Ash's Barn Party VI 2016

We had a lot of fun with old friends and new friends at Ash's sometimes annual Barn Party. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then here's 20,000 words about the party:

Aneira, Dr. P, Ash

Dr. P (on right) and his buddy.

Our group: Bob, Miranda, me, Kevin, James, mom (Ana)

Christina, Dan, Hudson and Aria

Ash having lunch with Aria and James

Chilling with Ash

Hudson and Carter playing upstairs

Miranda and Aria fighting over Kevin?

GW Girls: Christina, Ash, me (See also James with Frisbee head)

Hannah and her parents, Jennifer and Mark

Soccer friends

More friends whose names I don't know

Nana decided Miranda (age 2) needed some lipstick

Pool time!

Jack, James, and Carter having fun together

Kate getting a massage. Miranda trying to figure out how to sign up.

Miranda showing off her hat to Jack

Miranda charming Ash's parents

More new friends whose names I can't remember and Stevie in the middle

We had fun!

NYC for Aria's 1st Birthday- July 2015

Aria is 1!

James and I went on a mom-son adventure into the city to go to Aria's 1st Birthday party. It's so fun that he's old enough to do this stuff now. I am not the kind of mom that likes lugging a diaper bag and stroller on trains and subways, but now he's an independent little walker. Still, we left at 11 am, and got there at 12:40 pm, so it was a long ride for the little guy. There were a lot of are-we-there-yets. The good part is that he's also funny now-- on purpose, like adults-- so he entertained both of us on the way there and cracked me up. I love him like crazy.

Excited about the LIRR; conductor punched a smiley face; Brooklyn subway love.

At last, we got to Washington Market Park, site of Aria's birthday party. First of all, this park is beautiful. The party's home base was the gazebo and Christina's pink-gold-and-white decorations were so pretty. They also had a ton of food and drinks with big and little eaters in mind. Yum.

Gazebo in the city.

Christina and her 1-year-old girl, Aria.

The park also had a very fun playground complete with a splash area. Could James have happily lived out the rest of his childhood there? Definitely would have prefered it.

James and Hudson queuing up for the slide.


Wee!

Splash!!

Stomping joy!

There were two types of cupcakes, and a baby cake smash. Your parents threw you the best birthday party, Aria. Learn to say, "thank you." Haha.

Cake time!

I wish for another party.

Gentle cake smash with grandma

Triple the cute. Aria scored some cupcake right after this.

James and Hudson are very pleased.

Visiting Hudson and Aria- March 2015

I hadn't visited with Hudson and Aria since August, and it's been a time of big changes for them. So when we decided to meet up with our college girlfriends in the city- near Christina's place- Ash and I got there early to spend quality time with the kiddos.

Me and my buddy Aria

Even though Aria is 7 months she's up to the same trouble as Miranda. I think the two of them would really enjoy each other's company and I'm looking forward to their first tackle-fest. I mean playdate.

Ash and Aria

When we got there, Hudson was napping but when he woke up he quickly warmed to the camera-holding monster that is me. As it happens, Hudson really enjoys taking photos and kept letting us know he wanted more.

It's because he's so cute- and he knows it.

Ash reading books to Hudson, but he appreciates my contribution more.

Baby-tossing! The next Olympic sport.

Ash, Aria, Ericka- happy family.

Meeting Aria 2014

So we made it into Manhattan to meet Aria, and so Hudson and James could play, but between the disaster that is Miranda's schedule, and the Brooklyn Bridge being closed, we arrived just in time for Hudson's nap. But no worries, because we entertained ourselves at the super awesome park near their apartment, the Imagination Playgound. And after nap-time we were still able to go visit.

James and Hudson haven't exactly bonded yet, but they should because they both recently had the same traumatic experience. These babies, out of nowhere, just suddenly move into their homes! Here we are holding the little intruders.

Christina snuggling Miranda and my first meeting with Aria!

Hudson and James! 

Grandma McLeod was here too. And Miranda loves her!

Imagination Playground!

Wait for it...

Splash!

Oh hi.

• Last time we saw Christina and Dan in May 2014
• Last playdate with Hudson in October 2013
• Last visit to Imagination Playground in October 2012

Queens County Farm- October 2013

Even though I see Christina and Rachel pretty often, we haven't gotten our families together since we went to the Bronx Zoo over a year ago. Even though we selected a more low-key location this time, I was still exhausted half-way through our visit. In October, Queens County Farm has a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, petting zoo, and hayrides.

Tim, Isaac, Eleanor, Rachel in the pumpkin patch

Dan, Hudson, and Christina

James, me, Kevin- James is distracted by the pumpkin magic

There's my little pumpkin!

We took James back to see the goats he loved so much last time, and he seemed to remember his love for them. So much so he kissed a goat and tried to get a goat to kiss him. Um, yeah. Luckily these goats are pretty gentle. He definitely smelled of goat when we got him home.

In love with a goat.

Everyone even got a hayride around the farm. It was James's first hayride. I was banned from the ride because I'm pregnant, and even though the ride seemed extremely gentle, I took the better safe than sorry approach. I also got 5 blissful minutes to drink a cider by myself. Ha!

This hayride is BUMPY! Or not.

Off to see the farm again.

At this point, everyone needed some snacks and refreshments, but the excitement continued because there was a loose chicken in our midst. Luckily this chicken was also gentle and tolerated kids (not just ours) chasing her around for quite a while before she was returned to her area of the farm.

Chicken pecking at Kevin's shoe

Chasing the chicken under the picnic table

Group photo that Isaac is barely in (to the right)

Also, Eleanor and James got some serious bonding in. They find each other mutually hilarious. Eleanor is 8 months older than James but the gap is closing a bit as they get older.

The flirting


The affection


Mutual joy.

Fun day at the farm!