'll be in trouble. And in a lot of debt.
For the past many years, I've been asked what I would do if the newspaper industry came crashing down. I think people expect me to say something like write a book or become a publicist, but that's not what I say.
I say I want to be a nurse.
Some people, the ones who know me pretty well, think I'm joking. And maybe the answer does have to do a bit with the glamour of ER, my once-favorite TV show, combined with a postcard I once got when I was five-years-old.
See, before I wanted to be a writer, I wanted to be a nurse, but the most I ever "pursued" it was by having a pretty sweet doctor's kit. Around this time, my grandmother went on a trip and sent me a postcard of a girl wearing a nurse's uniform. I loved it so much and it clearly it set off something that I still remember it so clearly.
But am I really going to invest time and money into something that I liked when I was five? Or because I thought Nurse Abby on ER was pretty great? I mean, maybe?
What if I hate blood, though? Or if I get grossed out? Or just realize I do not like people?
That's why I enrolled in a volunteer program at a local hospital. If I like it, I can be around that atmosphere and fill that professional void I think is missing. If I hate it, well, that was that, I guess.
But if I love it, and I kind of hope I don't love it, because then I'll be in trouble. And in a lot of debt.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
A moment of thanks
There's something I haven't mentioned yet and it's this: there is already a kindergarten where my kids go to school. In fact, it goes all the way to 8th grade.
I love the place where they are right now. It's a completely loving environment, I was raised with many of the parents who send their kids there and I feel like the education is top-notch. I couldn't ask for anything more.
(Well, except for fewer holidays - I never realized my people had so many occasions to take a day off.)
Sometimes I feel like after I write about a new kindergarten, it makes things awkward when friends from our school read about it. And I just want to say that I'm so grateful for the relationships we've formed there - especially with the teachers - and it's going to be pretty painful to leave.
But we do have to leave.
Tuition almost doubles for kindergarten. It's already a pretty big strain to send two kids at the preschool price - doubling it would be the end of fun at our house. There would be no gymnastics lessons, no new dresses at Old Navy, no stop at Starbucks for "chocolate/vanilla milk in a box," nothing.
We could apply for a scholarship, I know. It is something that's been in the back of my mind - especially after yesterday's incident where a man shot bullets into a Carlsbad elementary school.
So, I guess, really, anything could happen.
But whatever the outcome, I guess I just wanted to take a minute to recognize the amazing place that takes care of my girls each day and lets me do my work without ever having to worry about their well-being. I would name it, but if you hadn't already figured out, I've got stranger danger issues.
The school has helped shape my daughters into the strong, funny, imaginative little people they're becoming. Thank you.
I love the place where they are right now. It's a completely loving environment, I was raised with many of the parents who send their kids there and I feel like the education is top-notch. I couldn't ask for anything more.
(Well, except for fewer holidays - I never realized my people had so many occasions to take a day off.)
Sometimes I feel like after I write about a new kindergarten, it makes things awkward when friends from our school read about it. And I just want to say that I'm so grateful for the relationships we've formed there - especially with the teachers - and it's going to be pretty painful to leave.
But we do have to leave.
Tuition almost doubles for kindergarten. It's already a pretty big strain to send two kids at the preschool price - doubling it would be the end of fun at our house. There would be no gymnastics lessons, no new dresses at Old Navy, no stop at Starbucks for "chocolate/vanilla milk in a box," nothing.
We could apply for a scholarship, I know. It is something that's been in the back of my mind - especially after yesterday's incident where a man shot bullets into a Carlsbad elementary school.
So, I guess, really, anything could happen.
But whatever the outcome, I guess I just wanted to take a minute to recognize the amazing place that takes care of my girls each day and lets me do my work without ever having to worry about their well-being. I would name it, but if you hadn't already figured out, I've got stranger danger issues.
The school has helped shape my daughters into the strong, funny, imaginative little people they're becoming. Thank you.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
This message has been sent using the picture and Video service from Verizon Wireless!
To learn how you can snap pictures and capture videos with your wireless phone visit www.verizonwireless.com/picture.
Note: To play video messages sent to email, Quicktime@ 6.5 or higher is required.
The one?
Today's school search took me to Benchley-Weinberger, a communications magnet that's about five minutes away from where we live.
I wasn't expecting much, especially since Hearst is pretty much the star of our neighborhood. It's also, in the back of my mind, where the girls will probably end up going and where we'll eventually move so we can get in.
So I walk into the Benchley auditorium and they're playing this video about how great the school is, and the music it's set to is that ukelele version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," you know, the one they played on ER when Dr. Greene died? Ever since that episode, that song just gets me.
In the talk, they mentioned all these awards and test scores and blah blah blah. They talked a lot about communication, which means, yes, the kids do put out a newspaper and also a news broadcast.
But! Wait, it's not like that. I certainly do not want to encourage my children to work at a place where you devote hours and hours and can barely afford to pay the rent.
But I did like the communication aspect where they pair up younger kids to work with older ones, as well as doing class plays and school assemblies. I was surprised to see that they had some pretty cool after-school programs, too, like yoga, art and . . . Spanish classes!
Yes, it's already looking perfect.
The kindergarten is a bit separate from the main school - they have their own playground, garden and even little bathrooms. And it was hidden from the street, which is something I didn't like about Longfellow. At Longfellow the kindergarten playground was totally visible and any old creepmaster could just come right up and talk to the kids. Not that this happens or anything, but it happens in my imagination.
Inside, there was no chaos. The rooms were clean. The kids looked happy. I didn't have the feeling that the teachers were overwhelmed and not totally in control, which is sort of what I felt at Longfellow.
They showed me a music room and met the new music teacher, Miss Marina (see? perfect!) and inside she had everything from xylophones and triangles to bongo drums and maracas.
But what got me was the library. You don't even know.
The library at Benchley is, like, 100 times nicer than the Kensington library, where we usually go. They have rows and rows of books, all neatly arranged and cozy. They even had some Roald Dahl books I've never even seen before and got a vision of Marina sitting in a chair, reading it one day.
I loved this school. It felt warm and friendly and happy.
Of course, there's bad news. Because I live so close to it, the chances of me getting in are very low. I am in cluster one, which is the cluster they pick the fewest students from. But, after a quick search on Craigslist, it seems that living in San Carlos is so much cheaper than living in Del Cerro, anyway.
Next stop: Museum School on Oct. 20. There's going to be a lot to say about this one, which, right now is where I really really want the girls to go.
I wasn't expecting much, especially since Hearst is pretty much the star of our neighborhood. It's also, in the back of my mind, where the girls will probably end up going and where we'll eventually move so we can get in.
So I walk into the Benchley auditorium and they're playing this video about how great the school is, and the music it's set to is that ukelele version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," you know, the one they played on ER when Dr. Greene died? Ever since that episode, that song just gets me.
In the talk, they mentioned all these awards and test scores and blah blah blah. They talked a lot about communication, which means, yes, the kids do put out a newspaper and also a news broadcast.
But! Wait, it's not like that. I certainly do not want to encourage my children to work at a place where you devote hours and hours and can barely afford to pay the rent.
But I did like the communication aspect where they pair up younger kids to work with older ones, as well as doing class plays and school assemblies. I was surprised to see that they had some pretty cool after-school programs, too, like yoga, art and . . . Spanish classes!
Yes, it's already looking perfect.
The kindergarten is a bit separate from the main school - they have their own playground, garden and even little bathrooms. And it was hidden from the street, which is something I didn't like about Longfellow. At Longfellow the kindergarten playground was totally visible and any old creepmaster could just come right up and talk to the kids. Not that this happens or anything, but it happens in my imagination.
Inside, there was no chaos. The rooms were clean. The kids looked happy. I didn't have the feeling that the teachers were overwhelmed and not totally in control, which is sort of what I felt at Longfellow.
They showed me a music room and met the new music teacher, Miss Marina (see? perfect!) and inside she had everything from xylophones and triangles to bongo drums and maracas.
But what got me was the library. You don't even know.
The library at Benchley is, like, 100 times nicer than the Kensington library, where we usually go. They have rows and rows of books, all neatly arranged and cozy. They even had some Roald Dahl books I've never even seen before and got a vision of Marina sitting in a chair, reading it one day.
I loved this school. It felt warm and friendly and happy.
Of course, there's bad news. Because I live so close to it, the chances of me getting in are very low. I am in cluster one, which is the cluster they pick the fewest students from. But, after a quick search on Craigslist, it seems that living in San Carlos is so much cheaper than living in Del Cerro, anyway.
Next stop: Museum School on Oct. 20. There's going to be a lot to say about this one, which, right now is where I really really want the girls to go.
Monday, October 4, 2010
I'm still here
It's been almost two months since I posted. Wow, I didn't realize that. I thought it was only a few weeks.
For a long while, I was very reluctant to continue this blog. Something happened at work that made me reconsider sharing much about my personal life.
But I'm here.
And for now, I'm going to be writing a lot about schools because I'm kind of obsessed with finding the perfect kindergarten.
I didn't go to public elementary school. And what's more, I loved the place where I went so much that I think I'm holding it up to a ridiculous standard that no school will ever meet.
My third through sixth grade experience was magical. It was a small, start-up school a few blocks away from Balboa Park. The airplanes would roar above us during quiet time; we'd take our snacks to the suspension bridge; art class was on the sidewalk outside the Britt House; we'd have P.E. in the park and have to move the homeless out of the way, which was a weird lesson in appreciating what we had and gave us an early sense of compassion.
Unfortunately that school is gone. Well, sort of gone. (More on that another day.) And we can't afford to do private education for two girls. So I've been really stressed about finding a place that will give them even a tiny bit of what I had.
So I'm on a mission, I'm touring schools. And today I visited my first one: Longfellow.
Longfellow is a Spanish immersion school in Clairemont that's designed for English speakers. They teach the required curriculum only in Spanish from K through 3rd grade and then bring in English bit by bit after that. Because I don't speak Spanish to the girls, or at least not enough, I thought sending them to a place where they'll just be around it would be ideal. I still think that.
I really liked the idea of the school and I also like how it goes up to 8th grade; like if you go there from K-8 you'll be part of a community. But I didn't love it.
I don't know, that part of Clairemont really confuses me, I can't get a read on it. Like why do so many people there own boats? And why is there one mansion next door to three creepy rickety houses? That's just me being weird though.
The kindergarten classes were really, really chaotic. The kids seemed to be running around doing their own thing with only one or two teachers to watch. Again, this is probably due to the California budget more than anything else. I was on a tour with another mom who is also a teacher and she asked to see a first grade class. It was a good call as those classes felt much more structured.
Granted, the kindergarten class has only been in session for a month and the recruiter said that most kids have a really hard time their first few weeks. They're around a new language at a new school and their brains just get worked.
So as of now, I'm not going to rule out Longfellow but it probably won't be our first choice, either.
Next tour: Benchley Weinberger - a communications magnet in our general neighborhood - on Thursday.
For a long while, I was very reluctant to continue this blog. Something happened at work that made me reconsider sharing much about my personal life.
But I'm here.
And for now, I'm going to be writing a lot about schools because I'm kind of obsessed with finding the perfect kindergarten.
I didn't go to public elementary school. And what's more, I loved the place where I went so much that I think I'm holding it up to a ridiculous standard that no school will ever meet.
My third through sixth grade experience was magical. It was a small, start-up school a few blocks away from Balboa Park. The airplanes would roar above us during quiet time; we'd take our snacks to the suspension bridge; art class was on the sidewalk outside the Britt House; we'd have P.E. in the park and have to move the homeless out of the way, which was a weird lesson in appreciating what we had and gave us an early sense of compassion.
Unfortunately that school is gone. Well, sort of gone. (More on that another day.) And we can't afford to do private education for two girls. So I've been really stressed about finding a place that will give them even a tiny bit of what I had.
So I'm on a mission, I'm touring schools. And today I visited my first one: Longfellow.
Longfellow is a Spanish immersion school in Clairemont that's designed for English speakers. They teach the required curriculum only in Spanish from K through 3rd grade and then bring in English bit by bit after that. Because I don't speak Spanish to the girls, or at least not enough, I thought sending them to a place where they'll just be around it would be ideal. I still think that.
I really liked the idea of the school and I also like how it goes up to 8th grade; like if you go there from K-8 you'll be part of a community. But I didn't love it.
I don't know, that part of Clairemont really confuses me, I can't get a read on it. Like why do so many people there own boats? And why is there one mansion next door to three creepy rickety houses? That's just me being weird though.
The kindergarten classes were really, really chaotic. The kids seemed to be running around doing their own thing with only one or two teachers to watch. Again, this is probably due to the California budget more than anything else. I was on a tour with another mom who is also a teacher and she asked to see a first grade class. It was a good call as those classes felt much more structured.
Granted, the kindergarten class has only been in session for a month and the recruiter said that most kids have a really hard time their first few weeks. They're around a new language at a new school and their brains just get worked.
So as of now, I'm not going to rule out Longfellow but it probably won't be our first choice, either.
Next tour: Benchley Weinberger - a communications magnet in our general neighborhood - on Thursday.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Vacation: day one (Saturday)
You can blame me for the worst start to a vacation in the history of vacations.
I'm the one who took Marina to her four-year-old checkup without realizing that, HOLYCRAP, they give you lots of shots at this one. Not since her baby days was the kid stuck so much with a needle. And after the first one, Marina wasn't having it. She screamed and cried and yelled and announced, "I do not want this" about a million times.
But those nurses are sneaky.
So today Marina was all fevery and crabby and blah. At one point I looked in the playroom and she was just laying there on the floor, her belly on the ground and her arms and legs spread out like a starfish.
Then her mood just oozed onto all of us. And there was no food in the house. And the Padres lost. And that was the first day of our vacation.
I'm the one who took Marina to her four-year-old checkup without realizing that, HOLYCRAP, they give you lots of shots at this one. Not since her baby days was the kid stuck so much with a needle. And after the first one, Marina wasn't having it. She screamed and cried and yelled and announced, "I do not want this" about a million times.
But those nurses are sneaky.
So today Marina was all fevery and crabby and blah. At one point I looked in the playroom and she was just laying there on the floor, her belly on the ground and her arms and legs spread out like a starfish.
Then her mood just oozed onto all of us. And there was no food in the house. And the Padres lost. And that was the first day of our vacation.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Meal time(s)
Remember when I wrote that article that made everyone in San Diego upset because OMG I make two dinners sometimes: one for the kids and one for me?
All those letters and comments got me thinking that maybe I should change my ways. And for a while I only made one dinner. And then I gained, like, five extra pounds. And so you know what haters? I'm over it. If I want to make two dinners, I'm going to make two dinners.
All those letters and comments got me thinking that maybe I should change my ways. And for a while I only made one dinner. And then I gained, like, five extra pounds. And so you know what haters? I'm over it. If I want to make two dinners, I'm going to make two dinners.
Sick
When I last wrote a post on this blog (which I sent via text message and thought I was pretty clever), I was sick.
It was the first day that I was sick. I got something weird from working Comic-Con, an assignment that involved me tracking down a stabber and then photographing him. For that, I got my first photo credit.
But I have also been sick since.
I've been on antibiotics, steroids, rest and work. Nothing seems to be working.
So when we do something like get Ella a new bed, or take a family trip to Coronado on the ferry or go watch Ramona and Beezus after school one day, I'm too wiped to talk about it after the fact.
I'm off to the doctor. Hopefully we'll get my breathing issues back on track in time for Mexican vacation next week! Woooo!
It was the first day that I was sick. I got something weird from working Comic-Con, an assignment that involved me tracking down a stabber and then photographing him. For that, I got my first photo credit.
But I have also been sick since.
I've been on antibiotics, steroids, rest and work. Nothing seems to be working.
So when we do something like get Ella a new bed, or take a family trip to Coronado on the ferry or go watch Ramona and Beezus after school one day, I'm too wiped to talk about it after the fact.
I'm off to the doctor. Hopefully we'll get my breathing issues back on track in time for Mexican vacation next week! Woooo!
Monday, July 26, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
A roomfull of Garins
The last time my brother was in this house, he was about a year old and had swallowed a bunch of pills that he found on a night stand. After 28 years, the experience of being in our Ensenada grandmother's house was less stressful, but still kinda Twilight Zoney.
And then this happened.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
The coolest person we've ever encountered
On our way to dinner tonight, the girls and I saw a group of people clustered on the sidewalk staring at the side of a building. I saw some familiar faces, so we went over to investigate.
And look who it was!
The artist/muralist/Obama poster creator, Shepard Fairey! He's back in town for an art exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art and has been putting up graffiti art all around San Diego.
Apparently lots of people knew this would be happening, but it took me completely by surprise. And it was almost as exciting as the time Tony Hawk stood next to me at The Strokes concert and I couldn't pay attention to the show because, holy crap, Tony Hawk is standing next to me, and who knew he was so tall?
Anyway, first Shepard painted the building in deep brown and red shades. Then he took some stencils that were pre-cut with swirls and things like his Obey star logo and he spray painted over them onto the wall. You can see half of the star on the top, left hand square below.
The stencils were kept in the office of a local publicist I know, so she let us have a closer look.
And off it goes to the brick wall. . .
At the restaurant, there were a bunch of local artists selling t-shirts and books and paintings, which is why we were there in the first place.
Inspired by the mural, the girls went into a magical metallic Air Stream trailer where there was a paper mural people could draw on. With Sharpies! Do you know how exciting that is?
Then they made tiny t-shirt projects. Ella displayed hers on the wall, like you were supposed to.
Marina wanted to keep hers.
On our way back to the car, we stopped to check the progress of the mural and that's how I got this money shot.
And look who it was!
The artist/muralist/Obama poster creator, Shepard Fairey! He's back in town for an art exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art and has been putting up graffiti art all around San Diego.
Apparently lots of people knew this would be happening, but it took me completely by surprise. And it was almost as exciting as the time Tony Hawk stood next to me at The Strokes concert and I couldn't pay attention to the show because, holy crap, Tony Hawk is standing next to me, and who knew he was so tall?
Anyway, first Shepard painted the building in deep brown and red shades. Then he took some stencils that were pre-cut with swirls and things like his Obey star logo and he spray painted over them onto the wall. You can see half of the star on the top, left hand square below.
The stencils were kept in the office of a local publicist I know, so she let us have a closer look.
And off it goes to the brick wall. . .
At the restaurant, there were a bunch of local artists selling t-shirts and books and paintings, which is why we were there in the first place.
Inspired by the mural, the girls went into a magical metallic Air Stream trailer where there was a paper mural people could draw on. With Sharpies! Do you know how exciting that is?
Then they made tiny t-shirt projects. Ella displayed hers on the wall, like you were supposed to.
Marina wanted to keep hers.
On our way back to the car, we stopped to check the progress of the mural and that's how I got this money shot.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Kind of like that movie, Cocoon
I had the morning to myself on Sunday and rather than spend it watching TV and playing iPod solitaire, I went to a yoga class.
Now, I only had a short window. The girls were at the movies with Diana, the most awesome teacher in the universe. Matt was playing soccer. And the World Cup finals were starting at 11:30. (Aside: I picked Spain to win it all on day 1. Wooo.)
So, the only yoga class happening at 10 a.m. was something called NIA, which was described as a mixture of yoga, martial arts and jazz dance. Hmmm. That should have stopped me right there. But a kick-boxing class kind of uses those elements, too, sometimes, right?
It didn't bother me that I was 20 years younger than everyone. It didn't even bother me that the instructor had dreadlocks and yoga pants with black, flowing gauzy stuff at the bottom. So that when she moved the gauzy things made waves. Well, the pants did bother me somewhat, but not enough to walk out.
The first 25 minutes or so were typical aerobics class stuff. Yoga set to synchronized steps and a lot of it required hip-shaking.
But then. It was time for the "free dance" portion. Yes. Free dance.
Now, I'm not opposed to free dance. Just that morning, Ella and I were free dancing to the Chemical Brothers' "Hey Girl, Hey Boy." We were pretending we were at a rave and we built up to the big beat and everything. It was amazing.
Free dancing in a room full of silver-haired strangers, however, was a different ordeal. Like, all of a sudden these ladies began to fling their arms about and skip around the room. Sometimes they'd stop and pose. One lady stood in place and did, like, a Deadhead type of spin.
Me? I was horrified. I stood in the corner and shifted from side to side, the same thing I did when I went to my first dance. I didn't make eye contact with anyone. I waited and waited for the song to end. It had to end soon right? Right??
It finally did end. And guess what? There was ANOTHER free dance!
I should have walked out. Any sane person would have. But the writer/observer side of me took over and I just couldn't leave. What if something even more ridiculous happens and I miss it? Well, something else did happen. One of the ladies, the sweetest looking one who wore an old-school sweatband, she got on the floor and started writhing around on the floor. Like a snake.
Now, I'm all for people expressing themselves. And I think it's cool that these women have this outlet. But if NIA class taught me anything it's that I'm a person who likes structure. Apparently, I like things done a certain way. I like rules. And at yoga, the rules should not include a Dance Jam.
Now, I only had a short window. The girls were at the movies with Diana, the most awesome teacher in the universe. Matt was playing soccer. And the World Cup finals were starting at 11:30. (Aside: I picked Spain to win it all on day 1. Wooo.)
So, the only yoga class happening at 10 a.m. was something called NIA, which was described as a mixture of yoga, martial arts and jazz dance. Hmmm. That should have stopped me right there. But a kick-boxing class kind of uses those elements, too, sometimes, right?
It didn't bother me that I was 20 years younger than everyone. It didn't even bother me that the instructor had dreadlocks and yoga pants with black, flowing gauzy stuff at the bottom. So that when she moved the gauzy things made waves. Well, the pants did bother me somewhat, but not enough to walk out.
The first 25 minutes or so were typical aerobics class stuff. Yoga set to synchronized steps and a lot of it required hip-shaking.
But then. It was time for the "free dance" portion. Yes. Free dance.
Now, I'm not opposed to free dance. Just that morning, Ella and I were free dancing to the Chemical Brothers' "Hey Girl, Hey Boy." We were pretending we were at a rave and we built up to the big beat and everything. It was amazing.
Free dancing in a room full of silver-haired strangers, however, was a different ordeal. Like, all of a sudden these ladies began to fling their arms about and skip around the room. Sometimes they'd stop and pose. One lady stood in place and did, like, a Deadhead type of spin.
Me? I was horrified. I stood in the corner and shifted from side to side, the same thing I did when I went to my first dance. I didn't make eye contact with anyone. I waited and waited for the song to end. It had to end soon right? Right??
It finally did end. And guess what? There was ANOTHER free dance!
I should have walked out. Any sane person would have. But the writer/observer side of me took over and I just couldn't leave. What if something even more ridiculous happens and I miss it? Well, something else did happen. One of the ladies, the sweetest looking one who wore an old-school sweatband, she got on the floor and started writhing around on the floor. Like a snake.
Now, I'm all for people expressing themselves. And I think it's cool that these women have this outlet. But if NIA class taught me anything it's that I'm a person who likes structure. Apparently, I like things done a certain way. I like rules. And at yoga, the rules should not include a Dance Jam.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
In which I get a little too into parties
I never knew I would spend a Saturday afternoon baking 50 cupcakes, half of them made from scratch with lemon zest and two varieties of homemade icing: raspberry and lemon. I didn't think I would make 30 sandwiches and cut them into circles and flowers. Or spend days and days in thrift stores accumulating 25 teacups for the kids to take home. But I did.
Yes, folks, I am a mom.
And Matt, as always, is awesome dad.
Yes, folks, I am a mom.
And Matt, as always, is awesome dad.
Monday, June 28, 2010
The lost photos
I can't find my camera and for Marina's birthday party I had to borrow my grandmother's.
I don't think she's ever uploaded a single photo and and hidden inside the memory card were some never-before seen gems like these:
I don't think she's ever uploaded a single photo and and hidden inside the memory card were some never-before seen gems like these:
Thursday, June 24, 2010
College-bound
Ever since we saw Toy Story 3, where Andy goes off to college, the girls have been asking me lots of questions about college, especially the concept of sleep-away school.
Marina: Did you go to sleep-away college?
Me: No, I went to stay-at-home college, but Daddy went to sleep-away college.
Marina: Um . . . I think I will go to stay-at-home college.
Me: OK.
Marina: What is sleep-away college like?
Me: If you go to sleep-away college you get to go to bed whenever you want. You get to watch TV whenever you want. And if you want to eat candy for dinner, you can.
Ella: I'M GOING TO SLEEP-AWAY COLLEGE.
Marina: And if we go to stay-at-home college can we do that?
Me: No, you will still have to follow the rules.
Marina: OK, I will go to sleep-away college.
Ella: I'M NEVER GOING TO BED!!!
Marina: Did you go to sleep-away college?
Me: No, I went to stay-at-home college, but Daddy went to sleep-away college.
Marina: Um . . . I think I will go to stay-at-home college.
Me: OK.
Marina: What is sleep-away college like?
Me: If you go to sleep-away college you get to go to bed whenever you want. You get to watch TV whenever you want. And if you want to eat candy for dinner, you can.
Ella: I'M GOING TO SLEEP-AWAY COLLEGE.
Marina: And if we go to stay-at-home college can we do that?
Me: No, you will still have to follow the rules.
Marina: OK, I will go to sleep-away college.
Ella: I'M NEVER GOING TO BED!!!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Wiped
So this is how June 2010 has evolved so far:
My friends at work got laid off, others took drastic pay cuts, the girls got stomach bugs and, on top of that, the entire city of San Diego judged me because I wrote this article.
I am drained.
The only thing keeping our house sane is World Cup soccer, which has been totally fun and exciting. Or maybe I'm saying that because Mexico won when no one thought they would, and it came on pretty much the worst day, ever, and instilled a weird sense of hope in me.
Anyway, here is a picture of a good day. And I'm posting it even though people are going to be all upset that we take our kids to Pinkberry. We do, everyone! And then later we bathe them in high fructose corn syrup!
My friends at work got laid off, others took drastic pay cuts, the girls got stomach bugs and, on top of that, the entire city of San Diego judged me because I wrote this article.
I am drained.
The only thing keeping our house sane is World Cup soccer, which has been totally fun and exciting. Or maybe I'm saying that because Mexico won when no one thought they would, and it came on pretty much the worst day, ever, and instilled a weird sense of hope in me.
Anyway, here is a picture of a good day. And I'm posting it even though people are going to be all upset that we take our kids to Pinkberry. We do, everyone! And then later we bathe them in high fructose corn syrup!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
First Hall Movie
While I was on assignment today, I got this little gem sent to my phone.
first hall movie
first hall movie
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Here we are again
So, it's June again.
And while the first three days have been non-eventful, save for some super cranky mornings, I know that this particular June will be filled with lots of change.
As many people already know, it's a given that something bad usually happens to me in June, things so terrible I would never write about them on a blog. And because of those dark and scary things, I have an irrational fear of this month even though Matt proposed to me on June 1 in the hopes that he could make it better.
But I know for sure things are happening where I work this month. I don't know how it will play out, but perhaps because I know it's coming in June, I'm not so wrapped up in my hatred of the month.
So today I decided to celebrate the start of summer. I cleaned out our little baby pool, filled it with water and watched the girls splash about while I sat in the warm evening sun.
It's June.
And while the first three days have been non-eventful, save for some super cranky mornings, I know that this particular June will be filled with lots of change.
As many people already know, it's a given that something bad usually happens to me in June, things so terrible I would never write about them on a blog. And because of those dark and scary things, I have an irrational fear of this month even though Matt proposed to me on June 1 in the hopes that he could make it better.
But I know for sure things are happening where I work this month. I don't know how it will play out, but perhaps because I know it's coming in June, I'm not so wrapped up in my hatred of the month.
So today I decided to celebrate the start of summer. I cleaned out our little baby pool, filled it with water and watched the girls splash about while I sat in the warm evening sun.
It's June.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Ella's birthday
It isn't actually until November but we're already so! super! excited! because we got tickets to the Yo Gabba Gabba! live show!
Wooo!
It's happening four days after Ella's turns three. At such an early age, the girls will go to the magical arena that holds many of my favorite memories. Like Harlem Globe Trotters games. Or the Ice Capades. And later, much later, INXS and Depeche Mode concerts where I'd spend waaaay too much money on programs and posters.
I'm glad to be taking the girls to their first Sports Arena experience, if only so that when they one day watch "Almost Famous," they can say "that's the Sports Arena! In this movie! I've been there! My home town is famous! And I'm famous, too!" Or maybe that's just me.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to Yo Gabba Gabba the same way I'd look forward to an actual, grownup concert with rum drinks and too much feedback.
Just watch one of my favorite clips and you'll see why:
DON'T EAT ME, I'M DIRTY!
To summarize:
1. Good lessons! Especially for clean freaks.
2. Bright colors. And lots of orange.
3. Complex indie-esque song structures
4. Talking crackers.
Wooo!
It's happening four days after Ella's turns three. At such an early age, the girls will go to the magical arena that holds many of my favorite memories. Like Harlem Globe Trotters games. Or the Ice Capades. And later, much later, INXS and Depeche Mode concerts where I'd spend waaaay too much money on programs and posters.
I'm glad to be taking the girls to their first Sports Arena experience, if only so that when they one day watch "Almost Famous," they can say "that's the Sports Arena! In this movie! I've been there! My home town is famous! And I'm famous, too!" Or maybe that's just me.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to Yo Gabba Gabba the same way I'd look forward to an actual, grownup concert with rum drinks and too much feedback.
Just watch one of my favorite clips and you'll see why:
DON'T EAT ME, I'M DIRTY!
To summarize:
1. Good lessons! Especially for clean freaks.
2. Bright colors. And lots of orange.
3. Complex indie-esque song structures
4. Talking crackers.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Sunday night dinner
Remember that cooking series I'm doing for the newspaper? Another installment is set to run in June and I have not been doing any fancy kitchen stuff lately.
Honestly, I haven't been doing much of anything. No cooking. No cleaning. No exercise. No nothing. And after a few months of this malaise, I think I'm finally over it.
So tonight, in honor of my new attitude, and to celebrate the amazingly clean car I now have, I made a lovely dinner.
Mini cheeseburgers and strawberry-feta salad. Please note we are using the fancy wedding china. And, yes, some of the fancy wedding china has polka dots.
And a strawberry sorbet pie. Sorry for the sideways tilt.
Honestly, I haven't been doing much of anything. No cooking. No cleaning. No exercise. No nothing. And after a few months of this malaise, I think I'm finally over it.
So tonight, in honor of my new attitude, and to celebrate the amazingly clean car I now have, I made a lovely dinner.
Mini cheeseburgers and strawberry-feta salad. Please note we are using the fancy wedding china. And, yes, some of the fancy wedding china has polka dots.
And a strawberry sorbet pie. Sorry for the sideways tilt.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
My new favorite picture
She's not the easiest two-year-old in the world. Like if she's putting on her dress (which can only be short-sleeved and twirly) and, say, her arm goes through the neck hole rather than the arm hole, and you try to help her out of the predicament, she will collapse on the floor and cry because of the implication that she can't do it herself. And don't expect her to hold your hand crossing the street, even if it's really busy. She won't wear diapers anymore, either, instead we have to invest in the prettier princess "training pants."
But when she wants to smile, get ready, because she gives it everything she's got.
(Thanks to Mops for the photo, which was taken on her wedding day.)
But when she wants to smile, get ready, because she gives it everything she's got.
(Thanks to Mops for the photo, which was taken on her wedding day.)
Sunday, May 16, 2010
The psychology of a zoo trip
All these road trips up and down California have made quite an impact on Marina.
And now that Ella's given up her pacifier, she's taken an interest in all things nature. Which mostly means she refuses to wear shoes, pants or diapers.
And now that Ella's given up her pacifier, she's taken an interest in all things nature. Which mostly means she refuses to wear shoes, pants or diapers.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
A list of good things
The past few weeks have been pretty crappy. And when I say crappy, realize that I'm sugar-coating it with whipped cream and a cherry on top.
But this weekend some good things happened and so I will document them in list form:
* The girls and I went to Cups, a cupcake place in La Jolla and we loved it because it was pink and they were playing Modest Mouse.
* Then we walked around downtown La Jolla and when we were in front of the Armani Exchange store, Ella insisted we go in to see "the pretty dresses."
* We got hamburgers at Smashburger and had more fun smashing our burgers than actually eating them.
* Finally, I convinced the girls that dresses at American Apparel were much better than the ones at Armani Exchange and so they picked purple ballerina ones.
* The family created letter day. Saturday was brought to you by the letter, "M" (of course).
* Stop 1: The Mission for breakfast
* Stop 2: Children's Museum where we made masks!
* Stop 3: Mamma Mia's pizza for dinner; Mariposa ice cream for dessert
* Stop 4: Music at the Adams Avenue Roots Fest (where we saw John Doe and Marina and Ella threw the skirts of their ballerina dresses over their faces, exposing their underwear (or training pants) for all to see, and then went on to shake their "bums").
* Stop 6: Med, goodnight.
But this weekend some good things happened and so I will document them in list form:
* The girls and I went to Cups, a cupcake place in La Jolla and we loved it because it was pink and they were playing Modest Mouse.
* Then we walked around downtown La Jolla and when we were in front of the Armani Exchange store, Ella insisted we go in to see "the pretty dresses."
* We got hamburgers at Smashburger and had more fun smashing our burgers than actually eating them.
* Finally, I convinced the girls that dresses at American Apparel were much better than the ones at Armani Exchange and so they picked purple ballerina ones.
* The family created letter day. Saturday was brought to you by the letter, "M" (of course).
* Stop 1: The Mission for breakfast
* Stop 2: Children's Museum where we made masks!
* Stop 3: Mamma Mia's pizza for dinner; Mariposa ice cream for dessert
* Stop 4: Music at the Adams Avenue Roots Fest (where we saw John Doe and Marina and Ella threw the skirts of their ballerina dresses over their faces, exposing their underwear (or training pants) for all to see, and then went on to shake their "bums").
* Stop 6: Med, goodnight.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
In defense of diapers
Ella has decided to potty train herself.
This is not something I want. Changing diapers is so much easier than living under constant fear of urine. And, also, you look like a total jackass saying, "do you have to go potty" every five minutes.
But Ella, who by the way is the most stubborn person in the world and I should have realized this when she decided to be born two weeks late, is totally over diapers. But she's also not into potties. So for the last week, the kid's been going through, I kid you not, eight pairs of "underpants" a day.
At night, it's the worst. THE WORST.
We fight about diapers versus non-diapers and I leave the room shaking, defeated and in tears. Every night!
And then deep down I think, holy crap, if she's this much of a brat now, I am so not ready for the night I tell her she isn't allowed to go see UB40 at the Sports Arena even though she already bought tickets and her friends are waiting outside in the white convertible Cabriolet. Oh, wait, what?
This is not something I want. Changing diapers is so much easier than living under constant fear of urine. And, also, you look like a total jackass saying, "do you have to go potty" every five minutes.
But Ella, who by the way is the most stubborn person in the world and I should have realized this when she decided to be born two weeks late, is totally over diapers. But she's also not into potties. So for the last week, the kid's been going through, I kid you not, eight pairs of "underpants" a day.
At night, it's the worst. THE WORST.
We fight about diapers versus non-diapers and I leave the room shaking, defeated and in tears. Every night!
And then deep down I think, holy crap, if she's this much of a brat now, I am so not ready for the night I tell her she isn't allowed to go see UB40 at the Sports Arena even though she already bought tickets and her friends are waiting outside in the white convertible Cabriolet. Oh, wait, what?
Friday, April 16, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Wish me luck
Today we take the girls to their *first* !ever! *dentist* !appointment!
Do you think all the fancy punctuation will lead to a fun, fantastical time?
Do you think all the fancy punctuation will lead to a fun, fantastical time?
Monday, April 5, 2010
300th Post! Mega Earthquake Edition!
Apparently I have turned into my mother.
Back in my innocent days, when I thought earthquakes were the most fun thing, ever, (they did seem to always fall around my birthday) my mom used to freak the eff out.
She'd scream "EARTHQUAKE!!!" and then run outside. Sometimes she'd say something super nutty like, "EVERYONE RUN INTO THE CANYON!! NOW!!!"
Everyone would laugh later, and be like, oh that Susy, she's always freaking out about earthquakes.
Well guess what.
Yesterday we had one of the biggest earthquakes I've ever felt (7.2, centered in inland Baja). And, granted, I had a pretty high fever (102) and some sort of stomach flu. But when I felt everything move, I sort of screamed and I ran out the front door. I ran out the front door! Alone! I left Matt and the girls sitting at the table!
I quickly realized what the hell I was doing and went back inside to collect a child, though I don't even remember who I was holding. And all this time, from when I felt the first shake to when I ran outside to when I went back in to when I went back out, the ground was still shaking! All that time! ALL OF IT.
Is that grounds for worst mother of the year? I'm sure if I was celebrating Easter I would have been banished into a puff of smoke or something.
So, to Marina and Ella and Matt: I'M SO SORRY. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
The best part is, my mom didn't even feel that one. So I'm totally the crazy earthquake lady now.
Back in my innocent days, when I thought earthquakes were the most fun thing, ever, (they did seem to always fall around my birthday) my mom used to freak the eff out.
She'd scream "EARTHQUAKE!!!" and then run outside. Sometimes she'd say something super nutty like, "EVERYONE RUN INTO THE CANYON!! NOW!!!"
Everyone would laugh later, and be like, oh that Susy, she's always freaking out about earthquakes.
Well guess what.
Yesterday we had one of the biggest earthquakes I've ever felt (7.2, centered in inland Baja). And, granted, I had a pretty high fever (102) and some sort of stomach flu. But when I felt everything move, I sort of screamed and I ran out the front door. I ran out the front door! Alone! I left Matt and the girls sitting at the table!
I quickly realized what the hell I was doing and went back inside to collect a child, though I don't even remember who I was holding. And all this time, from when I felt the first shake to when I ran outside to when I went back in to when I went back out, the ground was still shaking! All that time! ALL OF IT.
Is that grounds for worst mother of the year? I'm sure if I was celebrating Easter I would have been banished into a puff of smoke or something.
So, to Marina and Ella and Matt: I'M SO SORRY. IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN.
The best part is, my mom didn't even feel that one. So I'm totally the crazy earthquake lady now.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
The other side
Now that Marina's older, she's been asking me some questions about my dad. Like what's his name? Why does he live in Mexico?
She's only met him once or twice. Ella's never met him at all. Actually, not many of my friends have, either.
So I found this photo hiding in the depths of my email inbox. It was taken when I was pregnant with Marina.
I present to you the Garins!
That's a lot of people, but basically, my dad is on the left. I don't know why my brother looks like Lucas. My half sister is the one in black, on the other end.
We were at my step-brother's wedding in Ensenada (the couple standing next to me). Though I guess, technically, he's no longer my step-brother.
But do you even appreciate this? Even Alex is in it! This truly is among the rarest of photos in the family's history.
She's only met him once or twice. Ella's never met him at all. Actually, not many of my friends have, either.
So I found this photo hiding in the depths of my email inbox. It was taken when I was pregnant with Marina.
I present to you the Garins!
That's a lot of people, but basically, my dad is on the left. I don't know why my brother looks like Lucas. My half sister is the one in black, on the other end.
We were at my step-brother's wedding in Ensenada (the couple standing next to me). Though I guess, technically, he's no longer my step-brother.
But do you even appreciate this? Even Alex is in it! This truly is among the rarest of photos in the family's history.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Marina's view part two
Once again, these are shots that Marina took by herself.
Except this one, which I think is super funny because it was 10 p.m. and she was exhausted but still determined to eat her minature chocolate pie.
Except this one, which I think is super funny because it was 10 p.m. and she was exhausted but still determined to eat her minature chocolate pie.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Marina's view
Over the weekend, we went to a wedding and Marina got antsy. So I gave her my camera so she could mess around and let me have my cocktail in peace.
Well, it turns out she's a photo genius. I swear she took these without any help.
Here is part one of her work.
Well, it turns out she's a photo genius. I swear she took these without any help.
Here is part one of her work.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Scary Bears
The other day, Marina insisted that I let her watch (a really horrible) Care Bears movie, even though she's super afraid of the mean guy character.
I told her I'd be making dinner and couldn't come in the room every time the evil Care Bear was about to steal a "belly badge."
She reassured me that she's a big girl now. She likes bad guys, in fact. And it would be no problem at all.
Just as long as her sister was there.
I told her I'd be making dinner and couldn't come in the room every time the evil Care Bear was about to steal a "belly badge."
She reassured me that she's a big girl now. She likes bad guys, in fact. And it would be no problem at all.
Just as long as her sister was there.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
An afternoon at the book store
Alternate title: Can you pick out the Jewish child?
Scene: Ella constructing a circle around herself with tiny stuffed animals, which includes (but is not limited to) a raccoon, a bunny and Big Bird. The circle looks very much like a "circle time" would at school.
Key: Davening is a way of saying praying. I told you already, her school is very religious.
Marina: Ella, are you davening?
Ella: No, I'm not. I'm doing Christmas.
Marina: What?
Ella: I'm doing Christmas.
Marina: But . . . you're Jewish.
Ella: I'm not Jewish. I'm Christmas.
Marina: What, are you crazy?
End scene.
Scene: Ella constructing a circle around herself with tiny stuffed animals, which includes (but is not limited to) a raccoon, a bunny and Big Bird. The circle looks very much like a "circle time" would at school.
Key: Davening is a way of saying praying. I told you already, her school is very religious.
Marina: Ella, are you davening?
Ella: No, I'm not. I'm doing Christmas.
Marina: What?
Ella: I'm doing Christmas.
Marina: But . . . you're Jewish.
Ella: I'm not Jewish. I'm Christmas.
Marina: What, are you crazy?
End scene.
Goodbye, hair.
Here is my new haircut. Thanks, Mom!
Notice the photo's red glow? It's because I was watching The Bachelor and apparently the entire room glows in romance colors when you do that. Who knew?
Notice the photo's red glow? It's because I was watching The Bachelor and apparently the entire room glows in romance colors when you do that. Who knew?
Friday, February 19, 2010
The day the cousins played pretend
My cousin Jacky is in town and our kids have enjoyed some "getting to know you" time lately.
Here are Ezra and Ellie and Jacky in the nursery wing of Kidventures:
Do they look alike?
Here is Ella after hellsof chocolate milk:
And Marina taunting me with my unfulfilled dream of being a nurse:
Here are Ezra and Ellie and Jacky in the nursery wing of Kidventures:
Do they look alike?
Here is Ella after hellsof chocolate milk:
And Marina taunting me with my unfulfilled dream of being a nurse:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)