What to do with two preschoolers on a day that is building up to be a lethal scorcher? We decided to make a dash to the Transit Museum, like in the old days. Henry and Tobin were on a joint mission, as always. This time, it was all about the buses: they had to be refueled about a dozen times, studied in great detail, and of course driven. The boys took us “to the Bronx Zoo”, on an increasingly reckless joy ride…
Another unforgettable Summer day in Garrison: this time, Doris was gracious enough to slow down her weekday berry pickings, so that the kids had the full buffet at their disposal on Sunday. Tobin ate about half a basket of raspberries on his own, which still left plenty for our delicious dessert, and to take home to Brooklyn (thank you!!). These wild raspberries have nothing in common with store bought varieties … they’re perfectly translucent, shiny little specimen that look like jewels rather than fruit. Of course there were plenty of other fun activities, like bubble bath in the kiddie pool and the always popular ride-on vehicles.
BFF Mica had a perfect Summer birthday party at the Urban Meadow today, with a bunch of mutual school friends in attendance. Mika had a blast, got soaking wet, but left the daredevil-style, head-first activities to more courageous friends. Pizza and cake sealed the deal, and the kids lingered for hours…
One of Mika’s oldest friends, Kai, moved to North Carolina a couple of years ago. It’s always a very special treat to have him in town, and we planned a play date to match the occasion: a free, open air, Met Opera recital at Pier 1 in DUMBO! The weather seemed perfect, and it was still sunny when we left home. By the time we got to Pier 1 (with three dawdling kids, that’s one hour later), the skies looked like the first three thumbnail pictures. The concert had already begun, but we found a little spot to squeeze in. However, the minute we sat down, rain started coming down. Our picnic blanket had to double as a make-shift rain shelter, which worked for about half the downpour. Then it couldn’t hold the massive amounts of rain anymore and our backs got drenched thoroughly. Surprisingly, most of the audience decided to stay and the recital resumed later, under a massive rainbow. The kids had fun watching passing boats and the ever changing colors of the sunset over Manhattan.
Gaang came over for an afternoon play date, which is always a treat. He and Mika remembered how much fun they once had face painting, and out came the colors and the brushes again.
When Tobin returned from his play date with Henry, he wanted to get decorated as well. The big kids were all too happy to oblige his wishes. First, they took turns at painting little symbols on his cheek, but then Tobin requested to be transformed into a cheetah entirely. I think they did a great job, and Tobin was very happy with the result of their team work as well:
More tall tales from the dry-erase board: featured big is “a strawberry spider, with wings, who is sleeping upside down like a bat … and Spiderman” (in his signature ‘spiderweb’ suit). Always quick to the rescue: a police car and a fire truck, with flashing lights.
Today was Tobin’s first live baseball game ever – and Mika’s second. Funny coincidence: when Sung took 3-year old Mika to the old Yankee Stadium, they were playing against Tampa Bay as well. At least today, we won!
Before the game, Sung introduced the kids to legendary players, coaches, and “The Boss” in the Yankees’ Monument Park. They also got to feast on stadium food (pizza! hot dogs! fresh lemonade! cotton candy!). Tobin might not have a clue what this game is really all about, but he sure embraced the noise making part. He also has a great adviser, so one day in the future, he will be able to explain it all to me as well…
PS: Derek Jeter, who wrote history just yesterday, was playing today as well. Sung had hoped for today to be the day, but it was a good game nonetheless.
Mika’s old friend Jacob is in town and stopped by for a play date. The native New Yorker moved to Vienna with his family a year ago. He came back speaking fluent German and even reading at first grade level (whaaa?). It’s amazing what a 6-year old brain can do if it’s challenged…
Once they had taken inventory of each others now-missing teeth, they just played like they’ve seen each other all year long: they goofed around (and read a little) at home, then ran wild at the Pier 6 water park. Come back soon!
Mika and Tobin love getting mail more than anything. Real, physical, snail mail. In the ages of electronic communication, the grownups are so smitten with the ease and immediacy of e-mail and facetime (compared to the ancient and over-prized options of the past) that we underestimate how special it is, to be the proud owner of a letter that has been crafted with love – and can be kept in a box near the bed.
It took a little warming up on both sides, but Mika, Omi Hiltraud, and Opa Addi have established a nice (loose) dialogue. In the past couple of months, Tobin has realized that he too needs to ‘write’ letters in order to receive mail addressed to him personally – and he has joined in on the correspondence.
Last week, Omi Hilde sent two surprise letters to the kids: she dug up pictures of her 7-year old self (!) and of 6-year old Omi Hiltraud, sporting missing teeth just like Mika. For Tobin, she sent a picture of Opa Rolf as a boy, holding his favorite cat “Musche”. The kids had so much fun, that they wanted to write back to her immediately. They decided to tell her about the exciting trip to the Empire State Building with their Korean grandparents. Tobin copied Mika’s building, but he added a cat on his own. Mika chose to write in German, which required a lot of concentration (and a little help) sounding out the words.
Team Chang came into town to watch the kids (and Luna, our plants, and the house) while Sung and i spent our second ever kid-free week since … having kids. It was also the first consecutive week the kids spent with Halmoni, Harabogi, and Uncle Joe, and they loved it! Together, they juggled a birthday party in Manhattan, the last days of Mika’s school, German after school, and several play dates. To top it off, they went up on the Empire State Building, which had been on our to-do list for at least a year. Thank you so much again for all your help and see you soon!!!
Three years ago, we were at the same milestone: Mika’s (first year) preschool graduation! Now we experienced it all over again with Tobin – strangely familiar, yet exciting and new at the same time. The kids performed another fantastic, original play. The plot in a nutshell: Fairies, bears, and dinosaurs work together to remove garbage from trees that thoughtless humans have thrown out. Glow power helps the little fairies be brave and approach the mighty dinosaurs, who turn out to be ‘nice dinosaurs’, eager to help with an environmentally friendly solution: they suck up the garbage into their strong bellies, then blow it out into fires (lit by fire fairies) to burn it for terminal removal.
After the play, the graduates received their diplomas and a wonderful bouquet of wildflowers and herbs with a butterfly. Every family contributed to the international potluck picnic in the garden and the kids, along with older and younger siblings played for hours. Mika even met a few alumni from her class of 2008…
The biggest change from Mika’s experience to Tobin’s? The teaching staff now includes several talented musicians, who made it their mission to include music in many forms into the curriculum. As one of the many keepsakes, each graduate got a CD with this year’s top 5 songs (courtesy of Mr. John and Ms. Sarah):
[audio:http://www.minitosu.com/audio/01 Good Morning Song.mp3] Good Morning Song
[audio:http://www.minitosu.com/audio/02 I like the flowers.mp3] I Like the Flowers
[audio:http://www.minitosu.com/audio/03 Don’t worry.mp3] Three Little Birds
[audio:http://www.minitosu.com/audio/04 If i had a song….mp3] If I Had a Hammer
Mika had dress-up-as-your-favorite-book-character today at school, and she decided to go as Ladybug Girl. Luckily, we could wing a last-minute costume with her old Choo Choo Train preschool shirt (the only red one!) turned inside out, and some black electrical tape for temporary decals. Tobin liked it so much that he requested his small Choo Choo Train shirt to be transformed the same way. They both wore their ladybug shirts proudly all day. After pickup, i made them pose their backs in the middle of a curbside kitty cuddle session. Poor cat!
(In case you were wondering about the blown-out picture: I forgot my camera, and the phone captured a bunch of images perfectly … except for this one, which i liked best of the cat)
