Fairies

Kit loves the Tinkerbell books and movies.  She knows the stories are not real yet wasn't quite certain if fairies might be real or not.  Then the other day she noted that the Tooth Fairy is real so there really must be fairies.

Snow at Mount Ashland with Sophia and Diane

Helping

Kit's Game - YOU'RE OUT

Kit has been designing creative games.  Today's game is her third and is based on a new concept compared to the previous two.  It is called, "You're Out!"

1.  Each player receives 10 tokens.

2.  In the center is a plate ("the pot").

3.  On your turn you roll the die.  Transfer the number of tokens shown on the die from your hand into the pot.

     A.  If you are now out of tokens then you have just won.  Congratulations!  The game is over.

     B.  However, if you do not have enough tokens then you are "out".  Do not move any of your remaining tokens into the pot. 

4. Play continues to the next player who is not out.

5. If all players become out then each player may return to the game to roll again on their turn.

In regulated tournament play, 5 players compete around a single pot.  For added variance, the number of sides on the die may be altered from game to game.
 

Dad Rules

I thought we were going to work on a list of Dad's Rules but Kit thought it would be better to make a list of Rules for Dad. 

Kit's rules include things like:
1. Dad must listen to Mom & Kit.
2. Dad must not bug Mom & Kit.
3. Dad must put his shoes away properly by the front door wall.
4. Dad must not make messes all over the house.
5. Dad must not forget to take out the trash.
6. Dad must not watch TV (especially football/baseball) during dinner.
7. Dad must help clean the dishes.

Walkathon

Kit's school held a walkathon today to raise money for their art programs.  Kit loved the event and was motivated to walk 22 laps!!  It's not too late to donate.  Let me know if you wish to contribute.

Tuk took 491 photos. 

Makey Makey and Monkey Bars

We created a keyboard out of an apple, orange, spoon, stapler, penny and other stuff.  Kit played music on my laptop using these items as her input device via the USB port.

Kit was very proud to show me that she can now make it all the way across on the monkey bars.

Camping at Big Basin

I was finally able to take Kit camping at Big Basin State Park.  She now knows about Slippery Rock.

 

School

Kit loves her school.

The girls get together to play before class starts.

Ilaria and Kit are pals.

Ilaria and Kit getting their name tags from their cubby.  Then they check in with the teacher.

On Wednesday mornings the children go directly to the auditorium to sing.  The youngest sit in front.  Kit was front and center today.  Later one of the 4th grade classes stood in the front to guide the entire group.  (The 5th graders are far too cool to make an appearance)  So each year you move back a space as you learn the songs until you finally become a leader in the front.

 

Happy Birthday Tuk

Kit and I took Tuk to Maggiano's in Santa Row last night for her birthday.  Enjoyed a nice outdoor table.

U.S.S. Hornet

Yesterday we toured the U.S.S. Hornet aircraft carrier in Alameda.  The museum has a lot of Apollo 11 and Apollo 12 exhibits as the Hornet retrieved the astronauts upon their return from the moon.

Kit on one of the aircraft elevators with a view of San Francisco in the background.

We walked back and forth all over the ship.  Kit said it was like hiking on a ship instead of a park.

On the flight deck.

A concert is scheduled for tonight, "Slaughter by the Water."  This group uses human power to generate electricity.  Many people where peddling bicycles with generators.  Behind Kit is a speaker tree powered by the guy peddling from a tree limb.

Oyster Festival in Woodside

Michael Stroud, aka “Magic Mike” author of Klutz Book of Magic

Thai-Mexican Fusion

Tuk created this delicious Thai-Mexican fusion dish containing advocado.

First Day at Kindergarten

Each morning the children answer a question.  The class has 16 boys and 14 girls. 
Kit and Ilaria became friends right away.

They used to read the story "If you give a mouse a cookie" then give the children a cookie on the first day.  Now the school's nutritional guidelines have them giving a muffin instead. Muffins have the appearance of being healthier than cookies.

After school Sophia, Diane and Kit went to Great America!!

School - Day 2

Kit was excited to return to school. She cried only for a moment when Tuk left. Last night she said, "Thank you for taking me to school today, Mommy."

Angel Island with Sophia

Sophia and Kit hiked around Angel Island.  We took the ferry from Tiburon and had a picnic on the island.  It was a lovely day with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, San Francisco and Marin.