1 – While trying to fall asleep for his nap, Tobin got distracted by a bundle of bananas sticking out the top of my stroller bag:
“Warum hat die Banane ein bischen Holz da oben? Vielleicht … die Banane kommt von einem BAUM, Mami?” (Why does the banana have a little bit of wood up there? Maybe … the banana is coming from a TREE, Mami? )
2 – Sung is coming back home with a fresh haircut … and different styling. Tobin’s comment as he walks through the door:
“You look different person, Daddy!”
3 – Tobin is popping up from the bedroom 10 minutes after we said (and kissed) both kids good night:
“Mami, ich habe meinen Kuss verloren! … Daddy, I lost my kiss!”
Today marked the final day of a 10-week “enrichment cluster” for all Kindergarteners on Wednesday mornings. The kids worked in small groups on projects offered by teachers or parents. The topics were as diverse as Hip Hop Dance, Jewelry Design, Picture Book Writing, or Photography. Mika picked Recycled Arts and showed off, among other things, her lovingly decorated tin can stilts.
The long anticipated opening of Pier 6, along with the “Babylon of New York playgrounds“, dominated our weekend: we went for a test run on Opening Day (Saturday), along with the entire neighborhood and many of Mika and Tobin’s classmates. Today, an overcast sky took the edge off the heat and humidity, but 75% of the crowds were still hanging out at the “Water Lab” (sprinklers, mist, cascading fountains, turbine/tools, dams, and a creek). Team Aranda-Lee joined us for a thorough exploration and gives the playground two thumbs up as well.
A conversation with Mika, while she was working on a birthday card for a friend (she was trying different styles of drawing children … stick figure-ish, people with real limbs and colored clothing, etc.):
You know, Mami … i even know how to draw a man without *any* clothes on.
Really? Did you teach that to yourself, or did somebody show you?
I learned that at school. I can show you how!
When you’re done with this birthday card, why don’t you…
(see above)
I am assuming that another kid showed her, and not the art teacher. She always comes home and tries out new ways of drawing various things (people, houses, cars, playgrounds) that she picked up from her friends. No big deal to Mika anyways, since she has seen Tobin and “boy parts” all along ;-)
Mika’s school had their annual Block Party today, which is open to the whole neighborhood. Lots of arts and crafts (face painting, decorate your own cookie, make kaleidoscopes, necklaces, etc.), great food, and sport activities (bouncy castles!). Mika’s fellow Kindergartener and friend from German school, Kai, was the DJ of the evening and got the whole school yard dancing…
All his love for cars instantly gets put on hold when Tobin sees a construction site with heavy machinery – especially big diggers. Today, he wore his new favorite t-shirt and made just the right impression on the foreman of our local construction site down the block: he was allowed to “drive” the big digger and get up close and personal with all the moving parts. He even found the horn all on his own…
This post goes out to Uncle Joe. Tobin has long moved on from identifying German car makers to identifying everything that has wheels in our neighborhood. Naturally, this has led him to appreciate some American classics: “Dodge Viiiper!” … “Harley Daaavidson!” … or this pristine, red “Mustaaang!“ that has been parked on our block all week. On our next visit to Baltimore, he will look at Uncle Joe’s car collection – especially his Mustangs – with a much more expertly eye…
Sunday was Day Two of our Memorial Day Weekend Extravaganza with the Lee-Alto clan: we started with an early lunch at Nathan’s, followed by a visit to the newly re-openedLuna Park. It was too hot and sunny to go on more than a handful of kiddie rides, but everybody got their favorites covered. Tobin barely met the height requirement for his solo motorcycle ride, and was beaming with pride after he had completed many rounds of roaring fun. Most of the afternoon was spent on the beach with our own picnic (featuring lots of fresh fruit and a selection of Mazzola’s breads). The grand finale: dinner at The Good Fork in Red Hook, followed by ice cream at Blue Marble.
Today, we just chilled at home, cleaned the house, and ate leftovers. Happy Memorial Day, everybody!
Today was Day One of our Memorial Day Weekend Extravaganza with the Lee-Alto clan. We took them on a non stop munching tour around Red Hook. We started at Baked (to pick up dessert), enjoyed an epic picnic lunch at the Red Hook Food Vendors, got Steve’s Key Lime Pie as second dessert (and hijacked his fork lift), and finished the day off with dinner at Alma.
(As usual, the kids were the most photogenic subjects, which is why i am showing only one food closeup. Jen – thanks for the group shot!)
It’s been six weeks since we last had a play date with Bruno, due to travels and other schedule changes (Monday mornings at German school not counting). The boys were really happy to spend time with each other and got along splendidly. Plenty of vehicles were shared, as well as lunch … and even trips to the bathroom (now that Bruno has joined the Potty Train).
Tobin and Henry finally made it to Pier 1 together. Unimpressed by the scenic wedding business, they took their scooters for a spin on newly paved paths, ran up and down the rolling hills, watched nearby park construction, and played on the brand new playground. Thanks to the overcast weather, they could even climb onto the controversial steel domes.
