Tashlich

L'Shanah Tovah Ya'all.

I can't believe that we are back in the Bay Area to start the New Year (5771). We attended erev services at Beth El - the reform congregation just down the hill from us in Berkeley. Yoel Kahn from CSZ is the Rabbi there now and Rueben is the Asst. Rabbi so it felt very at home for us - and there are a lot of kids at the early service so the boy could sit and play angry birds without causing too much of a stir. In the morning we came into the city for the CSZ services at the Herbst Theater which REALLY feels like coming home. We sat in one of the boxes and the boy played with magnets on the floor - I was surprised to have Jack's Grandma Inez come over and say hi - didn't realize that she attends CSZ. We went from services to grab a lunch to go from one of my favorite dives then headed out to Chrissy Field to do Taschlich.



The bridge was just visible through the fog but as we enjoyed our lunch the sun came out more and more.

For the boy it was a chance to play on the beach as we cast our crumbs into the sea.
Oh yeah - it was also a great chance for him to enjoy Jesse's company as well and to gather some more tips on strategy for taking on the helmet heads of Angry Birds.

Home Sweet Home

Well I am a bit behind schedule on getting some updates on here... but today will be worth the wait. To start here are some shots of the NEW house in the Berkeley Hills. We got to CA at about 1:30 am on the 23rd of August and crashed on Elizabeth and Angie (who found this place for us) then when we woke up in the morning we came out to explore our new digs.

The place is probably a bit fancy for us - its way, way way way way UP in the hills - almost in Tilden Park. And its pretty white and modern & minimal on the inside (well it was before all of our boxes got here!)

The first shot is a view of the house as seen from Angie & Elizabeths yard, and the second shot is the view that we see from the front room, the boys room and the deck - lots of Redwoods, Eucalyptus and a drop off down the hill to the bay, Alcatraz and the Golden Gate.

Lovely!!!

Tilden Park - Little Farm

Today we met Loula and her moms at the little farm in Tilden Park - the boy didn't love it quite as much as Drumlin but he was excited to meet Loula again and also to run into one of his classmates as we were feeding the animals at the park.

After feeding celery to the goats and cows we headed down to the nature center and then to the playground nearby. The boy really picked up then and he and Loula spent the next hour or so running around like little crazy nuts - climbing, jumping, running, climbing... it was a lot of fun to watch and Em and I really liked hanging with her moms. Then we all headed over to the carousel....

all this and chocolate ice cream too.

Hike

We headed up the street again to do a little hike this afternoon. We planned on going to the Science Museum but took the wrong path so we just watched the hillside trimming goats instead.

Neighbors Yard

Note the mature Buck eating the trees with the multi-pronged antlers....

Lazy Friday Afternoon

Well our extended family "vacation" is winding down. The boy is back in school and we have travelled across the country and started settling into our new house. Em starts work in less than 2 weeks now but we still are trying to find the time to hang out and play in the midst of the craziness of unpacking, shopping and settling in. We are super lucky to have landed in a spot with friends for neighbors - we can just amble down the hillside between our houses and camp out on their front yard while the boys just stomp rocket away....



So although we are missing our Cambridge friends & East Coast family we feel super lucky to have some new playmates & friends already

Livin La Vida North Berkeley

The view from my lounge spot - Strawberry Canyon Pool - UC Berkeley

Em has come here with the boy a couple of times since we landed in the middle of a heat wave today was my first day joining them - although parking is a pain, and there doesn't appear to be any good public transit options this is a Rockin Outdoor pool with a massive shallow end for the kids to enjoy and today it was also the location of some Butch Soup as I found myself swimming with some other EB butch daddy types.

Checking out the view

We went for a walk up the street with Elizabeth and her boys L - (3 1/2) and C (just turned 3). Our route was up our cul de sac then turn right head on up the hill till the street ends in another cul-de-sac and then out onto the dirt path.

Views above and Views below

UC Berkeley Campus right below us, city straight ahead and Marin etc ahead and to the right

ahhhh.....

Look What Mommy Got

Em and I went shopping while the boy was in school today....





and look at Mommy's new ride...

New School

The boy has had his first couple of days at the NEW school -
and so far he seems to really like it. The school is a coop with mixed age groups (just under 3 up to 5) up in the hills above Kensington. He will be going 3 days a week - tues through thur.

Best things so far - The teachers Roland and Martha, The Magna - Tiles and the open door policy with the play yard!!!!


Teacher Roland reads a story to all the kids at the end of the day.
Yeah!!!! skytown has Magna-Tiles!!!!
The kids get to hear a story as they eat lunch

Magna Tiles!!!!

Skytown Nursery School has Magna Tiles - what more could you want!!!

Welcome to Skytown

This afternoon our new school held a welcome potluck and party for all the new and returning families. Along with lots of cute kids, good food (especially deserts!!) and games to play there was this AWESOME bounce-y house.

This puppy had an internal obstacle course, climbing wall and slide!!!!

Someone is looking forward to school.

SM Special on the Menu

We picked up some Thai to go from a place down the street to take over to Mel, Veejay and new baby Thomas and as I left I took a look at the specials menu out front -



Imagine my surprise to see Dungeon Crab - and how do you get leather chaps over all those little claws?

Adventure Playground - Berkeley Marina

Here is another one of our finds as we "adventure day" our way around Berkeley. This one was thanks to Laura, RV and Jasper who invited us out to get dirty and play dangerous. Today we went to the Adventure Playground at the Berkeley Marina. This is a pretty awesome space where kids are invited to get tools, nails, paint and build the playground themselves.


this playspace was created in 1979 & kids and their grownups are invited to construct and deconstruct at will. Jasper showed R. the ropes (as it were) while Laura & Em chatted and Rachel and Rachael got to catch up too.


There is a piano, a zip line, about 20 various forts and things... and just a lot of mess to be made.



Here is a shot of the boy inspecting the "canon" that he & Jasper added onto the "ship"

Berkeley

Guess who loves Tot Land Park?

Tot Land

This afternoon we ventured out and found TOTLAND Playground on Virginia Street.




The playground has lots and lots of toys - diggers, shovels, trikes and scooters - but all in all I think it is probably more for the slightly younger set. The boy did really enjoy climbing around on the big spider web - and I was able to ride along on somebodies wireless from the far corner of the playground!!!

Mel's Last Morning Pregnant

Melanie dropped in to see us yesterday morning and we were SO excited to see her pregnant because we thought she would have the baby before we got to California. Then today we couldn't get ahold of her & that is because she was giving BIRTH to Thomas Thomas

Kite - Vinallhaven

Baby Bageris-Cohen

Poppy & Mommy

reaching for the top of tip toe mountain

Here is the boy testing the tent and his sleeping bag. I think he's ready for camping.

Some scenes from the Family Week Parade

One of the opening events of Family Week in P-Town is the parade on Sunday afternoon. These are some photos of the families as we meandered around town. The boy is pretty excited to be around so many kids - and also to see his friends Asher, Maya and Harriet. It looks like its gonna be a pretty good week.

Sunset Smiles

Herring Cove Beach, Provincetown MA

Cape cod face