Surrounded by Girls

And 1

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 23:11:00 +0000

Last weekend at pre-school's "Family Field Day" we discovered that Melanie had natural talent at basketball. She would hurl the ball over and over again and invariably sink the shot. It was amazing. Here's evidence of her form, if not the result:

And of course it's our duty as parents to nuture any talents or interests that the girls have. And if it's a sport with scholarship money attached... all the better.

Yes, it breaks my heart a little bit that it's not soccer, but see above about scholarships. I'll be okay.

Ahoy, me hearty!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:33:00 +0000

It's a bit late for Talk Like a Pirate Day - 9/19 - but here's Evil Jim Rackham in the crow's nest.

Vital Stats

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 03:24:00 +0000

Jenna had her 2-year doctor's appointment this today.

28lbs (65%)

34 inches tall (55%)

19 inches head circumference (70%)

Compare to her 18-month and 1 year numbers.

Two

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:06:00 +0000

Happy birthday...

.. to me!

Let's celebrate with cake and ice cream!

I'm one year closer to getting my license...

... but not yet long in the tooth.

Daddy, no more bad jokes!

Ok... hugs!

Happy Birthday, Jenna!

Grandma Margaret

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 06:32:00 +0000

It is with great sadness that we note the passing of Great Grandma Margaret Greenbaum tonight. She was in her late nineties and died peacefully in the presence of family. Though I've only known her for a few years, she was as much a part of my family as anyone. A piano prodigy as a child in Hungary, she had to put away those dreams for a more hard-scrabble life as an immigrant. Straight man to husband Jimmy Greenbaum's exuberance, she surprised all of us with her strength and resolve when he passed.

She was quite a character in her own, quiet manner and I'll always cherish the smiles we shared over one of her husband's antics or perhaps those of her great grand-daughters.

I know Melanie and Jenna will miss her. Melanie who would always be excited to visit Great Grandma Margaret. And Jenna, who never missed the chance to climb up into her lap to give her a hug and a kiss.

I've collected some photos here, and will try to add more as I find them.

"He who creates peace in His celestial heights, may He create peace for us and for all Israel; and say, Amen."

Pockets

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:21:00 +0000

Photo taken by Marc or Miné at our Labor Day BBQ. This must have been taken before Jenna led the rest of the kids into the kiddie pool with all their clothes on. I swear that I just intended it to be for the adults to dip their feet. It was really hot in the afternoon when I was setting up the backyard. But by evening it was cooler and I forgot about the pool. Needless to say the kids started playing in it. Melanie was good... she would just walk through it being careful not to get her dress wet. Jenna however plopped right down. And of course the rest of them - Melanie, Izzy, Isabella and Milan - followed suit.

The rest of the photos are here.

Simply Fabulous

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 22:29:00 +0000

3435 31st St

"Simply fabulous" is the only way to describe this "state of the Art" remodeled craftsman situated on a 6250+ Sq. Ft. private lot in the Heart of North Park. Enlarged Master suite w/ upgraded master bath & jacuzzi tub.Other upgrades include: Gourmet Kitchen w/granite counters, newer appliances & island for prep & seating, Oak hardwd floors, French Doors leading to large wd deck for entertaining, upgraded windows, Ceiling fans, Crown moldings many built-ins,& much more. 3rd bdr/flat is converted garage

So our house is for sale. We're VERY FREAKED OUT. We are looking to move "north" - most likely Carmel Valley. It's closer to my work, Melanie's school and a lot of our friends are there. We hate the idea of leaving North Park but it's time.

Disneyland

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 22:19:00 +0000

I promise a longer post, but in the mean time here is a slideshow of our trip to Disneyland in celebration of the Unc's 60th birthday. It was quite a party, and no one had more fun than the birthday boy himself. Though Jenna and Melanie run him close, especially when they saw all their "friends from the movies" at the Pixar parade.

Thanks to Marcee and Jon for many of the photos.

Look a' me!

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:27:00 +0000

I'm going to Disneyland

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:57:00 +0000

Melanie and Jenna get a call from the Mouses, Mickey and Minnie. We're going to the happiest place on earth this weekend for the Unc's 60th birthday.

Emma Louise, surrounded by girls

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:17:00 +0000

A Bug's Life

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 05:14:00 +0000

Fun at the zoo with Grandpa Larry and Grandma Susan.

Cheers

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:35:00 +0000

More portraits

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 10:54:00 +0000

Portaits

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:14:00 +0000

This photo, and these others, were taken by Jennifer Forbes at Mission Bay Park and of course in the kiddie pool in the backyard.

More photos from last night's Tot Shabbat here.

Deck Camouflage

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:41:00 +0000

How many potted plants do you see - three, or two and Jenna?

Weekend Update

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 05:50:00 +0000

Grandma Alicia was in town this weekend and joined us for Danielle Boodman's first birthday party at Sage Canyon Park. Here are some pictures:

Whose hat is it?

I'm too cool for my juice box.

Jonah Jacobson giving Melanie a helping hand on the swing.

Grandma Alicia helping us with our shoes.

Cabo Wabo

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:36:00 +0000

Greetings from Mexico.

Well, not actually from Mexico. We're just back from a trip to Cabo San Lucas to celebrate the in-law's, Fran and Bob, 40th wedding anniversary.

Happy anniversary!

We spent four amazing days at the Westin Resort where the Preismans have a time share. Most of our time was spent by the pool. They had kiddie pools at 1'4" deep which was perfect for the girls, especially Melanie as she's just learning how to swim. She was skeptical at first but became increasingly comfortable in the water. She wore an inflatable ring and started out doing her swimming motions which pretty much meant crawling on her hands while splashing everyone with her kicks. Soon she was asking to get into the deep pool (~4') and spent more and more time floating and swimming without one of us hanging on her - or her hanging on one of us.

Jenna loved jumping in the water (the deeper parts of the pool that is) and copying everything her sister did. By the end of the trip, Jenna was getting tired and spent a little less time in the pool and more time hanging out with Granny Franny and snacking. And napping.

Indeed, she was so worn out after one morning in the pool that we just threw her in our bed after a shower and she slept there for hours.

Both girls had a great time hanging out with all of our fellow travelers - Granny Franny and Grandpa Bob of course. But also Auntie Ann, and the Preisman's exchange student Olivier and his family, Caroline and Tim.

Each day after the girls wore themselves out poolside we came back to the room, had dinner and then watched a movie (or part of one) and had some popcorn. This is what we look like tired, full, and entraced by a video.

Most likely they're watching Seaseme Street Fiesta, a gift from Auntie Ann and their new favorite.

For some reason, Melanie keeps telling everyone that when she was in Mexico she had a room. We're not sure why she was so struck with this - she was on a pull-out sofa with her sister in a crib at the foot. Maybe it had something to do with the view.

We did take one day trip into the city of Cabo San Lucas. We had a great lunch at Mi Casa where we were serenaded by mariachis. They sang for Fran and Bob's anniversary (see the above photo) and for the girls. Jenna especially enjoyed the song, though both were mostly interested in their raisins.

Happy Fourth of July

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:35:00 +0000

Celebrate by doing something with your freedoms. Support a candidate or a cause you believe in. Write a letter to the editor. Or in this day and age, just make a phone call and say hi to the nice NSA representative on the other end of the line. After all, they are working on a holiday.

Caffe Forte

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:28:00 +0000

Caffe Forte has finally reopened, and we couldn't be happier! The new location is great... lots of space and lots of comfy couches, and an old-fashioned desk with crayons and paper. Greg sure knows his customers! He even put Melanie's drawing of a garden (with a sun, a dog, a plant, and thirteen pools) up on the wall.

Not to mention that the coffee, eggs, and scones are great.

It's summertime

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:42:00 +0000

... and the living is easy.

I was at Davos, and I said to Bernanke

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:12:00 +0000

Kiddie Wonderland

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:39:00 +0000

Melanie showing off a little of her Texan heritage, horseback riding at the Del Mar Fair.

As for the title of the post, Kiddie Wonderland was an amusement park (writ small) in Houston when I was growing up. Actually I think it had been there since the 30s or 40s, and it looked like it! But they had old rides -- cars and planes that went around -- and horses! They had miniature horses that you could ride, and two tracks, one was for faster riding and you were really a big kid when you could ride the "fast lane". I also remember a donkey that would pull a cart around the track for the younger or less adventurous patrons.

Kiddie Wonderland was at Main and Kirby, right across the street from Kaphan's Restaraunt.

Wow. OK... you'll have to forgive me. I'm having a flood of memories. We would always go to Kaphan's with my grandparents, or with Aunt Tootsie and Uncle Morris. This was real, old-time Jewish Houston. At least, that's my sense of it now, looking back. The owners knew my grandfather, which always impressed me. There were two guys running the place. One with white hair and the other without. They had a ballroom of some sort for private parties to the right when you walked in (see the postcard above). That hallway was covered in baseball memorabilia -- signed ball, photos, and other souvenirs. I would always linger there while we waited for our table or on my way to and from the restrooom, which was down by the ballroom.

There was a main dining room, another room decorated to look like a wine cellar, with bottles stacked from floor to ceiling and fake bricks and vines painted on the walls behind them. That room could be separated from the main dining room. There were also two smaller sections with windows outside that ran on two sides of the main dining room.

The food... the kids always got a complimentary (and small) glass of grapefruit juice. That was unique. I remember that my favorite dish was the fried shrimp and lord knows how many times I had it growing up. Later, I remember going with my grandfather by ourselves to Kaphan's for lunch --I can't remember why exactly. He always got the lump crab meat. It was there that he would teach me etiquette. When to take my napkin - right away! - which fork to use, etc. He was always preparing me for a some time in the future job interview. Now I've never had an interview over a meal - perhaps a cup of coffee - but I guess the lessons were more universal.

Kiddie Wonderland closed in the mid-nineties, and I believe that Kaphan's did so as well. It's probably a Starbuck's now. Or a condo complex. But those places - and the people I was there with - are strong parts of my childhood.

Update:

Here's what the intersection looks like today.

<br><small><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255); text-align: left;" href="http://www.google.com/maps?cbp=1,250.1360055249121,,0,5&cbll=29.6945,-95.41435&amp;ll=29.6945,-95.41435&amp;layer=c" id="cbembedlink">View Larger Map</a></small>

Concentration

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 05:22:00 +0000

Today, in the "reading nook" at Playhouse Cafe

New Year's Eve at TracyMarc's

Never fails

noreply@blogger.com (Jeremy Spitzberg) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 02:53:00 +0000

On the way home from the Father's Day Picnic. The girls spent the best part of five hours at the park and capped it all off with cake and juice boxes (and muffins, bagels, fruit, etc). This was the predictable result. And of course it was the only nap Melanie had.