Outdoor Ice Skating When it is Sunny and 65

One of the great wonders of modern technology, is the ice skating rinks that pop up during the holidays all over California. In San Jose, we have an ice rink (Downtown Ice) as part of Christmas in the Park. In San Francisco there is the Embarcadero Center ice rink. And although many critics complain about these warm weather wonders (choppy ice and being bumped into by small kids), with two small kids, it is great fun!

I also have to admit, that San Jose is a hockey town. We love our home team. Ice skating and hockey are very popular here. For the last two years our Saturday mornings have been spent at Sharks Ice, our local indoor ice skating rink where the boys take lessons. We are raising a little hockey fanatic in Caleb, and just this Fall Xander asked to start skating lessons again, and absolutely loves it this time around.

So why not take the boys to an outdoor rink during the Holidays?

The boys had a blast. There is the novelty of being outdoors, breathing "fresh-ish" air and gliding across the ice. I remember driveway ice skating in upstate New York when I was their age. I overlooked the rocks (it was a gravel driveway that my dad took the garden hose to), and enjoyed the complete freedom of skating the day away on my 5 by 6 foot private rink.

Now, these rinks are bit pricey. $12 a kid (skate rental included) and no in and out privileges, but worth it. You can also find great deals, for example, if you are a Sharks season ticket holder, or some Monday nights in January (free if you have your own skates), or if you plan to make a day of it by ice skating, and going to the Children's Discovery Museum and the Tech Museum.

As a side note, the indoor lighting and hockey glass at Sharks Ice makes for some pretty dreadful pictures -- and I appreciated capturing the moment in natural light. I think we'll go back again next year (January 1st or 2nd). Downtown Ice is open through January 29th (the Embarcadero Center rink is open through January 8).

Christmas in the Park - Downtown San Jose

Most people don't know that San Jose is California's third largest city, and the largest Northern California city (bigger than San Francisco and Oakland). In fact most Californian's don't know.  We don't know this because San Jose's downtown is sorely lacking character, restaurants and reasons to visit.

San Jose is trying to change this and attract visitors to downtown. One vehicle to attract visitors is Christmas in the Park, where Plaza De Cesar Chavez is "transformed into a holiday fantasy with over 60 musical and animated exhibits." Of course this has been going on for 32 years now ... but I would venture to guess that San Jose has been struggling with its identity for about that long or longer.

Don't get me wrong, we love San Jose. It is a great place to raise children. The housing is much more affordable than in neighboring Bay Area cities, and you can afford to have a reasonable sized yard. While many of our schools aren't tops, they are getting better every year. We have wonderful weather, access to professional sports teams and facilities, and you can do your grocery shopping without experiencing the gridlock frustration that we did in San Francisco.

This year we went to the tree lighting in San Jose. Before the lighting San Jose made the amusement park rides at Christmas in the Park free. This was really cool. The boys road their first ferris wheel, experienced a spinny ride that didn't require parents to join in, and went on the carousel.

We enjoyed walking through the exhibits. Lot's of decorated trees sponsored by local groups. We actually missed the lighting. The speeches started at 5:30 pm and at 6:30 pm the tree wasn't lit yet. We opted to head for dinner (out of downtown in our Willow Glen neighborhood). And next visit we'll be sure to let the boys ice skate in downtown.

Kids Eat Free: Sunday Breakfast at the Hayes Mansion

My five-year old, Xander, loves breakfast. It is his favorite meal of the day. His favorite foods? Eggs, bacon and toast, washed down with a yummy cocoa. So when we find a great brunch where kids eat free, we get excited.

Two weeks ago we tried the Hayes Mansion brunch for the first time. The historic landmark is a conference center and hotel here in San Jose... it is the last place you would expect to have a family friendly and inexpensive, but delicious breakfast. Did I mention the Hayes Mansion is a very nice hotel? Places like this I imagine are pretentious, expensive and not a good place for kids... but I'm very wrong.

The before 10 am on Sunday's kids eat free offer gets you an all you can eat breakfast buffet for a family of four for just under $25. With kids, buffet means different things depending on your kid. Xander eats breakfast like an adult (the kid loves breakfast), and Caleb has a bowl of corn flakes and a few strawberries.

Xander loved the breakfast so much that he begged to go back today, which we did. 

The other appeal is the vicinity of Hayes Mansion to the Edenvale Garden Park.  The park used to be a Frontier Village amusement park that closed in 1980. It now has a lovely woodsy trail, and a great playscape including a rock slide. So, after breakfast we walked to the park for an hour or so of play.

Vicinity to a park is an important criteria for us. It gives us something to do after breakfast, and a way to burn off some energy outdoors before we start our day.  I'm certain we'll become regulars at the Hayes Mansion on Sundays this summer.

Happy Hollow Howdy Do

It probably wasn't the best conceived plan, but on Saturday we decided to take the boys to Happy Hollow for the first time since it reopened last month. What we didn't know was that it was San Jose State graduation -- since Happy Hollow is across the street from Spartan Stadium all of the parking was taken. At that point we should have taken this as an omen, given up, and planned to visit another day, but alas we stuck it out, and eventually found parking in a satellite lot for $6, and took a yellow school bus to the park entrance.

Sadly, Happy Hollow has raised its prices, and it no longer an affordable way to spend a weekend afternoon. The City of San Jose is obviously trying to make back their investment in the park as quickly as possible.  Park entry is $10 for everyone 2 and up, plus the cost of parking and a family of four is out between $46 to $50 (depending on where you park) for the day. Now since we live locally we really should consider getting a family membership. At $95 it would pay for itself on our fourth visit.

Happy Hollow has also decided to play the movie theater food card, and to charge $5 for a hot dog. This is more than the cost of a hot dog at some major league ballparks -- which means we passed on eating at the park. If you go, you really should pack a picnic lunch, and bypass the concession stand altogether.

The holiday weekend also meant long lines for everything. However, I must say that even with the crowds, the boys had fun. Xander rode his first roller coaster. Caleb liked the playscape and driving the cars. The boys also liked the Red Barn petting zoo, and the carousel. Xander rode on the rhino and Caleb rode on the zebra. The dragon train was not worth the wait time -- too bad because this was an old favorite. Apparently the park has been having trouble keeping it on the track and it had to go too slow to be fun for anyone.

On our way out we went to the zoo part of the park, the boys were exhausted, and near melt down, but liked playing in the sand, and seeing the exotic birds.

We may buy a membership, and will probably come back to Happy Hollow -- it is very close to our house. But if you're visiting from out of town, there are other places that are more reasonably priced, or more fun.

The VIP Treatment - Preschooler at an NHL Game

After just a few ice skating lessons and a few weeks with a street hockey stick and puck (well, an orange ball that is meant to replicate a puck), Caleb had shown a keen interest in hockey. We got a Sharks jersey for him, which he wears to hockey lessons without fail, and whenever else possible. He sometimes sleeps with his hockey stick. And, because his jersey is for Evgeni Nabokov, the Sharks’ goalie, he gets excited whenever he sees “Nabby” on TV.

So, even though Caleb is only three, I thought it would be worthwhile to take Caleb to a Sharks game. Kate thought I was brave. I thought, well maybe, but also it meant a guilt free night out at a Sharks playoff game, against the storied Detroit Red Wings no less. The Red Wings are one of the “original six” hockey teams and have won the Stanley Cup 11 times (including a sweep of my hometown team, the Washington Capitals). So, I was excited too. When the playoff series schedule was announced, I learned that Game 1 of the series would take place on a Thursday evening at the pre-school friendly hour of 6pm (a benefit of living on the West Coast). I bought two upper level tickets, 4 rows into the upper level, on the blue line in the zone where the Sharks would shoot during two of the three periods.

On Game Night, I was prepared. I made Caleb change into pull-ups, packed a backpack with a change of clothes just in case, put on his Nabby jersey, and took a deep breath. Any concerns I had with bringing a 3 year old to a sporting event were immediately alleviated, however. In fact, when at the game with Caleb we were both treated like rock stars.

First, we got there early to avoid the big lines, and when we walked up to our seats, the usher spent time with us and played a game with Caleb. He asked Caleb to pick the hand with a prize in it and after a couple of hints, he chose the hand that had a very nice Hot Wheels car in it. Caleb loved it and played with it throughout the game. After the first period, Caleb wanted to go down to the ice. The ushers in the first level let us down, no questions asked, and we spent some time right at the glass on the ice hanging out with the fans in the $500 seats. Of course, as the second period was about to begin, we headed back to our seats (though Caleb was a little upset).

Walking around the arena, everyone was great too. People came up to us and gave Caleb high fives, the vendors with giveaways called us over to give us miscellaneous tchochkes, and Caleb spent time talking to the police officers.

Something that’s not new these days is that sporting events now are as much about the overall entertainment value as they are about the game itself. The Sharks have this figured out as well. Caleb loved watching the players enter the ice through the shark, and loved watching Sharkie the mascot wander around the arena and banging his drum to get the fans excited. With five minutes to go and the Sharks up 3-2, it was an incredibly entertaining game, but by that point all Caleb cared about was finding Sharkie.

We did have our moments where Caleb was a little antsy...after all we were there for over three hours between when we arrived and left. But overall it was a great experience, and Caleb is looking forward to going back next year.

Preschoolers on Ice

This last weekend was one of the first beautiful weekends of the year. The boys were in t-shirts and shorts ... so we thought what better time to take them to the ice skating arena and start ice skating lessons.

We are in San Jose, and besides being a little Sharks crazy right now ... the boys love Caillou and Caillou plays hockey. Since Xander was 3 and Caleb was 2 they have been asking for skating lessons. And so on beautiful Spring morning we headed to Sharks Ice, the San Jose Sharks practice facility.

Skating lessons are actually a pretty good deal. The cost is the same as swimming and the lessons go 12 weeks, but unlike swimming which is a half an hour, the boys get a full hour of skating fun.

For the beginners they get a pile of buckets to push around the ice like a walker. They have plenty of instructors, and the kids are delivered to their class.

Xander who is almost five was amazing. He was very fast on the ice, held his feet perfectly, listened to his instructor, maneuvered his bucket with skill ... and next week he will be moved to the boys class. Caleb on the other hand was very cautious, and turned his ankles in to balance. All as you'd expect for a three and a half year old and his first time on skates.

Xander also fell spectacularly. So ... on Sunday we got the boys helmets. Caleb wanted a hockey helmet with a wire mask, and we found some on sale ... well, it is Spring.

To say the kids loved skating is an understatement. Caleb is sleeping with his helmet. We even have some sticks and a net on route (they were also on sale ... well, it is Spring).

Pumpkins in the Park - San Jose

Last Saturday we took the boys to San Jose's 15th annual Pumpkins in the Park festivities at Discovery Meadow. It is a free event, and only five minutes from our house, so it was a no brainer.

The boys had fun. It reminded me of Festival on the Hill in Bernal Heights (neighborhood in San Francisco), but there were far more free activities and the overall festival was geared to children. No wonder US News & World Report listed San Jose third on its 10 Best Places to Grow Up.

There were tons of exhibits which gave the boys the opportunity to make crafts, taste apples and cider, listen to music, and participate in lot's of other activities. Most of the activities, and almost all of the food (apples and cider included) were free.

Xander's favorite part was planting a bean (crossing my fingers that it will grow), and Caleb's favorite part was a firetruck wearing a San Jose Sharks costume. As the kids get a little older, I think they will appreciate this event even more.

I Love A Parade

It finally feels like fall. There is a nip in the air every morning, and the leaves are starting to change color (as much as they do in Northern California). It is also time for Willow Glen's annual Founder's Day Parade.

I love a good parade. Especially a laid back community parade complete with high school marching band, classic cars, and girl and boy scouts. This year's Founder's Day Parade didn't disappoint.

The parade started at 10:30 am on Lincoln Avenue, our neighborhood's main business street. We walked to the parade, and found a spot near the beginning at Willow and Lincoln. We brought the double stroller, but the boys happily sat on the sidewalk to watch. No pushing, shoving or piles of people to ruin our view.

Caleb's favorite part was a car that looked like blue Mater (from the movie Cars), and Xander's favorite part was the mounted police.

If your neighborhood has a Founder's Day Parade seek it out. It was such a wonderful way to kick-off Fall.

Exploring the Children's Discovery Museum

Three years ago on Wednesday we brought home our oldest son Xander from Russia. August 12 is a very sentimental day for me. Happily I got to spend it with Xander and his preschool class at the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose. Plenty of parents participated, so I was only responsible for Xander, and one-on-one my sweet little boy and I explored the Museum.

The Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose is small, and geared for younger kids. It has about six major exhibits, and one special exhibit room. Filling that slot is the Curious George exhibit which is on loan from the Minnesota Children's Museum through September 23.

We took both our boys there on a rainy day last Fall. It is amazing how differently a four year old views the museum then a three year old. Three year old Xander could have spent the whole day in the Wonder Cabinet room, geared more for babies and toddlers.

Four year old Xander loved everything. At the end of the day we always ask the question, "What did you like best?" Xander said, "I liked riding the firetruck and ambulance, using the cash register, touching worms, and playing with bubbles. I also liked the elevator and the leaves, and playing with the balls..." So I guess I could sum up his answer to mean... everything!

When you walk in the door you are greeted by the Streets exhibit, which includes traffic lights and a retired firetruck and ambulance. I thought my day had ended there, between pretending to drive the firetruck and ambulance, and rerouting the circuits on the traffic lights Xander was in heaven.

We had previewed the exhibits online, so I reminded him that he wanted to play with bubbles, and we headed to the basement where the Bubbalogna exhibit is. Visually it is a pretty boring exhibit, however, Xander loved creating giant bubbles, and pushing buttons to create bubble sandwiches. He was soon ready to move on, so we headed upstairs.

First stop was the Rainbow Pizza and Market exhibit. Xander and his preschool friends liked climbing on the antique green car, making pizzas (plastic representations) in the play ovens, and working the cash register. Xander charged me $4 for my pizza, quite a deal in today's economy.

Afterward we headed to the Wonder Cabinet which had mostly lost its appeal. There was an air powered wall mounted pinball machine. You put a ball in a hole, and air forced it up and then the gravity brought the ball down through an obstacle course. I think we spent 20 minutes putting balls in the hole, and watching them go.

Then it was downstairs to the Curious George exhibit. At first Xander was a bit overwhelmed. It is the reason that most people were there, so it was more crowded. But it is amazing how few kids were opening doors, and looking in cabinets. Probably based on my poor parenting skills, Xander is not shy about looking in other people's cabinets. If you didn't open doors, you'd miss the mailboxes (each box had something different to look at), the elevator with Curious George and some firemen, the office cabinet ... The designers definitely wanted to play to a child's curiousity (hmmm I wonder why).

We then went to the Circles and Out on a Limb. Xander's favorite part was putting leaves into another air powered cylinder. The leaves then blow through the top, and there is a rake to clean then up.

Afterward I took him to the Waterways exhibit, but by then he was getting tired. We spent a short time there, I only got two pictures, both of him taking off his apron.

It took some convincing since it was a hot day and it was the last exhibit that we went to, but I got Xander to go out to the Kid's Garden. If we'd skipped that area, he would have missed the worms. Xander loved holding the worms, and digging in the dirt for more worms. Next year after I get rid of a bunch of pavers behind the garage, Xander wants a garden ... so I probably should have guessed that this would be a highlight.

I'd like to get both boys there before the Curious George Exhibit closes. However, it will require two parents (one for each kid) to successfully pull it off. So, maybe early some Saturday.

The Children's Discovery Museum is open Monday through Saturday (open Mondays only through the Summer) from 10 am to 5 pm, and 12 pm to 5 pm on Sundays. Admission is $10 a person ... so the $89 annual family membership is definitely worth it if you plan to visit at least three times a year.

Water Play

On a hot summer day, there is no better activity for small children than water play. I was completely oblivious to parks with water play features until our oldest Xander turned three. Before that we lived in San Francisco, and like air conditioning there was little need for us to seek them out.

The San Francisco Bay Area is rich with beautiful community parks and gardens that have fun water play features. A quick google search, and I found parks in the East Bay including San Leandro Marina Park, Emerald Glen Park and San Ramon Central Park, and on the Peninsula including Ryder Park and Stafford Park.

In Silicon Valley we have a variety of parks that we have been to, and some that we haven’t (such as Serra Park, Las Palmas, Lincoln Glen Park and Campbell Park).

Last weekend we went to Mitchell Park in Palo Alto. We ate at Printers Café on California Street -- a wonderful café with egg bagel sandwiches. Xander likes the sandwiches deconstructed (he eats the eggs separately from the bagel).

On first observation Mitchell Park isn’t much. It has plenty of green open space, but is tucked behind some municipal buildings. We quickly decided that San Jose has better parks … but once the boys got in and started playing, we recognized some of the park’s assets.

The park is definitely more low key then Almaden Lake Park and not as beautiful as Vasona Park or the Los Gatos Square for that matter. From tunnels to bridges the sandy area was fun. The water play area was fantastic, partially in the shade, plenty of seating for the adult onlookers, and fenced in. The boys loved splashing in the water that shot up from the padded ground.

The only major problem, which is true for many area parks this time a year, was water rationing made it so the kids had to keep hitting the button to get water, and the frogs which are supposed to spit water weren’t working.

We wouldn’t go out of our way to go to Mitchell Park, but whenever we are in the area with the boys we plan to stop by.

Now Almaden Lake Park in San Jose is worth writing home about. It is a huge park with two separate playgrounds on opposite sides of the lake. On the Almaden Expressway side there is a beach, pedal boats, and the larger of the two parks. The water play area includes a dragon shower, and fountains that shoot up from the padded ground. Nearby there is a lone shower (favorite for the boys). On the smaller kid playground there is a ship, and on the big kid playground there are cool geometric rope climbing structures.

Because of the vicinity to the beach, and the wonderful big kid park this area tends to attract big kids. This can be intimidating to the little ones, but if you walk to the other side of the lake there is a less trafficked smaller kid park with a water play feature.

All of the water features at Almaden Lake Park are in full sunlight, and that area of San Jose tends to be warmer … so make sure that the kids are lathered in sunscreen, and repeat often.

Close to home there is Lincoln Glen Park, I plan to take the boys there tomorrow when the weather heats up again. I heard that the spitting frogs actually work.