Easter

Today we celebrated Easter with Claire. This entailed pretty much the same routine as any other weekend, with the exception of some dress up with an Easter dress and hat, and some easter toys. The regular routine was to walk to Mountain View for a cappuccino, hang out at the park, and make a visit to a zoo type thing. This week it was the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo, which is this pretty incredible (and free) museum that is basically a room of science-related toys where kids come in and basically go bananas, and then an outside portion that has a duck pond and some other animals. Claire seemed to really enjoy it.

Check out the new pics in the Easter link, above left. Really cute pictures this time, though I'm her mother so I could be biased.

Happy Hollow

Claire enjoys playing with Bob & Marie Clapp's daughters, Sammy & Sidney.
Please click through to the link at above left for Happy Hollow to see pictures.

You will also see a link for Easter. This is the first pic of many to come of Claire enjoying easter-related gifts. This one came from Bob & Pat, and it sings a chicken song. Unfortunatetly, the sound on the video didn't work right, but we heard Claire saying "duck, duck, more duck."

Daddy's birthday

Claire celebrated her dad's birthday March 7 with cake and a gigantic, donut shaped balloon. We had a cake lit with many candles which Morgan blew out. Claire looked at the candles with an expression of skepticism - she seemed to be saying "Are you guys sure that is such a good idea?"
See the pictures under March 2008 (link above left).

We had a good weekend with a hike to Borel Hill, a 15 mile bike ride and other general outdoor enjoyment with perfect weather.

TWO balls

Today Claire told us that she was carrying two balls. Not just a ball, or balls, but two balls.

This was while we were visiting Maria at her spacious, clean house in Santa Clara, playing in her gigantic playroom that was converted out of a garage. I think we are converts to Santa Clara. For the same rent, we could get two bathrooms, three real bathrooms and a backyard, so I'm told.

This weekend we also went on a hike in the redwood forest, Henry Coe state park. It was beautiful. See pictures in the March 2008 link to the above left.

Also, Claire had two surprises in the mail! Mrs. Pfahl sent a belated Christmas present - wedgits! And Grandma Lewis sent two shirts. See pictures to see how much she loves them.

¡Claire habla español!

Claire is developing so quickly. She can speak two words and knows her colors. She says sentences like, "green grass" and "daddy up."

She also knows Spanish. Important words like "outside" and "moon" and also "work," which is important in the context of where mommy is - "trabajo" or "ajo" in Claire speak. She probably knows more Spanish, but she speaks it with Maria, who she calls Mee Mee.

See the new pictures in the link February 2008 in the list to the left. There is also a fun picture of a visit from Rachel, Robert, my mom and dad. I think this was early January.

Snow Success!

Claire has voluntarily stepped in snow! This was during our 2 night stay at Glacier Point.

Morgan, Robert, Rachel, Kim & Claire went on a trip to Glacier Point from Thursday Dec 27 to Saturday Dec 29. The trip was 10 miles. There was only a couple hundred feet of elevation gain, but it was up and down.

On the way in, Robert carried a pack and pulled the chariot. It took us 4 hours. He said it was one of the hardest things he had done. It was hard for the rest of us too! When we got to the cabin, Morgan said he felt like he had felt after he had finished the marathon. Claire was quiet most of the trip, but about halfway she started crying. So we put her in a sleeping bag in the chariot and she settled down.

The cabin was a lush accommodation in winter, including a view of Half Dome from the kitchen window. (see pictures, link above left "Glacier Point.")

On the second day, we did a day trip to the Glacier Point overlook with Morgan pulling the chariot. There was a new layer of snow so Morgan had to break trail, which was hard work. We had a good view. Then we stopped in the Geology Hut at the overview and Claire stepped in snow by herself, which was a big breakthrough. Robert & Rachel even helped her get over her fear of snow by making a snowball, which Claire eventually was happy to kick around.

On the third day, we headed back. We made it in a record 3 hours, with Rachel pulling for the first 6 or 7 miles at a record pace! Morgan pulled the last 3 (uphill) miles. There was hardly a peep from the Claire Bear - especially with Frito and gummy candy snack!

All in all it was a great trip.

Christmas in Yosemite

Claire, Morgan, and I have been enjoying the hospitality of Robert & Rachel in the winter wonderland of Yosemite. One of our Christmas gifts (Thanks Pat & Bob!) was a ski attachment for our bike trailer/stroller and we have been skiing with Claire in it.

Morgan pulls Claire and does a good job of it. We have been on two ski tours and seen some lovely vistas. She loves going downhill and generally motoring around in it. The only snafu is when it comes to getting out of the stroller in the midst of a ski journey. Her feet must not touch the snow -- in fact, no part of her, without screams and tears. sigh.

We met a guy in the parking lot of the Badger Pass ski resort, and I think he said it best, "As the parents ski, so shall the child." We will keep enjoying ourselves with the ski-stroller. One day, I believe Claire will change her mind.

We have been enjoying the evenings hanging out with Robert & Rachel. It is very nice to sit by the fire and have beer while getting our butts kicked in Taboo.

Check out the Christmas time photos! (Link above left - "Christmas")