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.

Owen Cancer-free for 1 Year! 2015

The cutest. The best.

"The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" Marie Kondo- Talks at Google

I just love this. Marie Kondo highlights some of her techniques, and answers the questions everyone asks all the time.

My favorite quotes:

"My method is completely based on if you get inspired by the object. It depends on the person... how much stuff you want to keep around you."

"My clients never go back to the mess, because they've been transformed into the organized person."

"It's not about tidying up, it's about how you want to spend the rest of your life."

"I know every one of us has so many items in our life. But examining the items in our life is examining how we want to live right now."

• Start with KonMari- Clothes
• KonMari- General Solution
• All my other KonMari posts

Movie Date: Inside Out 2015

I went to my first movie with James! I went to my first movie, Bambi, when I was three and apparently I started crying and screaming in horror when Bambi's mom was um, taken out of the picture. And James is already prone to nightmares and whatnot, so I've been careful about not taking him to anything that might be scary too soon. For that reason he didn't see Frozen in the theaters. He was just 2.5 and I really didn't want him having issues with the big scary snowman in the previews (the one that is not Olaf).

Also, he only likes cartoons. I tried to let him watch the nutcracker on TV and he wasn't having it because it wasn't a cartoon. Anyway, Inside Out didn't look scary and it had great reviews, so off we went!

Outside a local movie theater

Inside Out was a lot of fun. Reminded me of the Disney ride with the kid's brain's control center or whatever. I don't remember it too clearly. He liked the movie and the popcorn and snacks, and he only asked for one bathroom break - which for him is good. 

Inside Out!

He also took a big interest in the Minions movie poster. He noted the date said July 11, and when he came home he asked a lot of questions about the calendar and carefully kept track of the date. When we got to the 11th, he claimed it was time to take him to Minions. I explained how movies are a treat, etc. The next day he expressed sadness that the movie (Minions) was over. So then I explained how movies are in the movie theater every day, several times a day for a while, and Minions was not over. He is still busy waging a campaign to see the movie by mentioning it periodically, and when he found a quarter yesterday he said he wanted to use it to buy the movie. Well played, James.

James and huge bag of popcorn (the small)

The first movie I actually remember going to was E.T. and I was already 6 years old by then (they did a re-release in movie theaters in 1985). So I wonder if he'll even remember any of this anyway. I guess I'll remember it for us.

Fourth of July 2015

Happy belated Fourth of July! This post is low on words, high on pictures and patriotism.

Who loves America? We do! (James outfit by his dad)

The only kids at the park today!

He told her to get down because it says keep off!!

Selfie-time!

Climbing together.

Climbing together

Swinging together.

Wonder Woman training

Captain America training.

Miranda is 14 Months 2015

Looking at James's 14-month post I'm really sorry that I've used my phone to take so many pictures of Miranda instead of my camera. I'll fix that a little this month.

One with the camera at almost 14 months, June 19

Miranda is up to everything. She has 5.5 teeth, and is in about size 18 month clothing.

She says Mama, Dada, yes, that and "tickle-tickle-tickle" and but understands A LOT of what we say to her. Nonetheless she rarely follows the instruction NO.

iPhone Selfie at about 13 months

James is both her best friend and occasionally her oppressor.

At the park


At home

She's a pro at feeding herself and she's eager to use utensils though she's not adept at it. She loves all food.

Go-gos


Civilized dinner


Smoothie dessert

She loves books and electronics. Her favorite books are "Dinosaur Versus the Library, " "Nosy Barker," and "Dora and the Rainy Day." She steals James's LeapFrog and my phone and Kindle whenever she has the chance. 

With the LeapFrog

She loves loves to dance and she's so good at it! Nothing makes me happy like seeing her dance. I will retroactively insert a video here tonight.

James at 14 months, 2012

Mike and Havi Visit- June 2015

Mike and Havi visited and they were full of awesome. I made some beef and broccoli for dinner, because I cook all sorts of things now, haha. And Havi made this super fun dessert that looked like worms in dirt, but was actually gummy worms in a chocolate-oreo pudding wonderfulness. They also brought gifts for the kids- books and toys that they love.

Miranda checking out her new book-obsession, James and his baseball game.

Snuggly bonding time.

Dessert!

Oh and there was an impromptu dance party, because they are awesome.

Dancing!

Showing their Scottish-dancing roots.

Reading by osmosis.

Reading by actual reading

Also we decided to group Skype Andrew in Japan, though admittedly it must have been weird for Havi to meet Andrew for the first time via Skype. And then have to keep speaking to him while we gave him lots of unsolicited and uncivilized advice. Haha, oh well! Family.

Our view of Japan

Japan's view of us.

Michele Visits- June 2015

Michele came to visit again! This because 1) she can't stay away from NYC, 2) she loves me too much, 3) Nina made her, because she's getting married.

Michele! In a beautiful dress!

We had a Monday to go adventuring. Sadly it turns out New York does sleep- all freaking Monday. Everything was closed, particularly the Brooklyn Museum and the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. So we decided to go for a short walk in Prospect Park. We actually walked over to Prospect Park, then got lost, checked a map and chose a "short cut" back which turned out to be longer than the long way around, and long story long, we ended up going on about a 10-mile walk. The walk will surely grow longer every time I tell this story.

Selfie in the park...

Starting to lose it.

We've lived in this park for so long now, we know other people that can take our picture

We got out!!!

Praying to the gods of hydration.

Finally, finally, finally, we ate lunch at Koto, reviving our old tradition of eating sushi every time we saw each other. We also had the best mochi ever- so good it actually converted Michele into liking mochi. Then, just to up the torture quotient a little we jogged to the train (but really so I didn't miss it).

I miss you already Michele!

Father's Day 2015

Happy Father's Day to seriously the best dad ever, Kevin. Just in numbers alone, he works a full-time job and still spends an average of 8 hours a day with the kids! Yes, that's an insane number. But he's that deeply awesome. Our kids are so lucky to have have two full-time parents. We try to repay you in love.

Happy Father's Day!!

Although he's getting some belated alone hiking, he decided to take us to Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium on Father's Day. The kids loved it.

James got to feed the fish food pellets

There were trout and some other crazy fish (like the HUGE goldfish here)

There were also chickens?

Miranda pointing at the chickens. She was a little afraid of them initially.

Here I am, doing what I do in the wild- taking photos of the kids.

Turtle pond! Super full of turtles and kind of awesome

Turtle pond was my favorite.

Inside James could get a close up of tiny turtles

Miranda spots some water snakes

Also, there was a secret Nature Conservancy walk on the property, St. John's Pond Preserve. You had to know to ask the front desk for a key, and you had to unlock the property gate with said key. Secret garden! It was beautiful with a view of a gorgeous kettle pond.

Opening the gate.

Miranda's second hike- Aw, she rides on his shoulders now!

Dad of the year and kids in front of the kettle pond