Weekend plans, Mar. 7 and 8

As per usual, our weekend plan-hope with kids.

SATURDAY, March 7
07:00-07:30 get up, get dressed, take socks for all (30)
07:30-08:00 eat breakfast (rice raisin kasha) (30)
08:30-10:00 outrageous outgrowns children stuff sale @Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Gate D, 344 Tully Road, San Jose, CA 95111 (http://www.outrageousoutgrowns.com/)
10:00-10:30 drive to The Jungle (950 El Paseo De Saratoga, San Jose, CA 95124)
10:30-12:30 play climb at the gym (60+60)
12:30-13:00 drive home
13:00-13:30 lunch at home
13:30-14:00 play, read
14:00-16:00 nap time
16:00-18:00 food shopping with kids @WholeFoods and Safeway
18:00-18:30 set table together
18:30-19:00 dinner (30)
19:00-19:15 tonight's featured toy (20): stove (bring the measuring cups & spoons, pretend cook)
19:15-19:20 clean up (5)
19:20-19:40 tonight's activity: paper puzzles (20)
19:40-20:00 cartoon and pj; sleep
20:00-20:30 read to L.
20:30-20:40 put L. in bed

SUNDAY, March 8 - Happy International Women's Day
07:00-08:00 get up, get dressed, pack paints for a craft project and soccer ball
08:00-10:00 drive to De Anza Plaza, get breakfast @Boulanger, go to Santana row, read at Borders
10:00-10:30 drive to Shoup park (400 University Ave, Los Altos, CA 94022)
10:30-12:30 Russian play date
12:30-12:45 drive home
12:45-13:15 lunch at home
13:15-13:45 play, read
13:45-16:00 nap time, pack swimming things
16:00-16:30 drive to Silliman Activity & Family Aquatic Center in Newark
16:30-18:00 swim play (30+60)
18:00-19:00 dinner at Olive Garden Italian Restaurant (39145 Farwell Dr, Fremont, CA 94538)
19:00-19:40 drive home, play
19:40-20:30 all sleep-related stuff

I would also absolutely go to this puppet show Two Tales of Beatrix Potter - Jemima Puddle-Duck and the Story of a Fierce Bad Rabbit, but the Ticketmaster surcharge is insane (would come out to $100 for us - for a puppet show?!), and I don't have time to buy it in person.

Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science

I've been putting off blogging until my camera USB cord arrives, because it's more interesting with pictures. It is, however, taking its sweet time, so I better write before I forget, and illustrate afterwards. (Updated: obviously, it's arrived, hence, pictures).


So, Lawrence Hall of Science.

On the minus side:

It's a bit expensive and has no discounts like AAA

It's a bit far for a regular trip, and unlike CA Academy of Sciences, there's nothing else around there.

The cafe food is bleh.

On the plus side:

Very well designed for young children

Dynamic: exhibitions change often

Inside and outside play/exploration areas

Great view of the bay and the bridge

We started off exploring the "free" areas next to admissions booth. The kids are too young to really understand the math games, but they liked manipulating the objects. I tried to get my oldest L. (3.6 years) interested in the Towers of Hanoi; he could understand the rules, but apparently not the solution. Still, it was fun for a bit to see him grapple with it. Then we played a bit in the toddler area with its soft construction blocks, pyramid mirror, and the wall track for little balls.



We spent quite a bit of time outside, with L. exploring the stream and throwing things in the water to see them flow, and with A. (2.1 years) excavating with two shovels. L. found a stick, first pretending it's his tail, and then, his weapon.

Then we went back inside to explore the water play area which shows various uses and effects of water, huge rotating Earth, and new exhibition of Grossology (excellently produced).

At 12:30, we left for Mezze in Oakland. Pretty good food, although smaller portions than we were expecting and brunch menu as opposed to lunch I was expecting. We ordered a burger, a smoked salmon and bagel plate, two scrambled eggs on the side, and a chocolate croissant pudding. We shared everything as always. The pudding turned out to have a bit of alcohol in it, marking this the second time we gave them alcohol (inadvertently, obviously).

Then we walked back to the car and played in the playground right next to it (a block away from the restaurant).

Drove home. Good day.

Weekend plans, Feb.14

08:30-09:00 Drive to Fremont station (2000 Bart Way, Fremont, CA 94536)
09:00-09:15 Buy tickets to Lake Merritt (Richmond line, or Daly City line at 9:28)
09:10-09:44 Take BART to the Lake Merritt station
09:44-10:00 Exit at 9th Street and turn right
10:00-12:00 Explore Oakland Museum of California
12:00-12:40 Eat lunch at the museum
12:40-13:00 Go to the station
13:00-13:04 Wait for train (Fremont line)
13:04-13:37 Take BART to Fremont
13:37-14:10 Drive home
14:10-16:00 Nap