A New Era: Chapter Books

Isabella thought it was pretty "awesome" when her teacher sent home her first-ever chapter book in her reading bag. I'm not sure why she started her on book #41 of the Magic Tree House book series, but when I read, ahem, the prologue, which explained the back story of the series and something about exploring the legendary realms of Camelot, I knew that while Isabella might be able to read most of the words on a page (minus "prologue", "legendary", "realms", and "Camelot"), she would never understand what she was reading.

Enter Mark.

When Mark learned she was reading the Magic Tree House series, he too, was elated, for this was the series he read/taught to his kids in the Bronx. He pulled out his book boxes with multiple copies of the first books in the series, the research field guides to accompany the books, and he printed and laminated Magic Tree House bookmarks for Isabella. 

They buddy read for two hours and finished book number one that night.

 Matthew got bored of looking at his books and decided to try and distract the readers.

And photobomb the photos.

Much to Mark's chagrin, the magic only lasted (maybe) two nights. It turns out Chapter Book Girl still loves books with pictures, which makes me very happy. :)

Isabella Art

  Red and Blue Barn in Napa

The story of David and Goliath (as told by cave paintings in a caveman's cave)

Sunday Nap on the Porch

oooh, I love this girl.

You Can Never Wear Too Many Polka-Dots

Valentine's Day

This year there was no school on Valentine's Day. This was not due to weather--although it did actually rain and that's big news in CA-- or some president's birthday. I guess it was all for L-O-V-E.

We ate heart shaped pancakes for breakfast, did some arts and crafts, and told each other what we loved about each other for Family Night. Then we ate cupcakes with pink frosting. That was the day, in a nutshell.

Valentine's Day is also the day in which I make the case for being a Pinterest user. The above flamingo and the below valentine card (from me to Mark) were found on Pinterest.

 

This is the valentine Mark made for me, when left to his own devices. (and when left with two children, while I went for a run).

Actually I love it and later he bought me 99 cent chocolate drizzled popcorn. Now that's my kind of Valentine: sweet and frugal.

Snow House

We returned to the original Snow House this year for another lovely visit. Dave, Dad, and I skiied together for the first time in 2 decades. That was a great thing.

Mark, Janett, and Isabella took ski lessons for the first time. Mark summed up the experience in an apres ski art therapy session. The flipping elephant is Mark getting off the chair lift. The turtle is the wise ski expert (Dad) explaining his various techniques for making it down the mountain. Dora is Isabella (no poles and arms outstretched). The two yellow critters are me and Dave, brother and sister team, skiing and catching up. Dr. Seuss is Janett, in an impressive ski display, making her way down the mountain to the ski lodge. The palm tree represents the desert, because without the man-made snow, it would have been like being in the desert--a mountainous, barren desert.

Wise Ski Expert

No poles, arms outstretched

Impressive skiing by first-timer, Janett.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then there was this gem. That would be my backside. 

I had the wonderfully frustrating experience of guiding Isabella down runs after her ski lesson. It started out great--so fun to see my little girl on pair of skis! Then came the reality of navigating fatigue and ski gear and exiting chair lifts with someone much shorter than you and figuring how to dislodge skis (both mine and hers) from icy patches without bending my knees and back in ways that they are not supposed to bend.  I confess to threatening to leave her on the mountain. I didn't mean for it to sound so harsh, but the reality is you are up there FOREVER with a temper tantrum, or you get yourself. Down. The. Mountain. (I think she forgave me.)

We took turns making dinner and each meal was delicious! Example: Dad's polenta served with his chicken cacciatore.

Isabella entertained us with her enthusiasm for all things snow: "Look at the snow! Do you see ALL THE SNOW?!" she excitedly pointed out on our drive up the mountain. In reality there was hardly any snow at all on account of the drought we are having, but who are we to burst her bubble?

She also showed an impressive ability to slip out of her snow gear without leaving much of a trail behind her.

Our family made a day trip to Reno to see friends who moved there from Napa. There were bouncy houses and fast cars.

 and cute kids.

All in all it was a great time. Mom got sick. I got sick. But that was just all par for the course, because if there is one thing that has defined our winter break from before Christmas to even now (two weeks back at school) it is illness. Mark got sick once we were home, as did Matthew (for the third time) and Dad. Hopefully we are done now and on to new adventures in 2014.

Christmas Morning

Christmas morning. Santa made it clear which presents were for whom.

 Isabella got a stocking full of art supplies.

Matthew got an "I Owe You" letter from Santa. (Read by Isabella.)

Apparently there was a backlog of orders this year at the North Pole.

 Isabella got a Magic Fairy cookie making kit (the dough! turns! pink! when water is added).

and

 Squigez - clever little rubber suction things that stick anywhere and pop when you pull them apart (also good for developing fine motor skills--man, that Santa knows just what Isabella needs!)

Matthew got a box of hardware: locks, light switch covers, the boingy things that prevent a door from slamming into the wall...
If you are thinking that Matthew got the short end of the Christmas stick on Christmas morning, you would be right. But that's the beauty of being two. (I like to think of the first two years of your child's life as forgiveness years. They'll never know how much you didn't have your act together and therefore won't hold it against you when they are 30.)

And really, Matthew was done with Christmas and ready for breakfast after about 10 minutes.
Now lest you think Santa was cruel and heartless when it came to Matthew (giving the poor boy a box of hardware?!) allow me to explain...

The hardware was to be used to make...drum roll please...

The coolest busy board ever! Now Matthew can boing the boingy things, lock and unlock locks, put a ball thorough the PVC pipe and watch it go! AND the best part was the Mark decided to actually wire the light switches to a battery pack with a little LED light. I suggested covering the battery pack with an old toy tractor. So now when Matthew flips the light switch, the tractor lights up!

My favorite gift was the fort building kit Santa found for Isabella and Matthew, who just happen to LOVE forts. Unfortunately the gift was a dud and had to be shipped back to the North Pole.

The Magic Fairy Princess made her cookies, frosted and sugared them. Heavily. I think the thing I loved most about this gift was that is was the only thing Isabella asked for in her letter to Santa. That's it. That's all she wanted. Simple. And since it was a mix, technically she only got to use it once. But she was so happy that she got what she wanted.

 We did get to actually see Santa on Christmas morning--a visit arranged by our landlords.

 The kids were a little unsure of him (and confused) in the beginning,

 but the presents helped.

Nana and Papa came a little later that morning and brought Christmas #2. (Which turned out to be bigger than Christmas #1).

It was perfect though and we ate soup and had a salad and it was low-key and lovely.

The most exciting gift, was the Disneyland ticket that Aunt Christa and Buddy and Jack gave Isabella. She has no idea what Disneyland is yet, but boy is she going to have a fun time celebrating her 6th birthday this Spring at the happiest place in California or the earth? or is it Anaheim?
 Yay! Thank you Christa, Buddy, and Jack (and baby James).