Central Park and Santa Cruz

Tuesday, Sept 5 we visited the synagogue and Laura started classes there.

Since Laura gets out of school early every Wednesday, I thought that this week we could check out some playgrounds in Central Park before the boys while the boys were still in school.  We stopped in the Always Dream playground which has lots of cool, colorful spheres but is otherwise not especially exciting.  Then we picked up the boys and parked near the community center in Central Park.  We checked out the playground at the community center, then the tree house playground and finally, the skate park.

Saturday morning, September 9, the boys did a sample SAT test at the Centerville library in Fremont.  Then we tried a Hawaiian BBQ for lunch and the boys went to a teen program at the synagogue in the afternoon.

On Sunday afternoon Phil visited us, and towards the evening, we went swimming in his hotel pool.

Wednesday, Sept 13.  Laura decided that she wants to practice skateboarding when she gets out school early on Wednesdays (they call it a minimum day).

Saturday, September 16, we went to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge visitor center in Fremont after we picked Laura up from her friend's Harry Potter themed birthday party.

On Sunday we took a tour of the Nursery Historic Park since the buildings are only open on Sunday.

Afterwards, we stopped at Central Park to see if the earthquake exhibit was worthwhile (it was not) and then we had dinner at Pakwan Restaurant (Pakistani cuisine).

September 19-September 20 was Rosh Hashana.  We also went to Lake Elizabeth (the lake in the middle of Central Park) for the Tashlikh service.

Throwing bird seed into the water because bird seed is better for the environment than bread crumbs.

Saturday, September 23 we finally went to Santa Cruz--first The Mystery Spot.

Then, we enjoy the beach at Natural Bridges State Park.

Finally, we stopped for dinner at the Santa Cruz diner before heading home.  Laura baked and decorated a birthday cake for Dave, so we sang Happy Birthday and ate the cake when we got back.

Sunday Dave took the kids to an open house at the Hayward Airport

while I went on a bike ride with a local bike club.  In the afternoon, Laura went to a birthday party in the afternoon and I investigated a girl scout group for Laura.  Back at our house, Dave wrestled with the boys about getting their homework done.

Moving to California and Labor Day weekend

Cars picked up on August 23, and we rented a car to take us to Scranton on Friday.

Laura says goodbye to friends as we leave for the airport.

Flew to San Jose on Friday, August 25, stayed overnight near the airport.  August 26, we moved into our house.  Dave rushed over to Walmart to pick up mattresses in a box that we had ordered and to buy pillows so we are comfortable for our first night in Fremont.  He also picked up a bed at a garage sale for Laura.   August 27, we explored the area and stopped at some garage sales.  Laura successfully begged for a skateboard.  She also met the girl next door who is a year older than her.

August 28, Dave started work and I registered kids for school.  We also got library cards for me and Laura and visited Laura's school.  Joshua was excited to find a huge manga selection in the public library (and his school library).

Tuesday, August 30, we went to Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda to get some end of season beach time.  Then on the way home we picked up Dave and stopped at a nearby bank to get cash so we can pay the driver when he delivers our cars the next day.

School started on Aug 31.

The first day was a half day for all kids and the first week was a half day for Laura.  We got our cars back on Sept 1 and on Sept 2, our bikes were delivered.  Which means that part of Dave's fun over the weekend was trying to put the bikes back together. 

We wanted to go to the beach while we still had beach-going weather, so we decided to head to Santa Cruz on Saturday.  We had to drop the rental car back at the airport and then we started on our way to Santa Cruz, but the traffic was so bad that we turned around and ended up at a pool in Cupertino.   As we were returning to Fremont, our car started overheating.

Sunday was still super hot (100+ degree temperatures) and we were worried about our van overheating, so we took the Vibe to Crown Memorial State Beach in Alameda.

When were done at the beach we made a brief stop at the visitor center.

Iyer invited us and Anu to his house on Monday to see them before his oldest left for Northwestern University.  They treated us to a delicious lunch of Indian food.