Most Recent Travels

So we are just barely back from our trip up to Oakland and though my hero of a husband has done all of the laundry, I feel I am still recovering in a way so I apologize profusely to those who check this site daily and have been so patiently waiting for these photos (you know who you are :) ). We had such a lovely time during our stay, largely due to the hospitality of our amazing hostess and friend- jen (aka ms. bloom). It was so great to meet up with friends and families and students who had yet to meet Nathaniel or had only met him towards the beginning of his life here. We spent Saturday at the Farmer's Market by Lake Merritt with my friend Zoe, eating delicious vegan soul food (this is why we love it up there....vegan soul food?!) and wishing the markets down here could be so full and diverse. Sarah and Christopher hosted dinner at their light-filled sanctuary next to the Lake that evening, yummy dinner and fun catching-up. The best part of that day was that we walked EVERYWHERE! I forgot what I love most about being up there...the fact that we were never in the car longer than 15-20 minutes- a paradise for Nathaniel. Sunday began with a delicious brunch hosted by Alisa and Tupaq, followed by a Father's Day A's game in Oakland. The A's lost but both father and son had lots of fun. We finished the evening with some quality time with Jen over vegetarian chinese (another missed food) while watching the world's worst dvd ever made (I won't even get into it).

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Monday was spent as a family at our favorite French breakfast restaurant in Berkeley- La Note- followed by swimming and lunch up at The Claremont, Jed's old workplace. Nate was cooed over there by all of Jed's colleagues...showing off his biggest smiles and happy demeanor. Monday dinner with Dan and Jen...followed by Boggle and a battle of the Jen's- Ms. Bloom is now the official *Queen of the Word Families.* Which leaves us at Tuesday, the true purpose of our trip. Tuesday marked the graduation of some of my favorite people in the world from 5th grade- my former students at NOCCS. We spent three terrific years together, each 180 days bringing us closer than the next. They are definitely the ones who formed me into the teacher that I became and gave me the wisdom and courage to decide to enter into motherhood. I am now prepared with the experience of knowing what to do when I open a lunch box full of sponges (answer: just laugh and act like it's the most normal thing in the world) as well as what to do when you hear a room full of angels singing (answer: cry like it's the first time, every time). The graduation ceremony was beautiful and more kind words couldn't have been spoken by their current teacher, Ms. Lankenau. They were in good hands this year.

It was sort of surreal bringing my now most important person to meet these 10 people who touched my life so deeply. It was during this day that I think I had my first taste of what it must be like to parent more than one child...there truly IS always room for one more in your heart. It really can expand to infinite proportions and I'm so glad that it can include these students as well. Congratulations Amanda, Caitlin, Ellie, Emma, Eva, John, Luke, Paula, Ruby, and William, I'm so very proud of you!