Two Pals at the Beach

                           

Amara is growing up so quickly. In a months time my girl will be seven. Seven!! I can't believe it! And that has meant she has begun to go out with her friends without my being present. Twice recently she had play dates with her friends grandparents picking her up at school and off they went until it was time for me to come and get her.

I am left feeling bittersweet around this. I love having the older, more independent, more responsible little girl that is before me. But I also have a sadness in my heart where the memories of her littler years live. Oh how I cherished the days when she was a newborn, an infant, a tot.....But now, she is a big girl who is going on play dates without her mama. Whew!

Yet, I also rejoice for her. Amara is fiercely independent and so to have a no-mama-around play date with her best friend from school, well, that was just the bomb! Anaiya and Amara are thick as thieves at school and on their play date last hot Friday afternoon, Anaiya's grandmother took them to the beach in Pt. Richmond. Pick up time was after 6 p.m. so the whole family went to gather Big Sis. The photos below are what we came upon when we arrived at the beach.  Amara was not engrossed with her friend and her play that she barely noticed my arrival.

What a view of the Golden Gate!

Air borne Amara!

Havana Meets Elsa

The Princess Ball was a huge hit! Our girl scouts were just over the moon. But the icing on the cake  for Ms. Havana was when Elsa, from the movie mega hit Frozen, made an appearance.

The girls have seen the film about ten times so far and that is not an exaggeration. And like most kids around their age they know all the songs, and sing the songs alot! So much so that Don and I know the songs by heart as well. (I had a good laugh recently when Don texted that he couldn't get 'Let it go' out of his head.)

Amara is an Anna fan but Havana loves Elsa and is still at the age to believe that the Elsa she saw at the Princess Ball was the real deal. She was mesmerized by the princes. When tried unsuccessfully to get up close to Elsa she got all sad and pouty.  Finally, however, she made her way (with Mama Bears help!) and then wouldn't leave her side. It was fascinating to watch Havana become so transfixed with Elsa. I had never seen her so enchanted. She really thought Elsa was real and she was in awe of being in her presence. I was so thankful to have been able to witness her joy.

I also got to witness a determined Havana. She just had  to reach out and touch Elsa and once she did, they held hands for a long time. (I actually had to ask Elsa if she was okay. She said she was fine; what a good sport she was). I was also thankful I had my camera to capture the magical encounter. Sweet Havana has since spent a significant amount of time starring at the photos, remembering her time with Elsa!

Princess Ball

(almost all of) the Ellerhorst Daisies and some sisters!

The Girl Scouts sure know how to throw a party! Last year we danced the night away at the Sock Hop and this year we had a most a glamours evening with The Princess Ball! All our gals got decked out in their finest, with their hair done and some even had their eyes sparkling with eye shadow and glitter! This was an event the girls were looking forward for weeks and it did not disappoint!

Do you notice Amara's lips? (this non makeup wearing mama has supported the  girls fascination with makeup by purchasing some all natural, cruelty free brands.)

Papa's attended too! This one got a special kiss from his princess!

Elsa showing up was a huge surprise!

Getting down to Gangnam style!

The youngest princess and her big sister princess!

How did I get the girls to pose for a silly photo? Say 'Olaf' of course! (all our girls are huge Frozen fans!!)

Fog Carpet

Photo taken from the top of Cutting Bvd. in El-Cerrito (not too far from our school)
You can see the fog behind the buildings.

Those who live in Northern California are quite familiar with the fog that shows up come Spring time and remains the whole the Summer long. Starting from the Pacific Ocean in the early evening hours, the fog unfolds like a carpet and rolls and rolls and rolls, as it makes it's way East. It rolls across San Francisco, it rolls across the Bay, blankets Berkeley, Oakland and the surrounding cities (both north and south) until it meets the Berkeley Hills where it hovers and settles, wrapping the entire East Bay Area in it's cold mist.

The fog seems territorial in that way. On rare occasions it creeps over the hills onto the other side of the Caldecott Tunnel where Orinda, Lafayette and Walnut Creek are found. But more often the hills and the tunnel are the divider. Often, when Berekley/Oakland are shrouded in the cold low laying fog clouds, a quick drive towards Orinda can mean sun and heat. For those like myself who run from the cold, the Orinda side is a haven. However, on the days like recent ones, when the digits reach the 80's and 90's, a drive in the opposite direction can bring relief as nature's natural air conditioner keep the other side much cooler (the fog and breeze it brings with it.)

Where we live is not quite on either side of the tunnel. We are just northeast of Berkeley, closer to the Orinda side which means we can have sun in our yard and about ten degrees warmer than just a few miles down the road where it can be totally overcast. And because we are not quite near Orinda, we are usually ten degrees cooler so it gets warm but (usually) not too warm. (we can get to Berkeley via 80 which runs parallel to the Bay or we can go towards Orinda and through the tunnel-which is my favorite route.) And San Francisco, it can be 50-60 degrees on most foggy days but a drive across the bridge may mean warmer weather and sun. It's no wonder Mark Twain made that famous statement about San Francisco summers ("The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.")

The fog seems to like the Bay Area; it hangs out till late morning then rolls on out  to the ocean, only to return a few hours later. This goes on almost all summer long. I don't like the cold and wind that the fog brings with it but I do find it mesmerizing, almost meditative to watch. On days like today, where I get a birds eye view of the fog carpet atop one of the many hills in our area, I find it hypnotizing and peaceful, as long as I have my warm jacket near by!

These photos are of San Francisco as the fog rolls in. Eventually, she is not visible at all. It's a bit eerie!

The Hills Are Alive!

Northern California only gets rain in the winter months, which means just around spring the land turns from a straw like brown to rich, lush green. Sadly, this year brought little rain leaving us in a drought. But then, we had some unusual spring rain which brought the hills to life.  Not enough to remove us from the drought but enough to water the earth and help the poppies bloom in abundance. Our protected little valley is now vibrant  in orange as well as purple and yellow. On days that are long and tiring, the sight of the hills bring much peace to my being. This truly is a lovely time of year.