Snapshot #937: First Time Trick-or-Treating

October 31, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Here's the copy of a chat with my sister late night after taking Hazel trick-or-treating for the first time:

Shelli:  Where are pics of Hazel in her costume?

Keri:  Didn't really get any.
Shelli:  What?  Bad night?
Keri:  Too busy.  No real good ones.  Here you go...
Shelli:  Uh, cutest pictures ever!!!
Keri:  They give a good feel for the night.  My fave is the one with them standing in front of a closed door and Dave is bending over giving instructions.  Call it: The Anticipation.
Shelli:  I can't wait to hear about it! I love that Dave dressed up! What an awesome Dad!!!!
Ok, I am giving out candy next year! Soooo cute! Did Hazel like it?
Keri:  Yes.  It was hard to get her to walk.  She wanted to be carried.  Some of the houses were scary.  But she kept asking for "Mas Candy."
She probably walked half of it.  We were out for 1 hour.  Just went down our block and one block over and a couple houses at the ends of the block.  Weird to be able to just walk out our door and knock on all our neighbors doors.  We don't know each other that way...
When we got home Hazel wouldn't let go of her bucket (she calls it a "buckey")
Shelli:  So cute!!!  Did most people have their lights on?
Keri:  No.  Maybe 1/4 to 1/3 lights on.
Shelli:  I love her wings! Did she like getting dressed up?
Keri:  The wings kind of annoyed her after a while.
Shelli:  Did u dress up?
Keri:  I dressed in my pirate costume.  So we had a butterfly and Robin Hood and a pirate, as some thought.  Or Peter Pan with Tinker Bell and Hook.
She went trunk or treating last Sat night at church and came home with candy in her bucket that she's been eating all week.  Last night there was only a couple left and Dave and I ate them (knowing she'd get more today). She cried today when she saw her bucket was empty.
Shelli:  She cried? You big meanies! :)
Keri:  That's how I felt!  Haha

Snapshot #936: "Choo, Choo"

October 30, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Have I mentioned how much Hazel likes trains?  She thinks that big trucks and busses are trains too.  Whenever she sees them she points and says, "Choo, Choo!"

Snapshot #935: A Country Kitchen

October 29, 2013.  San Jose, California.  My father, a carpenter, is going to build his sweetheart her dream kitchen and I'm lucky enough to put in my two cents.  I have come up with a first draft but I am sure Mom will make changes.  The design inspiration came from this kitchen my mother absolutely adores.

Snapshot #934: Wild Turkeys

October 28, 2013.  Rancho San Antonio, Cupertino, California.  Hazel and I ran into a rafter of wild turkeys on our walk this morning.  So cool!

Snapshot #933: Valparaiso Sings Again

October 26, 2013.  Menlo Park, California.  This weekend every year (for the past 29 years) the Valparaiso Singers perform in an historical little church in Menlo Park.  Dave sang with them tonight and started off the program with a duet.  I LOVE to listen to Dave sing.

Exploring California: Snapshot #932: CuriOdyssey

October 25, 2013.  San Mateo, California.  I have been wanting to check out CuriOdyssey for months now.  It's a miniature zoo and hands-on science exploration center for kids.  I thought we would spend most our time looking at animals.  Turns out, they have less than a dozen animals and half of them were missing or the exhibits were down.  Hazel did enjoy the hands-on science center though.  She spent most her time at a building blocks exhibit.  My favorite part was the walk we took on the grounds afterward.  The vista from the bluff overlooking the bay was incredible!  We sat down for a while and watched a steady stream of airplanes fly over us and land at SFO.  Then we walked through a Eucalyptus Grove down to some docks along the marina.  

Snapshot #931: Bird Feeder Ornaments

October 24, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Hazel and her friend helped me make these bird feeder ornaments to hang in our trees.  It may be the wrong season...but in Sunnyvale,  California we may just get away with it.

Snapshot #930: Pumpkin Patch

October 23, 2013.  Santa Clara, California.  Hazel saw some pumpkins at a grocery store and has been asking for "Pumpkins, pumpkins!" ever since.  Today I took her to a pumpkin patch with some friends.  Besides pumpkins, they had bunnies, bouncy houses, and go-carts...who knew?  I love sharing the joy she gets from experiencing life.

Snapshot #929: "No Night Night"

October 22, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I always peek on Hazel right before I go to bed.  Last night I found her here, rather than in her bed.  I have a feeling tonight I'm going to find her asleep on the ground on the opposite side of her door...it's 9:15PM and I can still hear her talking to herself, her little voice coming out from just under the door.  (Bedtime was 8:00)

Snapshot #928: Creative Play

October 21, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I've fretted over this all weekend long but have finally determined not to continue Hazel in her Toddler Preschool class.  She's not interested in letters or numbers yet, she's barely two years old, and she has the next 25+ years to focus on academics and sitting still.  Instead, I'm going to use the time for some creative play and exploration.  I've assembled this online pinboard of ideas to draw from.   I plan to use the time to visit local children's museums, take nature walks, read lots of fairytales and nursery rhymes, do silly art projects, visit local farms, zoos, beaches, and simply play together.  

Snapshot #927: Craft Day 2013

October 19, 2013.  Sunnyvale, California.  Craft Day 2013 was today and this is what I have to show for it.  Thanks to Margaret for making it on my behalf; I was too busy teaching a watercolor technique for hand-stamped cards.  To see photos from the event visit our website here.

Snapshot #926: Toddling vs. Preschooling

October 18, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Hazel's a little too immature for this toddler preschool class and I've been going back and forth on whether or not to keep her in it.  I really like that all the other moms in the co-op have teaching certificates and I can learn from them how to "home school." But Hazel's personal interest in letters and numbers is almost non-existent; it's almost humorous.  I keep buying different toys and things to teach Hazel her letters, but I've realized another gadget is not going to do the trick; the girl's just not that interested.

Snapshot #925: "No Clothes"

 

October 17, 2013.  San Jose, California.  The battle of the wills has resulted in three days of Hazel's refusal to put on clothes.  I suppose there are worse things.

Snapshot #924: Scout Leader Uniform

October 16, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Dave is now a leader for a local troop of boy scouts, so I've got to figure out how to sew patches before tonight.

Snapshot #923: Memorial Church

October 15, 2013.  Palo Alto, California.  I can't believe that I've been this close to Stanford for over two years and last night was my first time on campus.  Dave and I attended the LDS Convocation at the Memorial Church, featuring keynote speaker and choral conductor Craig Jessop.  I understand why the LDS church doesn't spend gaudy amounts of money on embellishing over-the-top architecture for their churches and temples (keeping them more-or-less functional) but man, listening to Jessop's choir in that church...the experience was transcendent!  "The influence of music has the power to free the soul, " said Craig Jessop.

Snapshot #922: "No Potty! No Potty!"

October 14, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I had high hopes for potty-training Hazel before she's 2-1/2.  I figured I'd either have to do it now (6 weeks before our Thanksgiving trip) or it would have to wait until January (because I'm definitely not doing it over the holidays.)  I bought this underwear and gauged her response for sitting on the toilet.  What was my first clue that she's not yet ready? Her running as fast as those little legs could carry her away from the bathroom crying and yelling "No Potty!  No Potty!  No Potty!"  I guess we'll have to wait until January...

Snapshot #921: Hosting a Baby Shower

October 12, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I enjoyed co-hosting a baby shower for a friend this morning.  Welcome to Earth Baby Charlie!

Snapshot #920: Red Skyscraper

October 11, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I have started to receive referrals for my design services so I've spent a little time updating my online architectural and interior design portfolio.  To see my work, go here:  www.redskyscraper.blogspot.com.

Snapshot #919: How to Sew Ruffles

October 10, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I have been teaching myself how to sew using YouTube. Today's lesson is how to sew gathers, ruffles, and pleats.  Check out the simple tutorial by clicking on the photo above.

Snapshot #918: Think Positive

October 9, 2013.  San Jose, California.  My yoga instructor says that negative thoughts have been scientifically proven to cause muscle contraction.  I'm now on a crusade of Positive Thinking.

Snapshot #917: Sister King

October 8, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I thought about my "little" sister all day today.  She flew to Mesa, Arizona this morning to begin her 18-month proselyting mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  We love you and pray for you daily Miss Tracee.  Anyone interested in keeping up-to-date with Tracee's letters and happenings from her mission can find her on Facebook with a group called Sister King.

Snapshot #916: Horses

October 7, 2013.  San Jose, California.  My sister sent me this photo from our trip to Idaho last month and I need to make sure it makes it into the Wood Family archives.  While visiting a neighbor in Wendell, Idaho Hazel opened their back door and started walking.  I thought she was going to explore the back yard, but instead she walked purposefully through the yard and kept going until she came face-to-face with these horses.  I was impressed by her bravery and the fact that she saw them off in the distance when I did not. 

Snapshot #915: Moral Influence of Women

October 5, 2013.  San Jose, California.  I cannot get Elder D. Todd Christofferson's talk out of my head from General Conference.  He spoke about a topic that has been running in my mind for months now; that is the need for essential differences between the man and the woman in society, in families, and in marriages.  In my personal life, I discovered several years after marriage that there were some fundamental needs not getting met in our lives as a result of having two people focused on and working essentially the same role--as provider.  Because we had two providers, and little time or energy for much else, we lacked a consistent nurturer and much was lost as a result.  Now, I can appreciate what Elder Christofferson means when he says there are "those who, in the name of equality, want to erase all differences between the masculine and the feminine...In blurring the feminine and masculine differences we lose the distinct complimentary gifts of women and men that together produce a greater whole."  He echoed Elder Maxwell's sentiments, "When the real history of mankind is fully disclosed, will it feature the echoes of gunfire or the shaping sound of lullabies? The great armistices made by military men or the peacemaking of women in homes and in neighborhoods? Will what happened in cradles and kitchens prove to be more controlling than what happened in congresses?"

Snapshot #914: Toddler Preschool

October 4, 2013.  San Jose, California.  Did I mention that Hazel's in Toddler Preschool?  I'm in a co-op with friends and today was my turn to teach.  Of course I was too busy managing the kids to take any cute photos, so you get the Letter-of-the-Week instead.

Snapshot #913: Unpacking...Ugh!

October 3, 2013.  San Jose, California.  It always takes me longer than I think it should to un-pack after a trip, do laundry, put it all away, etc.  (Yes, I would rather do creative projects than do laundry.)

Snapshot #912: Flow Yoga

October 2, 2013.  Mountain View, California.  I've started a yoga class and I'm really enjoying it.  I'm hoping it's going to help release some of this tension I've built up in my neck and shoulders.