Second half of February

We had a pretty fun last few weeks of February.  We started the 3rd weekend with a brunch with the neighbors and then an evening at Leah and Nathan's house for dinner.  The next morning, we had a fun visit to Chabot Space and Science Center with Elizabeth, Nick and Nathaniel. We finished the busy weekend with an evening with the whole family at Babcia and Dziadek's house. 

Auggie, Zidane and Yuna

Clara and Auggie oiling mushrooms for roasting

Ella discovers she loves hats!

Auggie and Nathaniel flying a space capsule

Auggie was drawn to the coloring table, where we discovered the incredible 3D Quiver app

Auggie colored a picture and the app turned his picture into a 3D display.  I think the adults were a lot more impressed than these tech age kids. 

Ella still loves the hat...

The next morning was President's day and Agnieszka and Daniel both had the day off with the kids - a rare occurrence!  We went right on back to Chabot Space and Science Center, per Auggie's request.

Later in the week, which happened to be "Ski week" for everyone, all four cousins got to spend some time playing together at home and at the park. With the weather finally better -and Ella discovering the joy of being outside - we made quite a few visits to the local parks that week.

There was also still a lot of fun play inside.  Auggie is really getting into Lincoln logs (the intricate design was made with some adult help). 

Auggie spelled out Ella's name

One of our days, we were near the Albany police station and Auggie was very excited to see a real live police officer.  He stared at him shyly from about 10 feet away and the officer asked Auggie if he would like to sit on his motorcycle and turn on the light.  The answer was a definite "yes".

Ella enjoying the hair on her doll. I'm pretty sure she could care less that there was a doll attached to the hair. She just loves hair (just like Auggie did when he was her age!)

During Agnieszka's work weekend, Daniel and Auggie took the ferry to SF, one of their favorite activities. 

 Amidst all these busy days, we managed to sneak in a playdate at home with Auggie's two favorite school friend, Maya and Colin and their families.

Ella is 13 months

It's been 13 months since this little child was born!  We couldn't have imagined life without her.  She is starting to really want to interact with the people and environment around her. She'll bring us books to read or toys to play. If she does something she is proud of, she will stand up with her back straight, wiggle her hips a little, clap her hands and smile expectantly at everyone in the room. She does not like being confined to spaces and toys, and her favorite time is spent walking around the house, rearranging anything she can get her hands on. Granola bars - with their crinkly wrapping and perfect hand fit - are one of her favorite objects to scatter around the house. As are Auggie's coloring markers, which we have found under couches, below beds and behind dressers.  This month, Ella and Auggie have started taking baths regularly together, and they giggle and splash like they've been doing it forever. 

First half of February (Catch up)

February brought us lots of rain and unusual cold weather, as well as a fair share of kids birthday parties. Also, around this time, Auggie decided that going around the house mostly naked was the best way to spend the cold month of February.

Ella checking out the beautiful sky

Hail!

Annual picture of Mama and Auggie getting hailed on!

Due to cold weather and many runny noses, we hardly let Ella outside for most of January (mostly for our sake not hers!), so in February, she started to get bundled up and outside for a little while each day. 

...and she sure liked it!  (Even if she did refuse to wear hats.)

During Agnieszka's work week, Daniel and Auggie continued to avoid the rain, but visiting museums.  On this day, they went to the Lawrence Hall of Science, where there was a special exhibit on pinball machines. Auggie enjoyed making his own pinball machine...almost as much as Daniel enjoyed watching him learning about the game!

Auggie got to go to two birthday parties - all for the neighborhood kids!

Driver's license made by our neighbor for her son's birthday party. 

Auggie without a shirt on- basically his winter wear. A true California child. 

Here is Ella enjoying the backyard, for the first time since summer! (We had to go in after her hands turned blue.)