Happy Birthday at Hana Japan in Berkeley!

Hana Japan at the Berkeley Marina is a fun Teppanyaki restaurant.  The chefs are like entertainers, performing tricks as they cook in front of you.  Among other things, they create a volcano/explosion using a stack of onions, which is great fun.  They also have a birthday special where you eat basically for free on your birthday.  The location, at the Berkeley Marina, is scenic - great place to walk after you eat.

Recommended math book: Number Devil: A Mathematical Adventure by Hans Magnus Enzenberger

This book was recommended to me by a mom, she claims that her son loved it!!!  I will review more after I've tried it out on my son.

Resources:

The Number Devil:  A Mathematical Adventure by Hans Magnus Enzensberger

Recommended ABC book: The Wise Enchanter: A Journey Through the Alphabet, by Shelley Dadidow

This book was recommended to me for children learning and reviewing the alphabet.

The Wise Enchanter:  A Journey Through the Alphabet, by Shelley Dadidow

Recommended math program: King Maximo and the Number Knights

Title:  King Maximo and the Number Knights

At the grand feast, the twelve number knights reveal their answers to king Maximo's momentous question, "What is the greatest of all the numbers?"

Blake Garden Open House in Kensington, CA from 9:00AM to 4:00PM- Gorgeous gardens!

My son did a summer family day camp at Blake Gardens through the Berkeley Rose School a few years ago, and that is when we fell in love with Blake Gardens.  The teacher, Ms. Margaret, created teepees and we all shared yummy goat cheese, fruit, and healthy crackers in the gardens.  It was magical!  Ever since then, Blake Gardens has held a special place in my heart!

As part of the Cal Day today at UC Berkeley, Blake Gardens is open today for an open house from 9AM to 4:00PM!

Blake Gardens
70 Rincon Rd.
Kensington, CA  94707
(510) 524-2449

There is a tour of the gardens at 2:00PM,  meet on the event lawn!

Today, April 18, 2015 is Cal Day at UC Berkeley- Free activities all day from 9:00AM to 4:00PM!

Today is Cal Day at UC Berkeley!

"Introduce kids to the wide world of Berkeley!"

http://calday.berkeley.edu

UC Berkeley
FREE
9:00AM to 4:00PM

Recommended Family Restaurants in Martinez, CA

I have two family style restaurants in Martinez, CA.  They are the following:

Copper Skillet Restaurant
811 Ferry Street
Martinez, CA
(925) 228-3457
(Standard American breakfast and lunch fare.  My son loved the inside of the place with lots of antique artifacts!  )

La Primavera Taqueria
1311 Pine Street
Martinez, CA
(925) 229-2199
(This place was recommended by a friend for their handmade corn tortillas, it is very casual and also appropriate for take out!)

Today is John Muir's birthday and Earth Day celebration at the John Muir House in Martinez, CA

Today is John Muir's birthday and Earth Day celebration at the John Muir House in Martinez, CA!  Some highlights for children are meeting  John Muir, crafts, and seeing the Sequoia John Muir planted 130 years ago!  There is free parking at Alhambra High School with a shuttle available.

Resources:

John Muir House
www.nps.gov/jomu/
4202 Alhambra Avenue
Martinez, CA  94553
(925) 228-8860
John Muir's Birthday
Earth Day Celebration
10AM to 4 PM

Local Family Restaurants to try in Martinez, CA

American breakfast and Lunch fare
Copper Skillet
811 Ferry Street
Martinez, CA
(925) 228-3457

La Primavera Taqueria
1311 Pine Street
Martinez, CA
(925) 229-2199
www.laprimavera.restaurant.com

Want adventure? Read blog, "Walking with Wired!" AMAZING! True authorship!

As I sit in my warm house in the early morning, all I have to do is read the blog, "Walking With Wired." to feel adventure!  I met the parents of the blogger at a class so went home last night to read the blog!!!!  The blog is true authorship!  Amazing!!!!!

Recommended Book for Parents and educators: Nonviolent Commiunication: A Language Of Life

I discovered the book, Nonviolent Communication, at a workshop I attended yesterday.  This book contains some of the following tips.  Many of the ideas can be taught to children so they can have more effective communication with their families, friends, and teachers!

1.  Be aware of your emotions so you can realize if there is a problem.
2.  Step back, what is the situation that is causing the negative emotions?
3.  When talking to others, take out "judgement" words, and start with how you are feeling instead.  An example of this is, "When I heard_____, I was disappointed."  Do not judge because the other person you are communicating with will get defensive.

We love Kapla blocks! They have them at the Lawrence Hall of Science!

My seven year old son loves the Kapla blocks!  We first discovered them at the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, CA!  It is a great place to try them out!

Resources:

Kapla Blocks
Kapla USA
PO Box 8185
Savannah, GA  31402-8185
(912) 944-6296
www.kaplatoys.com

Today, April 12, 2015 is the Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show at Jack London Square in Oakland, cA

Today, April 12, 2015 is the Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show at Jack London Square in Oakland, CA.  Sailboats of every size and budget will fill the grounds of Jack London Square, both in and out of the water, including sleek racers, family cruisers, and luxury yachts!  There are also interactive activities for young aspiring sailors!

Resources:

Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show
Sunday, April 12, 2015
10:00AM-5:00PM
www.strictlysailpacific.com
(401) 289-2540

Niles Canyon Railroad Video

Niles Canyon Railway
www.ncry.org/
6 Kilkare Rd.
Sunol, CA  94586
(510) 996-8420

Niles Canyon Railroad in Springtime!

Niles Canyon Railway
www.ncry.org/
6 Kilkare Rd.
Sunol, CA  94586
(510) 996-8420

Our Easter Traditions

This year, it felt like Easter came so early!  The following traditions are ones we have been holding onto.

1.  We usually go to church on Easter.  My son loves the music and  Easter egg hunt after the service.  Last Sunday the children dyed the eggs and this week they were hid in the church.  He loved it!

2.  The Easter bunny comes and visits the house either the night before Easter or the night of Easter.  Though my son doesn't allow the Tooth Fairy to come in the house, he doesn't mind the Easter bunny visiting.

3.  We have an Easter egg hunt with friends, and in those eggs we put coins!  Even adults love this Easter egg hunt!

4.  We dye eggs!

5.  We visit the Easter bunny at the mall.

6.  We have an early dinner with family.

7.  Easter table/display:

8.  Easter spring tea and snacks
We love Blake Gardens and Crab Cove for picnics!  One easy snack is Annie's Bunny fruit snacks, with the summer strawberry flavor.

9.  We love the Cadbury Creme Eggs, with milk chocolate eggs and soft fondant center, by Hershey company.  My husband grew up with these!

10.  This year we worked with chalkboard eggs that I got at Michael's craft store.  I got colored chalk and the children ages preschool to age 8 decorated them.  The fun part about these chalkboard eggs is that they can be reused over and over again, and aren't messy!
Easter Paques
chalkboard eggs
by Celebrate It
Distributed by Michael's stores
6 pieces for $6.99
(when I went back to Michael's to get more, they were sold out!)


Some new ideas for traditions we may want to start....

Go on the Easter Egg Express in Woodland, CA.  There was an Easter egg express on April 5th, at 2PM.  (http://www.sacramentorivertrain.com)