Mika & Camila's Picture Diary

Camping and other stuff

Mika at the Cherry Festival and elsewhere

Holding a friend's baby

On a San Leandro Police motorcycle

At the wheel of a bus

On a freefall ride

On the bars at the playground

Mika graduated

Today was Mika's last day of Kindergarten. There was a little party, which Mike filmed. Afterwards one of her teachers came to me and thanked me for the opportunity to teach my daughter. She said it'd been an honor and a privilege to have her in her class. The other teacher told me that she thought Mika was a superstar.

It's nice to hear it. Sometimes I don't appreciate how well she's doing in school, my expectations are so high. But she does have a great father who offers her tons of opportunities to learn and she's very bright.

She's got a new silkworm. I'm taking bets on how long it takes for it to die.

Visiting with Aunt Kathy

Falling asleep at the school open house

An afternoon nap

Dancing at a Moroccan restaurant

Waiting for ballon animals at the farmers' market

Fun shopping

At the movies

Fun at the mall

Watching performances at the Heritage Faire

Jumping at the Library's Heritage Faire with Asheba

Mika Helps a Magician at the Library

And now she is six...

Mika after she used a gift card from Grandma. Thanks Grandma!

Reaching out to touch a boa constrictor

Getting her face painted at Cal Day

Throwing a pot at Cal Day

School, library, park, dentist and zoo

Mika reading at school

Mika added sodium borate to polyvinyl alcohol to make some slime at the library

Playing in the sand with a friend

School assembly

Sedated at the dentist to have a cavity filled

Climbing a tomato frog at the zoo

Mika and Camila Rolling Down a Hill

A Day in Berkeley

Climbing trees

Making a new friend

A true flower child

Screaming in the tunnel

A ferry trip, dancing, and losing a tooth

Posing in San Francisco

Working on her dance moves

Mika shows off the space left by losing a second tooth

The first tooth was lost, but here's the second.

The official portrait

Mika at tea

We had a tea party - our last tea party with C. - the week before Xmas and our friend K. took some amazing pictures. Here are a couple of Mika's:

Xmas pictures of the girls

My parents and siblings came to visit us for Xmas. They took the girls to San Francisco and Berkeley and then took them home with them.

My brother took many pictures of them and you can see them here.

Hanging out at the zoo with Assemblywoman Mary Hayashi

Mika has on a purple jacket and Camila is in the red. The picture was published in the December 15, 2007, edition of the Daily Review.

Fun on a Friday night

Having fun with friends at a local restaurant.

Fun at Miracle on E. 14th Street

Santa at Garfield Elementary School

Camila with Santa at Garfield Elementary School

Mika with Santa at Garfield Elementary School

The Kindergarten Picture

Mika's Kindergarten picture

Mika at grandparents & Thanksgiving

Mika was very affectionate with grandma

And she loved her dog

Mika in the Shasta caves

She had fun at a recent birthday party

Looking for trees was fun. Fortunately we all agreed on one.

She was a trooper posing with the Xmas tree.

Grandparents and Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving we took our kids to Mike's parents home, so the kids could meet their cousins. They had an amazing time and Camila still tell us - every time we are in the car - "I want to go to grandma's house". On the way back we stopped at the Shasta caves, which Mika, at least, appreciated.

Then it's been home and Xmas preparations. We have the tree and have decorated - now it's time for the holiday celebrations!

The kids with cousins and grandparents

What will Santa bring us?

All ready for Xmas

We saw Santa at the lightening of the tree in San Leandro - Mika asked for Bratz, Camila for a Dora doll.

And then again at our realtor's office. Camila wasn't very cooperative.

Road Trip North

At a restaurant for dinner

Pancakes with chocolate chips for breakfast

Pancakes with chocolate chips for breakfast for Camila as well

Mika was a little lamb, little lamb...

Camila was a little lamb too

A bear hug

Camila with the bear

A rhinoceros at Wildlife Safari made Mika and Mom nervous

An impressive elk

The kids on the lookout for animals

This curious rhea pecked at Dad's shirt

Riding, digging, and hanging out

At the carousel in San Francisco

Exploring a possible career in archaeology

Hanging out with public art

Hanging out near one of her favorite treats

Mika can be quite helpful

Mika is quite thoughtful and often thinks of ways to help out. Yesterday, for example, she saw that my toothbrush was dirty and took it upon herself to clean it. I found out when I started to brush my teeth because the toothbrush tasted like soap! We've been encouraging her to tell the truth and I guess it's working because she told me that she washed my toothbrush when I asked her about it.

I'll file this under the category of "Things You Never Expected When You Decided to Have Kids."

Halloween Before and After

One of many options for Halloween.

Coloring at the Oakland Museum.

These flowers make great face paint!

Rockin' out to Cowboy Jared at Cherrytown Kids

Trash discovery at Oyster Bay

Hugging a friend at the Kids Save the Planet Festival

Friends at Ardenwood

Modeling the Xmas dress

Gratuitous fall picture

Getting the guts out of the pumpkin

The end result of gut removal

Milk makes great bubbles

Mika is in the yellow dress

I haven't put up pictures forever

Or rather, Mike hasn't, as he downloaded them to his camera.

The girls are doing well. Mika finds kindergarten a little bit slow, though they are finally ready to start working on words. The teacher gave us a long list and instructions to help our kids with them - fortunately my sister kathy is a teacher and she could give me some ideas of how to help her.

Mika has a new boyfriend named Angel, she's very much in love with him. They play at recess and have weekly playdates (we alternate houses). She's also made friends with the other kids, everyone seems to say goodbye when she leaves, which indicates to me that they like her. What's not to like? She's always been very socially intelligent.

Camila is doing better and becoming more independent without her sister around, though I realize I treat her much more like a baby that I ever did Mika. It's the curse of being the baby of the family. She's speaking much more clearly, and I'm hoping that by 3 she'll be speaking well.
She's very rambunctious but also very whiny. She has this weird condition now that her skin is peeling on her hands and feet - I'm going to call the doctor tomorrow and have her seen.

The two of them, as I've mentioned over and over, play very well together. They love dolls, babies and Mika is lately into puzzles (what she wants for Xmas are pluzzles and Bratz). Camila is into whatever her sister likes.

Santa Claus

Yesterday Mika told me that she didn't really believe in Santa, that she only believes in things she sees with her own eyes. So I asked her where the presents on Xmas morning came from, and she said "magic".

She did also tell me that she didn't believe in God. That's my girl! :)

Bump bump bump

Mika, what are you doing?

bumping my apple on the door so I can make a bruise

She likes bruises

Mika was on the paper today

Check her out at

http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_6796804?source=rv

First day and stuff

Mika at the Adventure Park having the time of her life.

At our campsite

Isn't she beautiful?

Wednesday was Mika's first day of kindergarten. She was a little apprehensive at first, there was a tear or two, but she quickly adapted. She loves it now, and loves her teacher. They seem to play more than anything, but do a little bit of drawing and tracing in between. She was quite lucky in that one of her friends, Joshua, is in the same kindergarten class than her. They've known each other since they were babies.

And here she is, going to school

In the stroller

A couple of days ago Mika had an upset stomach. She woke up during the night and threw up several times (we slept through it :(. She was a bit bitter during the day, but way tired. We went to Zocalo, where she laid down to sleep on the stroller. It looks so uncomfortable. Later, when she woke up, I convinced her to lie on the couches - and she slept for another hour.

Mika as a baby

I didn't really keep baby albums for my two kids - this place sort of makes up for that - but when Mika was a baby my mother sort of started one for her. She didn't write much, but the kids got into it and destroyed the little that was there. So I figured I'd copy it here so it can remain for posterity (or at least until the server crashes).

==
Your first babysitters were Joy & Doug

Strangers who stopped to admire you said these things about you:

"she looks like the gerber baby"
"she's the cutest baby I ever saw"
"she's so big"

Your very first baby was at 3 weeks bathed by daddy

You loved this new sensation

Once you got used to them baths usually made you feel relaxed and playful.

you would not, could not go to bed, without your bottle and company

Your first summer holiday was 4th of July celebrated at Joy's house

Autumn holidays: halloween and thanksgiving

Winter holidays: Xmas and New Years

Ninth months check-up: crawled all over the office, cried at the vaccines

You discovered your hands at two months

You discovered your feet at 5 months

You found the comfort of your thumbs or pacifier all by yourself: at 4 months you left the pacifier and put your hand in your mouth.

you first grabbed for a toy around 5 months old.

You were so busy learning about the world! Your other discoveries:

How to move pushing with your legs (5 months)
how to turn around (5 months)
to smile (3 months)
play with toys (5 months)

You began eating solid food at 5 months

The baby foods you most enjoy were: you were indifferent to carrots, apple and rice.

Singing at the playground

Mi Mika

Mika continues having transition problems, coming back from nona's house was painful. She spent a good 20 minutes crying for kathy ("my real mamá") before falling asleep on the way back. She does miss Kathy terribly, specially when she's in trouble and/or tired. I'm glad she has another adult she can be so close to.

I think she grows more beautiful every day - but of course, I'm biased. Today we went to get her hearing tested, as with Camila, because she's been complaining she can't hear in her right ear. She failed the test as well, so we're also waiting for a referral for an ear doctor.

She continues to surprise me with the amount of knowledge she has, and her wide interest in the world. She asks "why" a lot, but she really seems to process the information.

Unfortunately, she's heard a lot about Jesus Christ from her friend Sadie and I'm still trying to explain to her about gods and teachers and death. I'm not sure if the information is sinking in, but she's very curious.

Making a "chanchito face"

Isn't she gorgeous?

Saying goodbye to Kathy and nono

My mother bought her a bunch of beautiful, fancy dresses, she has nowhere to wear. Please do not buy her any more dresses! They are beautiful and she looks darling, but what am I to do with them?

the butterflies are my girlfriend and the circles are my boyfriends

She pastes a sticker page, in which all the round stickers have been removed, into a blank page. then she draws half circles and half butterflies inside them. She tells me that the circles are her boyfriends and the butterflies her girlfriends. The fat butterfly is tía, as she wants it to look like real life (I ask her how about mommy, "moooom, I haven't drawn you yet"). then she comes and shows them to me. Guess which half I'm going to invite to my birthday party. I guess the butterflies. I'm right, she wants an all girl party.

Monster Camila meanwhiles comes after her "aaahghmm". They are in the bedroom. Laughing.

Yesterday we went to my friend Andrew's and Laura's for dinner. I've known them since college. the girls played beautifully with their 4 and 2yo. I was particularly impressed how well Camila played with Sara, the 2 yo. They pretty much aged segregated most of the evening. My little girl is growing up.

2 little girls

Here are pictures from some activities. A couple of weeks ago Mike took them to the helicopter show, and both of them flew in a helicopter. We also took them to the Alameda County fair, and to the beach at Alameda. And then to socials here and there. For more info on them read my last report on Vox Publica

Words and Random Pictures

So the kids are growing up. Mika is doing pretty well, all in all, though she still has huge problems with transitions. She's outright rude when she has to interact with a new person (whether she knows them well or not), though eventually she warms up and is her friendly, bubbly self. She is both looking forward to, and apprehensive of kindergarden. Her social skills continue to amaze us, as her ability and desire to take care of all. However, she has began to judge herself in negative ways. The other day she was complaining about how she is always last at running races, she doesn't understand it and doesn't want to do it if she can't be good at it. She has also started to notice when people compliment Camila on how cute she is and not her. She gets very hurt by the idea the Camila could be cuter or Camila could have something cuter than her. I'm somewhat at a loss as to how to deal with these issues.

As for Camila, she is in the controlling phase of her life. She wants to do everything herself "me do it, me do it, me do it", and this can be very annoying specially when we are talking about serving herself milk, putting herself in the car seat or doing things she can't do. When she can't do something she is very specific as to who should do it, and will go into a fit if the wrong person does it. This is becoming very frustrating. Her vocabulary is improving and she can usually communicate quite well, though not always verbally. however, I'm concerned about her lack of correct pronunciation.

Both are pretty happy girls, though Mika has been missing daddy a lot now that he's in Seattle all the time. me too.

Having fun

I haven't posted pictures in a while, but it doesn't mean that the kids have not been all over the place, having fun in a million ways. In recent weeks they've been to the new water park at the Washington Manor twice, at the Oakland Museum, the Children's Discovery Museum, at the recycling center, at the airplane museum in oakland, and, to top it off, to an amusement park (discovery world) for MOTHER'S DAY (that was my stupid idea).

So here are the pictures of all of these events.

having fun at the water park

The discovery museum is always fun

As is flying planes

You can also be an artist at the Oakland Museum

And pose with garbage at the recycling center

The kids had fun at the Discovery World, or whatever it's called, though not as much as they should have given the expense and effort on our part - and the fact that it was Mother's Day for God's sake. Mika was very grumpy when she couldn't get all she wanted, and she didn't have the patience to wait in line. Camila behaved wonderfully and stayed in her stroller most of the time. I'm glad we went, but we won't be hurrying back.

Death

Last year I took the kids to the Day of the Death celebration at the Oakland Museum. Five months later I'd forgotten all about it. Then a couple of days ago Mika asks "are you going to write that paper for Gladys like you did for that other man?". I had no idea what she was talking about. Then she reminded me that when we went to the Oakland Museum there was a large exhibit, where, I think, you could write a short note for the souls of the dead. I have *no idea* to whom I did that. My grandfather, perhaps, given that Mika remembered it was a man. I vaguely remember the exhibit at all. But she remembered, and she realized it was for the dead, and that Gladys is now among them. Her perceptions - as well as her memory and how she processes things - astounds me.

Michaela's 5th birthday party

Michaela had her 5th birthday party yesterday - a couple of weeks after her birthday 'cause we screwed up and didn't send the invites on time. It worked well, however, as I had time to clean the house. For her actual birthday day we went to the Ice Creamery in Castro Valley. Carol, Ethan & Ricky & the kids and Diana & her kids came along as well. We all had food and ice cream and the kids had a blast.

This birthday party started more mellow (we didn't take pictures so I figure I'll write it up for posterity). It was a teddy bear tea party so all her friends came with their stuffed animals. We set up the coffee table with a nice lace tablecloth (one of Gladys' - Kathy says Gladys would have liked Mika using it for her own tea party), paper placemats and plastic tea cups & saucers. We served mini food (mini p&J sandwiches, mini cookies, mini oreos, mini ritz crackers, baby carrots and HUGE strawberries - the kids were very amused by how big the strawberries were) and chocolate milk out of plastic teapots. The kids spent quite a bit of time eating, very quietly, to the point that my friend Daniela said this was the mellowest party she'd attended.

Then all the fun started and all the kids started to play. They chased each other through the house, the climbed on the bunk beds, and God knows what else they did, but they sounded very loud and happy. Just put a bunch of kids together and they'll have fun.

One little boy, however, was very sad when his mom left. We tried to entice him with boy stuff, but we didn't have much of it. Mika offered him something Batman, but when she went to look for it she couldn't find anything, so she drew him a picture of Batman and brought it to him. He was not convinced. She tried to explain that this, indeed, was Batman, but the little boy kept saying he missed his mommy. So Mika went to her room and came back with a picture of his mommy! Later, when that didn't seem to satisfy him, she went ahead and drew a picture of his other mommy. I have such a cool kid.

Later on she showed how full of herself she is when Kathy told her how lucky she was that she got so many presents. Mika answered "I'm not lucky, they are lucky they could give me presents". What am I going to do with this child?

To everyone who reads this who was lucky enough to give her a present ;), thank you so much for them. We may, one day, get to actually write thank you cards but I doubt it.

Mika will

climb

and climb

Mika will dig

Mika will eat

and Mika will run

Mika will draw

and draw

even her insides

Pictures, old and new

We often go to Angelinas, a local pizzeria with a kids area. Big Mika, the kids teacher, works there, and our friends Eddie and Arthur love going there as well. The kids love it, and the pizza is pretty good.

The kids love climbing the book case

Some times it's hard taking pictures of Camila because she keeps reaching for the camera

But Mika can be the same

Obligatory picture of Camila with frosting on her face

I love this picture

The girls have learned to peel garlic on their own - without mommy's approval, that is. They left garlic peel all over the living room and my office.

Mika loves to draw. Here is a pictures of kisses that she made

and here are snowflakes

and here are baby carriages

She also likes to write and is definitely ready to learn to read and write. She knows all her letters and is able to spell out words - like signs on the streets. But there are few words she can spell on her own. Her name is the most common one.

This picture is from a few months ago, but she still likes to dress like a ballernina. We haven't taken her to ballet classes because she was bored when she took them at 3 1/2. She thinks she knows all of it and doesn't need to learn. Still, we should try again.

My aunt María del Carmen in Argentina made this beautiful poncho for Michaela

Lately Mika has been into climbing everything, and the roof of her little structure is one of the easiest things for her to climb. We got this structure for free on the street.

Camila, meanwhile, loves to swing

Mika loves animals, snakes, bugs and all things of the sort.

Aren't they cute together?

And now some lame videos

and now the two togehter

They had a great time together at Yerba Buena Gardens

They love taking baths together and having water fights. Though the last time around Camila pooped in the water.

Mika Tika

Michaela continues to be a very mature (for her age) little girl. Her knowledge amazes me. She proved it at insect lab at her school, when she was able to tell the difference between an insect and an arachnid. No wonder! Her father is constantly teaching her about the world around her. She knows about the war in Iraq, and what a civil war is - though there are tough questions I'm not sure how to answer. She's happy at preschool and at Rosemarie's. She knows all her letters and can spell out almost any word. She can also do basic math (3 + 2), though she uses her fingers sometimes. It's amazing how much 5-yo can learn!

At the insect lab:

She's learning how to do whatever they are called, vueltas carnero in Spanish.

We went to the zoo a couple of weeks ago

As part of daddy's many school activities, he has to go to spaghetti feeds, crab feeds and other school events. Here they are at a spaghetti feed at one of the junior highs.

Michaela likes to do physical activity and is quite courageous, though she usually knows her limits

She also likes climbing on trees

Dancing girls

Of dresses and castles

Michaela is more incredible every day - more intelligent, more curious, more difficult. And yet we can't think of any Michaela anecdotes as we speak. Oh well, next time. Meanwhile here are some pictures

Grandma got her the most beautiful party dress, and she loves wearing. I'm trying hard to find some party for her to wear it at.

For her birthday Camila got a Barbie "My size castle" to share with her sister. It's a combination play house and Barbie doll house, and so far it's proved pretty popular.

Mike loves reading to his girls

And they all love having fun together

Mika's wisdom

She comes and shows me an empty bottle of shampoo (which I suspect she emptied but that's another matter). She tells me "look it's empty" and I go "throw it away". And she says "I'm not going to throw it away, I'm going to play with it. It's like recycling. I'm going to make it into something new". And there she is now, playing with the bottle and Camila.

A bonanza of old pictures

No doubt as to her father is

Still no pictures

But I should say how wonderful Mika is.

Today when Camila pooped, she took off her diaper, put her in the toilet (where Camila finished pooping) and then cleaned her up.

She takes care of Camila quite well, looking after her, getting her away from trouble (and letting me know when she's doing something dangerous), playing with her, etc. She loves her a lot, and hugs her and kisses her often. Camila reciprocates, she adores Mika and does everything Mika does.

She still loves dressing up and changing her clothing all the time. She also loves the Simpsons and, of course, princesses and ballerinas. She is extremely curious and asks about everything she hears. I've had a difficult time explaining why Jeanne Kirkpatrick, who died today, was a bad person. And her reasoning powers are, of course, amazing, though I can't think of any examples right now.

Mika on a boat

Our friend turned 40 recently (shhhhh) and to celebrate she rented a boat for a 3 hour cruise around the bay (OK, 2 1/2 hours, but 3 sounds more gilliganish). We took Mika who had a lot of fun. Her little friend is Amara, the daughter of another friend. Here are some pictures:

Also at nonos'

Who's the princess?

Michaela had a little breakdown on Friday, she missed mommy (not daddy) too much.

Cousins love each other

Ballerina girl

Yesterday I went to Cherrytown Kids, a local new & used kids clothing store, to get some robeez for Camila. She loves shoes - that was one of her first words - but she can't stand having them on. So her feet are always dirty and I'm always afraid that she'll hurt herself. So I've decided to go back to using robeez. So far, so good, she's been keeping them on.

But when I went to get them, Mika wanted to go with me. And then she wanted me to buy her something. And that something ended up being a ballerina costume. I didn't want to. I really tried not to. But... I have no will power. On my defense, this costume was an actual leotard with a skirt attached to it, and it's 5-6, so if she ever goes back to taking dance she could actually wear it. But yes, I suck.

Anyway, here is my ballerina:

Mika not only dressed herself, but dressed her little sister. Camila is very coquetish and was very eager to show me how cute she looked.

Lola takes on Mika

Rosemarie got a new chick, Mika loves it

Our little princess

can be very angry when you try to take her picture

But she loves bubbles

And she can be a cute elf

Mika's song

My 4-year old is already making up songs already. This is one she just sang to me to the tune of "Are you sleeping, brother John".

The whole world is burning
The whole world is burning
to us all
to us all
All the meteorites
All the meteorites
are here
are here.

---
Yes, I do question her father's decision of letting her watch "Dinosaur"

Camping and County Fair

KC and the Sunshine Band

Watching KC and the Sunshine Band

At Zocalo

Tim from Zocalo took this picture of the girls at, you guessed it, Zocalo. Mika did all the drawings. She's really into drawing human figures now, parents & friends. Sometimes she starts by drawing the person she wants, others she makes a figure and then assigns them a personna. Lately she's been drawing pictures of mommys with babies inside.

A grown, happy girl

What can one say about a happy, wise and yet extremely active 4 year old? She amazes us every day as much as she challenges us. She loves to play with anything forbidden. I just had to take a cleaner away from her because she was using it to clean the walls and floor in her room. She loves to get into creams and other cosmetics and rub them all over herself. She loves make up, dressing up and