Swim little fischies, swim!

Summer is technically coming to an end, but we're having a delightfully warm September here and are happy to take advantage of that to play in the pool (which we have not done nearly enough of this summer).

smiles so big you have to close your eyes!

there's mama, right there

splashing daddy is big fun...

...but you can get water in your eyes!

super silly sally

a father - son moment, maybe they're talking about how to pick out jewelry for the women in their lives or maybe its about wet willies

its a Cavfish...they are very rare

dipping toesies in the "hot pool"

when shivering of this magnitude sets in its time to go in, after taking a photo of course

Goodbye and Goodnight, Badgley

We are saddened to say that we lost a dear member of our family at the beginning of the week; Badgley Fischka has passed on. Which brought up a big dilemma -- how to handle death with the kids. At first we thought we would just replace him and not let them know about it at all. Then T thought she might tell them that he got sick and had to go somewhere where they could take better care of him and that we could get a new fish.

In the end she just sat B down and told her that Badgley had gotten sick and that his body died but his spirit (which required a conversation about what the spirit is) got to go to a better place and will never die. Where is that better place? Can we see him? T tried to explain the concept of heaven and thought it might be nice if they thought about Badgley hopping on the clouds on his way up (like Marlin and Dorie hopped on top of the jelly fish in Finding Nemo), but B just said "I don't see him in the clouds..." So in the end we decided that he was up with the stars and that he is probably twinkling down on us and we can talk to him at night. Before going to bed that night B did cry a little and told us she missed him. She was also very concerned about monsters because, as everyone knows, monsters are afraid of Badgley and so he protected us all.

We took the kids to get new fish, this time at an aquarium store instead of a big box pet store, and they got six neon tetras. One of which has already perished, the transfer being too traumatic for him or her. But since there are so many of them, neither of the kids have noticed and we're planning to just sweep this one under the rug. Fortunately, monsters are afraid of all things that glow in the dark, so we are still well protected.

Welcome to the family Peet, Aurora, Mozie, Bilbo and Brilliams! (And RIP Badgley and Ruby Blue.)

We heart Duck Duck Goose.

Just got our winter hats and mittens from Duck Duck Goose, just in time for a heat wave. Auntie Jessica sent us pictures of all the adorable winter '10 things and B was delighted to pick the one she liked best (and there was no competition as far as she was concerned). C, who usually wears his winter hats with no fuss, simply refuses to wear it indoors (and in the warm weather) even for a picture. So you'll just have to trust us when we tell you its très, très adorable: brown and red, cream faux wool lining, ear flaps, Catimini. We also stocked up on bows. B was so excited about them she wore all four bows for the rest of the day!

Loving the sibling love.

At the Palo Alto Arts Festival, after some yummy raspberry sorbetto.

The next level.

We finally faced the glaring reality that B was ready to move on from the parent-tot gymnastics class to the tiny tot class (which is actually the exact same class, just no parent involvement and the kids are three and four instead of 18 mos to three). All week she was really excited about being in the "big girl class" and even though she was cautioned that it wouldn't be the "really big girls," just kids more her age than C's age, she was still a little unclear on exactly what would be happening. She remained excited until it was time for her to go with Miss Kelsey for the class without mama. Then she freaked out.

It was a very trying experience for T and B, because one was clearly and naturally nervous over starting something new and the other was utterly unprepared but fully convinced that this was an important life lesson, the ramifications of which would undoubtedly be long lasting. (We'll leave it to you to decide which one is which.) They spent a lot of the 45 minutes of class talking about being nervous and how everyone feels that way when they start something new, and that there was no going backwards; simply put, if B wants to keep doing gymnastics she must do this class. There were no other options.

It might, to the untrained eye, appear suspiciously like bribery, but T told B that if she went ahead with the class despite being nervous that we would be so proud of her that we would allow her to pick a book from the bookstore after. After sitting and observing the class for a bit, B pointed to the older girls on the big beams and said "I thought I was going to do that." T explained that in order to be able to do what the big girls were doing, B would have to go through all the levels in order so she could learn the skills required to do the fancy tricks. Miss Kelsey joined them and asked B what her favorite part of gymnastics was; T answered for her that it was the beam, and in an instant B stood up said "I can do it" and walked over to wait in line for her turn on the beam. She did wonderfully, until the end when she couldn't see us and had a slight meltdown; but T went and talked to her and she finished the class out strong. Assuring us that she wasn't nervous anymore and next time she will do the entire class.

We are so proud of her for facing her fears and moving forward despite being nervous. And we are completely relieved that it ended the way it did and we aren't having to take her out of gymnastics altogether, because we know she really enjoys it. Also it means the lesson learned was a positive one. She did get to pick out a book at the bookstore, Knuffle Bunny Too: a tale of mistaken identity by Mo Willems. We wanted to really impress upon her how proud we are of her, not for taking the class but for moving past the nerves and fear; because this is something she will come up against over and over again and we want her to know that we have faith in her and that she should have faith in herself too.

Starting next week, B will take class Thursday afternoons and there will be no reason for the whole family to go down for Saturday morning classes anymore. It will most likely just be C and J that go, while T stays home to do homework and B stays or goes as she chooses. This is a big change for us; we've been going to the Race Street gym almost every Saturday for a year and a half. We can't move backwards though, we must keep moving forward and embracing the new adventure, different as it may be from what we're used to. A lesson B learned today, and in which we were given a bit of a refresher!

Just a simple request.

B has just a simple, little request. Really, she feels its not asking that much and its something the whole family can enjoy. She would like another sibling. Simple.

For about six months B has been asking for a baby sister. When she was told that gender was not something that could be guaranteed, she seemed to hold faith that if she wanted it bad enough it would happen. And if not we could always try again and surely we would get it right the next time.

We mentioned the possibility of adopting when she and C are a bit older. And she was fine with this plan, she even graciously told us that she would accept a brother in that situation because if he needed a family we could and should be his family.

But it didn't take long before she was back to wanting a baby in the more immediate future. She suggested having twins, then one could be a boy (but one had to be a girl).

Finally, T asked her how this would work in practical terms. "What if you are crying, and I hold you. And Cavan is crying, and Dada holds him. Then the new baby starts to cry. Who will hold her?" B was about to say that she would hold the new baby, but then saw the dilemma. After some consideration she said "what if we wait until I'm bigger. Then I could hold the new baby."

C does not want a new baby. And he's pretty clear about that.