My Gym - Walnut Creek and San Ramon, CA

Getting Ready for Skiing and Snow Play, 2014

Now that I have my own family, I think that half of skiing is getting ready and prepared.  It can be overwhelming to even think about!  This list is for me, to think about what I will need to start packing in a box to get ready for skiing.

Socks- For me, this component is one of the most important!  I got some smart socks for my son last year and they worked well.  I can't remember where I got them.  I need to find a bigger size for this year.
-smart socks
$8.99.
Flexus LLC
www.smartsocks.net

Skiis
I rent for my son since he grows so fast every year, the big places such as Any Mountain have a season rental program.

Favorite Toys of 2014

My son loves doing research!  We go to the toy store, don't buy things, but research.

Also, he loves toys that he can build, invent, and dream with.

Billy picked out a rocket at Whole Foods that he loves in the bath and outside in the snow, sand, or water.  It  includes 2 astronauts and is great for dreaming and imagining!
Rocket
100% recyclable
non-toxic
www.greentoys.com
(They have other similar toys at Whole Foods from the same company.)  Great for 3-6.
Green Toys Inc.
932 Cole Street, Suite 283
San Francisco, CA

Play-Doh
Though it is also fun to make your own play dough, the Play-Doh brand is great for travel as it packs so  easily.  My son got the "Diggin Rigs" for a present and it was fun since it has a tool that makes shapes you can build with.
-Play-Doh
by Hasbro

Electric Menorahs

This year one of my son's presents, that he wanted, was an electric menorah. One advantage is that it can be left on all night, with no worries.  One disadvantage is that it is plastic, but we can use it for years.  We ended up having 3 menorahs, one electric and two standard.  It was beautiful!

Chanukah Nights - Last night was the last night

My son got his very own menorah this year and enjoyed lighting it each night with both homemade candles. Next year, I want to get more beeswax so he can make enough candles for every night.  We bought some pre-made beeswax candles too.  One of Billy's present was an lantern from REI that you can hand crank in an emergency for light, and charge ahead of time.  He loved using it in bed while reading and playing games!

What a beautiful week of lights!

Goodbye Chanukah!

The Fairmont Gingerbread Tea for children, at the Fairmont Hotel, in San Francisco, CA

Holiday sing along for children at Dimond Branch Library in Oakland, CA is tonight at 7:00PM! Free!

Oakland Ice Center - Oakland, CA - They offer a holiday skating schedule over the next few weeks!

Oakland Ice Center is offering a holiday schedule over the next few weeks. Unlike Fremont Sharks ice skating, they do not have buckets or any other kind of support. I called today to find out and they said, "No buckets for support at public skating session, only buckets for lessons."

Example of schedule for public skating on Tuesday, December 23rd, 2014:
10-12
12:15-2:15PM
2:30PM-4:30PM
4:45PM-6:45PM
7-9PM

Oakland Ice Center
519 18th Street
Oakland, CA
94612
(510) 268-9000
www.oaklandice.com

They also offer ice skating beginning classes, pre-hockey classes, and junior ice hockey teams.

Tips:
Dress warm, it is unbelievably cold in there!
Bring gloves.
Bring a thermos of coffee and hot chocolate, it will taste warm and delicious!
Pack snacks, we didn't but wish I would have.
Bring quarters for the lockers.

Sharks Ice at Fremont- They have buckets for beginning skaters, Fremont, CA- They have a holiday schedule!

I've always wanted to visit the Sharks Ice at Fremont since my friend told me they are one of the few large ice rinks that use buckets for children to use when ice skating.  I am not sure if they allow buckets during the next few weeks, at the holiday skating times.  I called today to confirm that they have buckets for support, they said, "Yes, we have buckets at public skating as well as lessons. "

The last sessions do not have buckets, call for exact schedule of the buckets for support.  When going to an ice skating rink, it is no phone having no support when you are learning.

Schedule:

Sharks Ice at Fremont
44388 Old Warm Springs Blvd.
Fremont, CA  94538
(510) 623-7200
(Buckets are used to assist new skaters.)

Schedule on the 23rd is the following:
9:30AM-11:30
1:30-3:30PM
3:45PM-5:45PM
6:00PM-8:00PM
8:15PM-10:15PM

Lights display at Mormon Temple in Oakland, CA- Beautiful lights! Off Highway !3 in Oakland, cA

Zoo Lights- Oakland, CA Dec. 5th 2014 to January 4th, 2015 closed December 13, 24, and 25.

Highlights of Zoo Lights:

*Dozens of colorfully lit animal themed structures are situated throughout the zoo. 
*Hundreds of thousands of LED lights brighten Oakland's night sky.
*Candy cane lane themed ride area.
*Night time adventure on Outback Express Train.
*Rocking around the Christmas trees.
*Light show.

Cost:
-Adults:  $8.00
-Children (2-14 years) and seniors (65-79): $7.00.
-Children under 2 and adults over 80, free.
-Members receive $1.00 off regular tickets.
-Member Mondays- members get in free on Mondays.

Make Your Own Chanukah Candles With A Kit

We found a "Create your Own Beeswax Candles Craft Kit," from "Rite Lite," which has been a lot of fun this holiday.  The kit comes with 44 flat strips of beeswax that you wrap around a wick.  We've been making the candles to use in the evening.

Resources:

Hanukkah Candle Kit
by Rite Lite
$16.99
We got our candle kit from Pharmaca in Oakland, CA.  It is also available from Amazon.com.
The kit includes 44 sheets of assorted beeswax sheets and 44 cotton wicks.

San Leandro Historical Railroad Society- San Leandro, CA

The indoor model train at the San Leandro Model Train Museum is fantastic.  The track is modeled on the run from Alameda up to the Sierras (past Colfax).  Club members say it takes a bit over an hour for a train to go the full distance around the model.  Unfortunately the pictures here don't do it justice - I need to go back to take some more photos!

Resources:

San Leandro Historical Railroad Society
www.slhrs.org/
1302 Orchard Ave.
San Leandro, CA  94577
(510) 569-2490
open hours:
Tuesday evenings: 7:30PM to 9:00PM
Saturday 9:00AM to 9:00PM

San Leandro Historical Railroad Society- Garden Railway, San Leandro, CA

The San Leandro Model Train Museum has a fantastic model train set-up around an outdoor garden.  It is beautiful, and includes bonsai trees.

San Leandro Historical Railroad Society
www.slhrs.org/
1302 Orchard Avenue
San Leandro, CA  94577
(510) 569-2490
open hours:
Tuesday evening, 7:30PM to 9:00PM
Saturdays, 9:00AM to 9:00PM

Bay Area Garden Railway Society
http://www.bagrs.org/
Established in 1988, the Bay Area Railway Society is one of the oldest and largest regional garden railway clubs in the nation.

Chocolate Pudding

No instant pudding for us - we made real putting with corn starch!

Inter-Faith First Night of Chanukah

Recommended Rainy Day Program, or to get wiggles out, jump, stretch, etc. with regular class or homeschoolers

This website was recommended to me by a friend, whose teacher uses it in the classroom.  It is a free program, all you need is a computer program, that gives activities for jumping, stretching, dancing, and deep breathing!  Get the wiggles out  with free brain breaks for classroom!

Resources:

http://www.gonoodle.com/home

New Year's Eve activities for children - Noon Year's Eve from 12-2PM at the Discovery Museum, Sausalito, CA

On December 31st, 2014 there will be a Noon Year's Eve celebration at the Discovery Museum in Sausalito, CA.   A few years ago, we had friends meet us there and a few of them stayed at the nearby Embassy Suites and made a vacation out of it!

Chanukah Celebration- "In The Dark" Sunday, December 21, 2014, (entrance to Piedmont Park, Piedmont, CA)

On Sunday, December 21st, from 5:30 to 6:30PM at the the entrance to Piedmont Park, there will be a Chanukah celebration, "In The Dark."  It will be free of charge and will offer music, hot drinks, free menorah and dreidels, donuts, latkes, and chocolate gelt!  This event is free.  It will be hosted by the Chabad of Oakland.

Family Book Lab- parties,children's classes, book arts and classes, rare book repair- Coriander Reisbord- Berkeley

Coriander Reisbord has taught workshops in book arts at the San Francisco Center for the book and the Kala Art  Institute.  She has a MFA in the book arts.  She also teaches letterpress printing at the California College of the Arts.  She used to be president of the Pacific Center for the Book Arts.  Her services are located at the Family Book Lab in Berkeley, CA  She offers small parties for adults or children, with usually 7 adults or children maximum.  A 90 minute party is $120.00, with 6 people.  In her day job, she offers a business repairing rare books, which she has been doing since 1990.

Resources:

Coriander Reisbord, MFA in Book Arts
Family Book Lab
http://www.familybooklab.com
e-mail - coriander@familybooklab.com
Coriander Reisbord
(510) 526-6332
1413 MLK @ Rose
Berkeley, CA
94709

Today is Winter Open House and Train Show at the San Leandro Train Depot!

There is a Winter Open House and Train Show at the San Leandro Train Depot, which is located at the San Leandro Historical Society in San Leandro, CA.  I've been given the inside scoop that there is a polar express train as well as a Harry Potter train set as part of the display.

Resources:

Winter Open House and Train Show
December 14, 2014
10:00AM to 5:00PM
Southern Pacific Depot
1302 Orchard Avenue
San Leandro, CA  94577
(510) 569-2490

Hanukkah: Beeswax Candlemaking and Fire Building at Urban Adamah, Berkeley, CA- TODAY- 2-4:00PM

Urban Adamah is hosting a special Hanukkah celebration today featuring Beeswax Candle-Making and Fire Building!  It is from 2-4:00PM.  Check website for availability, tickets are sold through eventbrite.

Resources:

Urban Adamah
Hanukkah:  Beeswax Candle-making and Fire Building
1050 Parker Street
Berkeley, CA
(510) 649-1595
http://urbanadamah.org

Recommended hotel for families in Grass Valley, CA - Holbrooke Hotel

I love this hotel!  The Holbrooke was built at the time of the Gold Rush and has themed rooms such as the Mark Twain Room.  There is a free breakfast in the morning, they have rooms that are dog friendly, and some the rooms are fairly large.  What I love about this hotel is that is is lovely and historic.  Right now it is decorated for the holidays so is especially beautiful!

Cornish Christmas celebration is tonight, Friday, December 11, 2014 - very family friendly, starts at 6PM

Both tonight, Friday, December 11, 2014 and next Friday night, December 18, 2014 there is a Cornish Christmas celebration in Grass Valley, California.  We went last year and my son and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  My son especially appreciated the live musical performances, especially some of the young musicians dressed in period costumes roaming the streets!

On the website for the event, it states, "Imagine life in another era, where men and women worked hard, had little, but cherished the simple pleasures of hearty food and drink, good song, and a warm fire with family and friends."

One of our other favorite parts, other than the live musicians, was the bonfire in the middle of the street in front of the Holbrooke Hotel, where a man in period costume was roasting chestnuts over an open fire!  It really gives meaning to the classic holiday tune!

Picture from http://downtowngrassvalley.com/downtown-grass-valley-events/grass-valley-cornish-christmas/

Ornament decorating for children (or brave adults)

Ornament Decorating

Materials Needed:

Complementary paint colors
bowls of sequins
white, shatter-proof ornaments available from Amazon.com
glass ornaments
table
brushes
bottles of glue

Surfing legend, Laird Hamilton discussing conscious thought vs. unconscious thought while hitting 50mph on waves.

In a recent interview of surfing legend, Laird Hamilton, it was asked by Elle magazine, "What's going through your mind when you're hitting 50 mph on 100-foot waves?

Laird Hamilton replied, "There is no room for conscious thought other than what you have to do.  Your unconscious moves at 32,000 times the speed of your conscious mind, which in a way, if you're able to tap into that, is like being telepathic.  They call it genius when the conscious thought becomes unconscious, like when somebody masters something after 10,000 hours.  At that point it's an unconscious act, and it is really motored by your experience.  Surfing is a thing that has no beginning and no end-I think that there are very few things we experience in our life that are like that.

Elle Magazine
P. C158

Mary Poppins playing TODAY at the Berkeley Playhouse in Berkeley, CA

Today is the last day of the live show, Mary Poppins,  at the Berkeley Playhouse in San Francisco, CA

FREE ADMISSION TODAY at the California Academy of Sciences!!!!! December 7, 2014 San Francisco, CA

Today is a public free day at the California Academy of Sciences!!!!  See previous post to find out about the reindeer, snow flurries, and activities today!

Holiday Sing-along with Bonnie Lockhart in Oakland, CA at public libraries- "Peace, Light,and Chocolate"

The Oakland Public Libraries are offering several holiday sing-along with Bonnie Lockhart this December, entitled, "Peace, Light, and Chocolate."

"Share the pleasures of the winter holiday season with sing-along songs from many cultures.  Local artist Bonnie Lockhart will lead us in holiday songs from around the world."

Resources:

Montclair Branch

1687 Mountain Blvd.

Saturday, December 6th, 2PM

West Oakland Branch

1801 Adeline Street

Wednesday, December 10th, 10AM

Lakeview Branch

550 El Embarcadero

Wednesday, December 10th, 4PM

Asian Branch

388 9th Street

Suite 190

Thursday, December 11th, 10:30AM

Martin Luther King, Junior, Branch

6833 International Blvd.

Thursday, December 11, 4PM

Dimond Branch

3565 Fruitvale Ave.

Tuesday, December 23, 7PM

Information:  510-238-3848

www.oaklandlibrary.org

Academy of Sciences- 2 reindeer on display now through January 4th! Movie- "Roaming With Reindeer"

A friend told me that the California Academy of Sciences is free today, yet I found no proof on their website.  I will update when I found out!

The kickoff for "Tis the Season for Science," the Academy's annual holiday exhibit has begun!  There are 2 reindeer, Willow and Yukon, a pair of live, 6 year old reindeer.  Reindeers are called, "Nomads of the North," I discovered on the website.  There are also, snow flurries, caroling and other holiday activities!

There is a movie in the snowman shaped theater, "Roaming with Reindeers."

My son used to participate in the little Naturalists Program for children ages 3 to 5 years old at 9:45AM on Wednesdays.  Registration for this program is available online.

I want to take my son to the Penguins and Pajamas Sleepover on Saturday, January 17th at 6:00PM.  It is for children ages 5 to 17, and an adult chaperone is needed. This program is $109.00 for non-members and $89.00 for members.

Resources:

Academy of Sciences
Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA

Tip:  Have lunch at the cafeteria at the Academy of Sciences, it is amazing and delicious!  It is very different from most museum cafeterias!

Christmas Tree Hunting in Castro Valley