Craig&Cami&Finley

on valentine's day

2012-02-13T16:57:00.000-08:00

We have been recording all the songs she learns in school and this was too good not to share today. Anyway, we love you, you and YOU!

Notice the cameo of my Whitney Houston paper dolly that Finley made me because I was so sad. Every morning at Finley's school the kids sing along to the to her Star Spangled Banner. The best rendition ever.

Greenwich Village. It's OVER.

2012-02-12T20:42:00.000-08:00

I had a teeny print job on Friday morning with a call time of 6:45 am at 7th Avenue South and Morton Street in the Village. I was happy to have the job and happy to walk the early morning streets of my old hood. Until I got there... The destruction, the desecration, the HORROR! Thankfully Matt Umanov's is still there; however, to the left we have Davids fancy tea shop and to the right we have- more frozen yogurt! (There are 8 other frozen yogurt shops in a 3 block radius) Both chains, both weird. But it doesn't stop there. The real kicker came on 6th ave right before I got back on the train home. Sammy's Asian, my favorite take away joint from days gone by, has been replaced by a fancy nail shop that offers...a 24k gold Facial!! Run, run back to Brooklyn!!

Another looming death. Here lies the legendary Cafe Vivaldi. Due to close in the next couple weeks... Booooo.

Happy Elevenses Emmett!!

2012-02-03T14:44:00.001-08:00

We love you so much-acho!! We hid a tiny present for you
under your bed before we left and there is a postcard making
it's way to you if it hasn't already.XXXX

i love all these pictures of you:)))

.

More trip pics!

2012-01-27T08:36:00.000-08:00

I always want to remember our sunset run around the neighborhood

I love these people - green 1/4 acre is the place to be...

our garden variety gina lollobrigida

Ms. Morgan's kindergarten class!!

sister love

bunny love

surrounded by growing things

ripping with Nana

San Diego. Home away from home...

2012-01-25T13:55:00.000-08:00

Crepes with Nana!

"serious about chickens" lady

emmett. crushing your heart by the fire.

front yard with the rope swing and bunny petting zoo

Lemonade stand!! (see the teenagers at the lemonade stand!)

the mobs came out of nowhere - it was gone in 10 minutes!

sandy angels of happiness

ginger beach tango with clouds

music happens

Princess raiding the fridge

Fairy ring!

Waiting for Emmett at his guitar lesson with Uncle Maaatt

Uncle Michael carried her wet, sandy butt all the way home

Michael and Emily's new house in Ocean Beach!

No caption necessary

Mac's 14!!

Silas's room where Finley and I sleep and where we all read books before bed

Most days felt like this... beyblades and fireplace and reading or sewing and movies:)

Finley making a handprint plate at Plum Pottery

I sewed myself to Finley's baby blanket

One of the best places in The World!

Emmett's goodbye hugs.... sigh!

On the plane home in her Mac glasses. All loved up and ready for 2012...
What a great and deeply satisfying trip - we love you all so much!
Cross all fingers to see you in the summer with Craig!

My first semster GPA is a.....

2011-12-30T18:23:00.000-08:00

4.0 !!!!!

Christmas 2011

2011-12-29T08:06:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday GRACIE!!!

2011-12-26T08:59:00.000-08:00

We love you we love you we love you SUPREMELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We celebrate the day you were born:))))

a couple xmas glimpses

2011-12-24T21:44:00.000-08:00

Visions of sugar plums!

P.S. 241 Christmas Show

2011-12-23T13:40:00.000-08:00

Murray love

2011-12-22T10:10:00.000-08:00

Fanny & Alexander

2011-12-16T12:26:00.000-08:00

The is my favorite Ingmar Bergman film - it has the most sumptuous Christmas scenes I have ever seen. I think it is loosely based on his childhood. Put in on your netflix now to watch for Christmas!

(clearly I am procrastinating and need to get crackin on studying!)

OMG

2011-12-16T06:39:00.001-08:00

random holiday happenings

2011-12-16T06:14:00.000-08:00

We started off the holiday right with Bebe at a Christmas show (dancing mice always get me in the spirit:)

First library card!

This picture is pretty self explanatory don't you think.... Silliness!!!

Papa's studio block (Mighty Toad is the orange building in the middle with the door open on the fire escape)

I have been nervously snacking my way through my last exams, pretty disgusting. BUT, Craig says Famous Amos means I get an "A".

Our tiny shadow scooter gang. Watch out!!

Videos from Papa

2011-12-09T13:57:00.000-08:00

Thankful!

2011-11-24T10:25:00.001-08:00

OWS - again!

2011-11-11T20:11:00.000-08:00

Quality family time is at a premium around here so when we got a few hours on Friday together we decided to use it wisely and head back down to visit Zuccotti Park and lend some support. It changed a lot in three weeks - a sea of tents. It wasn't that crowded with actual people; however, because we now know that many took the protest on the road that day and are walking to DC over a few days time. Wow.

Halloweeeeeeeen! 2011

2011-11-01T05:19:00.000-07:00

Her costume choices went from fairy to vampire to devil to minnie mouse to snow white to regular old princess to finally... fairy!!

I love the Park Slope Halloween attitude

2011-10-28T19:27:00.000-07:00

Yes, that is a CHILD-sized skeleton. And this next one gives you a little something extra to think about on the walk to work in the morning! Cracks me up.

While I was looking up "amongst" I found Dr. Grammar - check it ouuuuut.

Bangs!

2011-10-24T18:32:00.001-07:00

Drawing by happy kid

2011-10-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

OWS - Family Sleepover (or visit in our case:)

2011-10-22T07:09:00.000-07:00

Finley and I went down to OWS yesterday after school. Parents for Occupy Wall Street had organized a family sleepover so it seemed like the perfect event for us since we were planning on going anyway. Dan Zanes and friends were there and sang few great ones "I don't need your millions Mr." "Pay me my money down" I was tearing up swatches of cloth for people and handing out pizzas - slinging them like frizbees. I gave two interviews (hope I sounded ok - eek!) and basically was very impressed and inspired by the whole thing. I did bring toothbrushes but we didn't stay - no extra sleeping bags!

some were a bit much...

some said it just right...

Occupy Wall Street!!!

2011-10-16T20:50:00.000-07:00

I went down with Sandy for a short time last week hoping I wouldn't get arrested before I had to pick Finley up from school:) I plan to go back this week this time with Finley. Craig wanted to go but he just booked his only day off. :( Anyway, if you are not Annie, and you haven't already, please do yourself a favor and go to Plumpotter and scroll down to check out some great posts on the subject. Also, check out this video from my neighbor who has basically been there Every Day.

This is Finley's Principal on my scooter.

2011-10-16T20:21:00.000-07:00

I hope he uses it for his Christmas card.
Bad news is that my awesome freedom horse of a scooter was stolen that
very day by some bad person from our vestibule where I have always kept
strollers and scooters. Boooooo. I will be saving up for the graphite
version as I will have to haul it up the stairs.
I asked Mr. Luicius - he swore he didn't do it ;)

While I am at it let's talk wheels... I REALLY want one of these

So we can do this....

and THIS!

Happy 5th Birthday Silas Loyal!!

2011-10-09T06:09:00.000-07:00

Wow, you are five years old - we can't believe it! Can't wait to hear all about your party. We love you and are so happy you were born, of course!!!

One of my all time favorite of any baby any where pictures. So
snuggly and new wearing your magic gobstopper hat.

Five!!

Serpentine Dance from 1896

2011-09-30T18:07:00.001-07:00

I happened upon this bit of wonderful while procrastinating and not doing my homework.

Botanical Mornings (for you Annie)

2011-09-28T11:07:00.001-07:00

Is that not the best name EVER?

Lily pads!

Medicine for me Medicine for you

We rest and draw some faces for school Look and those freakin plants! WOW!

My favorite - giant weeping willow by a winding stream.

We will always think of flower house when we see one of these!

How cool! Love those cute rows of green:)

Ornamental Turtle!! The Cherry Esplanade

Autumn Crocus! Purple and awesome.

From the first day we came... Every day we talk to the many GIANT Koi - there is a
gold one with a lion's face. no joke. AND turtles.

And finally...
Thorns growing from the middle of the leaf? Wha? Crazy. Couldn't find name for this one.

Of course we can't stop thinking of you when we are here and are always wishing you were walking through with us (and Silas, and well... Everybody!) xoxoxoxoxoxo

Happy Birthday Bebe!!

2011-09-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

We hope you have a lot fun all day long. Thank you for being YOU. We love you... what's that you always say? Oh, yeah... big Montana sky!

Your willingness and ability to play and laugh are unparalleled!

Forks Over Knives!

2011-09-18T06:34:00.000-07:00

I am really excited about this new documentary. I hope it gets more people talking about and changing their eating habits. You don't need to get a doomsday health diagnosis yourself - about 7 people in this movie did and they halted or reversed all disease with diet alone. Excuse me while I go eat some plants.

Multi purpose fun sleeping play structure!

2011-09-14T15:33:00.001-07:00

Finley's First Day of Pre-K!

2011-09-08T21:17:00.000-07:00

It didn't start very well, we had one of the worst nights sleep EVER - she woke up at 11pm for water and didn't fall back alseep until 3am! The morning came and somehow we got our tired butts out of bed to pouring rain. It took a scooter, a bus and a subway a short 20 minutes to get there. The teachers Ms. Harte and Ms. Sutherland are on their Game! There was a little orientation where they gave all the kids puppets to say good morning and introduce themselves, then they kicked us parents out. I walked home, went to school myself and later Craig picked her up. Sometime before bed, he said she fell asleep while playing in the hallway. I can't wait to hear what she thought of her first day, tomorrow as we take the long walk to... day 2!

Happy Birthday Craig and Matt!

2011-09-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

He has to work a double (get it, double!) on his birthday but we managed a few celebratory moments before he left that included some blueberry pancakes (of course!) and fancy fancy birthday headphones.
Hope you have a good one Uncle Mattmos! Did you get a special card in zee mail?

School Rooolz!!

2011-09-03T05:38:00.000-07:00

Week One, DONE! All my syllibii are tucked neatly into my trapper keeper and my professors are all met and well impressed by me already;;)) Actually, I have been mistaken for a professor myself more than a few times in the last three days. I think I will choose to take that as a compliment. The changes at home are I will no longer be able to fall asleep with Finley after we read books at bedtime 7pm on my nights with her because three days a week my classes don't get out until 8:30. I will not be learning much biology if I am snoozing into my microscope nor will I become an expert essay writer sleeping on my keyboard during my online Eng 101 class. This is for you Silas... The other thing I did this week was get all my nervousness out. Once I met a couple new people and saw my classrooms - poof! all my nervousness turned into... excitement! Good luck to YOU on Tuesday. HuggXXX KisssXXX from Auntie SmartyPants.

Finley took this picture of my going out the door on my first day!

schedule!

This is Finger Finley. She went to school with me in case I got scared and missed Finley.
(I learned this one looong ago from Annie and little Mac.) The next picture is of my microscope while I was looking at Amazing pond scum. I even got to look at one of my own cells. My new favorite word is paramecium!

Finley starts on Thursday- here we are getting her uniforms at the uniform department store. I like Craig's hello kitty bag. She was so excited. In the shoe department we splurged and got her a pair of special totally non-school related magic shoes. :))))

Hurricane schmuricane

2011-08-28T09:27:00.000-07:00

We stood in looong lines at the coop for emergency food, bought extra candles and batteries (though everybody was sold out of D's), cleaned off the fire escape a bit (though the building behind us had left an untethered rolling rack on their roof, and it's still there!), Craig spent 2 days at the studio assessing the possible situations and wrapping equipment in plastic. Finley and I went to a b-day party yesterday and hung out on a soggy stoop with a neighbor boy. Then last night we hunkered down. The wind and rains thrashed around and the feeling was "okaaay, here we go!" Thinking the storm would wake me up at some point I was surprised to wake on my own to... not much. A bunch of leaves on the ground, a bit of rain and around 11am... the SUN! I know there are MANY people out of power or worse so I will just say that I am glad we were prepared and so relieved that we were spared.

Here is the sun shining this morning... next to we have the spider mobile (or ghost detector as she likes to call it) from fairygodmother Nana.

UPDATE: The rolling rack is down! and I can't believe I forgot this photo!

Southampton 2011

2011-08-26T19:27:00.000-07:00

Spaced out over three weeks this August we had three separate visits with Granpops & Bebe at their sweet beachy rental. How lucky we all are!

Cousin Nana from San Francisco!

2011-08-21T17:19:00.000-07:00

Things we did... Steve McQueen Exhibit at the Met (ahem, Alexander, that is - ongoing error on my part), many fun art projects, lots and Lots of dancing, Sunday paper in the park (or "Church", as we like to call it), walks around the neighborhood, bagel eating - toasted pumpernickel with tomato for Nana, plain with tofu cream cheese not toasted for Finley and my new love - the everything bagel toasted with tofu cream cheese. We took the bus and dipped our bods in the Red Hook Pool, took the subway to Manhattan and went to castings and Nana watched Finley while I went to a wee job. We met back up at the fountain in Washington Square Park then onto my old block for Mamouns falafel on the stoop with Mitch. Then it was back to Brooklyn to pack up the car and all (Craig too!) for a night adventure drive to Southampton. There with Grandpops and Bebe had few mostly lazy and sandy days on the beach. Finally we headed back to Brooklyn for a couple last and rainy days around the apartment (my junk drawer is now sublime.) Thank you for coming, Nana - we love you! Murray is in deep kitty mourning...

Breakfast Papa Style

2011-07-30T21:39:00.000-07:00

I hate to do this to you Craig but a) I warned you I would and b) it's just too good not to! To be fair, it was early morning and when I woke up I went downstairs for about 10 minutes and that's when she woke up... he was so bleary from just having gone to bed that I think he thought he was just giving her a snack, but still!

Thinking games

2011-07-30T15:21:00.000-07:00

Ready to move beyond "I Spy", I was very excited to read this on Park Slope Parents (an email group and local list serve):

"My kids are a little younger (3 and 5) and we like these thinking car games, geared to the younger set:

1) I'm thinking of something and it has... [this is a twist on 20 questions, but for smaller kids who aren't quire up to the task of generating lots of questions - provide three+ descriptives to help the child guess ("Whiskers, paws and meows"). Make it easier or harder based on age.]

2) Rhyming roots song... [Credit for this goes to my mom, a first grade teacher. Teach rhyming roots with a song, you do the first few, and then the kids figure it out and chime in to spell the word. For early phonics. "I can spell CAT.... C-A-T. I can spell BAT... B-A-T. And on and on. Kids will start to add their own first consonant to make their own words. Every once in a while, my Mom would end that root series with the phrase: "Isn't it incredible! (sung in opera voice), and that was sort of a verbal high five, before switching roots. Corny but kids LOVE it.

3) Rhyming guessing game: "I'm thinking of something that is white and cold and it rhymes with glow."

4) True or False: make statements that are either silly or true and have the children answer - "True or false: Whales like to eat apple pie?"

5)Mommy doesn't like.....: This is a quirky game that my kids made up that is a road trip hit in our family. I like it because it invites the kids to think about others. In the car, we go in turns. The person speaking has to think of a person and then think of something that other person really likes (for me it is always latte), and then they say: "Mommy doesn't like LATTES!" Of course I do like Lattes, so we all say "no-no-no-no-no!" and laugh. (Each time we say the opposite of the truth, then we say "no" a lot in silly voices, then we laugh.) The first round is easy, but after that, it is interesting to see how children perceive the preferences of others in the family, and also how well they manage the trick of reversing it...which they find hilarious.

Happy travels everyone!

Jill (mom to 2 good road-trippers)"

Happenings - Summer 2011

2011-07-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

Stoop Sale-ing

Coop Shopping

Last Day of Huggs Having!

Playground Playing!

Wonderful gifts from afar receiving! Scones overnighted from San Diego (delivery snafu - finally consumed 3 days late, but amazingly...still good!) A very small accordion from Nana in San Francisco who is coming to visit next weeeeek! (Gracie, I can see you rocking in the corner.)

Bebe Day Travelling. The Bronx. A wonderful thing to do with someone is to take them on a day trip to where they grew up. I loved watching your face, Bebe as you explained, told stories and pointed around. With lunch on Arthur Avenue at the end (the owner, The Mama below even sang us an aria...) Another great adventure for Grandpops, Bebe, Finley and Me:)

Puppet Show a-going

Backyard worm digging

And finally... summer side sleeping!

Concerts in the Park

2011-07-24T19:48:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Brooklyn! Free concerts all summer a few blocks away. This was our first and a special one that also celebrated Brooklyn author Ezra Jack Keats. A woman read from books that were displayed on a giant screen "Jennie's Hat" and "Maggie and The Pirates" (for your next trip to library, Silas!) The actual concert was Dan Zanes who also share the stage with a children's orchestra, a Marimba group from Seattle and and dance troupe from Bed Sty. Mr. Zanes puts on a great show - he and his very talented and young band (the woman who played fiddle could also jam on the spoons) I caught Finley busting some serious moves wearing a serious dance face. My personal favorite moment was during the last song - he had everyone on their feet, there was a breeze was blowing and we were all singing "The Sidewalks of New York" in a round until people just naturally walked away. Afterwards we scootered down the slope homeward to bed. I WISH I could have had everyone I know here to go to the West Side Story movie screening complete with choreographers teaching the audience to dance like a Jet. The last concert will be while my cousin Nana the Fairy Godmother is here for a visit... Alvin Ailey's Revelations!! So perfect. Brooklyn, have I told you lately that I love you?

Scooters rock

2011-07-21T07:01:00.000-07:00

Yesterday...

First unassisted swim!

2011-07-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

Okay there is a serious floaty suit assisting but she definitely felt free like a fish! We were with my friend Marni and kids last week in Montclair, NY. I love to think how there must be lots of summer invitations and adventures that start with this sentence - "I have a friend that has a pool..."

We Welcome Emerson James Douglas!!

2011-07-21T06:04:00.001-07:00

Yay, you finally made it!! Born on the fourth of July. Baby, you're a firework! (Finley's favorite "popular" song;) Congratulations Kelli, he's so dreamy.

Our

First Ballet Class!

2011-06-30T08:16:00.000-07:00

Finally!!! There was a substitute teacher for the first one- Miss Sarah will back next week. It's at the YMCA in a beautiful room. She loved it and showed us all the new moves after. I got busted filming the class but it was worth it:)

butterfly garden complete!

2011-06-30T06:19:00.000-07:00

What an experience! It was so much fun waking up everyday to see how they had grown or if they had hatched from their cocoons. I myself loved taking these macro pictures of them. How intense and extremely majestic they are! Thank you West Coasties!! The video runs a little long but I couldn't handle the edit process;)

Good Grades and Gay Weddings!

2011-06-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

I have not posted about going to school here in a while. The day of talking about not what I want to do but what I have actually done is HERE! I finished my first college course yesterday with a 94 on my final. This is after a week of practice finals during which the first three grades were 45, 36, 48! There was actually a very real possibility that I would need to take this class again, happens all the time. The day I got a 72 I knew there was hope and when I got a 96 I knew everything would be OK. During the course of this class I learned not only basic algebra (which I don't remember EVER knowing) but also many things about about school and myself in general like...

I learned how to study - I have tools! Notecards and highlighters and page marker thingy's and reading glasses;) I learned how to test. I learned I can test when nervous, can calm myself with breathing and affirmations. I can sit and learn in a room with rowdy 18 year olds and want to strangle them and then not strangle them. I can trust in my brain. I can learn as well as anybody (part of me deep down always thought college was for "other" people and that I couldn't do it) I learned how to just get down to studying- I can spend a LOT of time getting ready to study. I learned I can be very disappointed and want to give up and then NOT give up and succeed. (I think I learned that one before but it felt new;)) I can ask for help - Professor Han spent a fair amount of time with me, my Aunt Liz was back and forth sending scans of homework and emails and my cousin Phebe was there with help I didn't even know I needed and so many others out there supporting me with thoughts and calls and texts. The last thing I learned was don't drink before the final - even a small amount - nervous test pee syndrome;) - I had already learned don't drink too much caffeine before a test a few days earlier. Fall sememster starts with a full load of psychology 101, math 1175, biology 101, and english 101. I am VERY grateful that I had to cut my teeth on this summer class. Looking forward to my days as a brainiac. Onward! Lifelong evolution... weeeeeeee! I will also add that Craig and Finley were so supportive and we worked very well as a team - I definitely didn't do this on my own... Craig didn't sleep much and Finley watched a TON of show but we made it.

AND the other really great thing that happened yesterday was Governor Andrew Cuomo made gay marriage legal in New York State. Way to GO New York! I want to see a conga line, a band wagon of other states lining up for this one!

More California 2011

2011-06-23T12:23:00.000-07:00

Butterflies, Ballet and Annie's Birthday!

2011-06-18T13:16:00.001-07:00

Annie and the guys gave Finley a Live Butterfly Garden for her birthday and we finally sent for and received and our real live caterpillars in the mail. Finley has named them Annie, Silas, Uncle Matt, Emmett and Mac;) Truly.
As I walked home yesterday, the Garbage Gods of Park Slope gave me a beautiful picture book on modern dance and ballet which is amazing because today is the day we finally signed Finley up for her first ballet class at the YMCA. We had the same teacher long ago at another studio for Sing, Dance and Make Believe - Miss Sarah, she's the one who taught us "moon, moon, moon"
And finally today (ahem, actually YESTERDAY!) was Annie's 40th birthday. Welcome to this side of the hill, sister. Pretty awesome as far as I can see;) We will love you for forty more and Forever!!

Here she is doing a few of her favorite things... holding babies, being outside (firepit at Michael & Emily's wedding) and listening to live music played by her other babies:)) ok, none of them are babies anymore, i mean that in a Loretta Lynn kinda way -you know what I'm sayin, Annie;)

Pre-K Yay Day!!!

2011-06-13T13:27:00.000-07:00

Friday was a much anticipated day all over NYC. June 10, the day the acceptance letters went out announcing the spots for 2012 public preschool. I really was not expecting much and was ready to have Finley go another year at Huggs for the two 1/2 days a week. Well surprise, surprise - she got in! Now it wasn't a first or second, third or fourth (there were 12! choices) but at a certain point it is moot. The good news is we are talking 5 full 6 hour 20 minute days which will mean a lot to this family as I will be in school 2 full days and one night a week myself. The other good news is that it is right by the park, museum and botanical garden. The bad news is that it is basically one mile away. We have to figure that one out. We go on Wednesday to meet and see... If we don't like it we still have our beloved Huggs but it looks goooood. Hee heeeeeee!

Two Weeks Two Thousand Pictures later...

2011-06-10T20:39:00.000-07:00

Our vacation in San Diego and Colorado included: an anniversary, a funeral, a birthday, a trip to Disneyland, another birthday, a wedding and MUCH Cousin Power! It was crazy and I loved most every minute of it (except for a few horrible ones at the United ticket counter - right Gracie!? :}
Here are a few photos: I would also suggest a stroll down on Plumpotter for some more of the action...
The boys, California Style - frisbee in the street

Annie making tiny "pizza's in your mouth" with things from the garden for Mac's bandmates

Woody's Mountaintop Memorial

Flower Fairy Princess Finley on her Fourth Birthday

Flower Fairy Garden Birthday Party

Forty One!

Michael and Emily's Mountaintop Malibu Wedding!

Bonfire music

Grandma Carol and Grandpa Arnie at the wedding

Now there are lots more pictures to post - lots more action so I am going to try to do that later today! Got to catch up with me bloggin!

Papa taught me how to balance

2011-05-15T15:39:00.000-07:00

American Girl

2011-05-07T20:15:00.000-07:00

Since we will be in San Diego for her 4th birthday we had a special day and early little celebration with Bebe at... American Girl! We saw a catalog way back in January and she remembered everything she saw - even remembered the names of one of the toy dogs "Sugar" and, of course, knew exactly which dolly was the best for her - Rebecca, the New Yorker from 1914. Bebe has a friend who works there who hooked us up with a special tour and made sure we had a great time which we surely did. Lucky American Girls, all... After we headed back to Granpops and Bebe's apartment for a few rounds of hiding pennies. Love you guys.

Pink Blossom Trees!

2011-05-07T19:42:00.000-07:00

Emmett, you have been in our heads for the last two weeks! For those of you "in the know" go back and listen to track number 12 "How To Be Happy" on your Dreyer Family Band CD.

The flipside to those beautiful trees were that all of us had wicked allergies.
Finley and I got it so bad we required doctor visits. Luckily we found this stuff
from Hyland's which works and is SO much better than Benadryl.

one evolving corner of our house, one evolving child

2011-05-07T18:16:00.000-07:00

Easter 2011

2011-05-01T05:20:00.000-07:00

I am a week late posting this but that's just the way this cookie crumbles;) The Easter Bunny did come to 157 Garfield. In fact, he left the basket in the "shower" and a couple eggs in each room. He also left all the colored eggs in the backyard. Then he hopped on up to the park and hid some there too! We missed seeing Grandpops and Bebe, in fact we didn't even see Craig and there was no official Easter Dinner but all in all it was a Great Day!

I dearly love the sleepy hunting face.

We scooted up to the park for Park Slope Parents Egg Hunt

They would send everyone out in small groups...

Izzy and Finn hunting full force

Totally fun hunting with strange strangers

The cherry blossoms waaay across the park.

Me, Finn and the Brown family

A long, fun day in the park - perfect.

On the walk home on our block... This woman was born on Easter sunday. Wow!

Natanya & Caline in NYC!!

2011-04-29T10:00:00.000-07:00

We got to meet baby Natanya!! Caline made the trip to see her mom in Woodstock and we were able to steal a couple hours on the rainy day before Easter. Mike, Callista and Corrina met us for some La Caridad! Natanya is so sweeeet and loves her mama.

Pipe cleaner cousins!!

2011-04-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

Hey there, Mac, Emmett and Silas!
I got this idea from an artist named Slinkachu (wonder if he's a Pokemon!) who does some really interesting things with tiny people. We had a lot of fun making with these - see if you can pick out who is who. I like to think of them as miniature extensions in a parallel universe that get to have all kinds of Brooklyn adventures together...
Bike riding!

At the Food Coop!

Climbing fences to look at all the spring "bloomies" on the block!

outside the toy store!

Out front - 157 Garfield, baby!

Be on the lookout - there is a set of them having an airplane adventure on their way to YOU!

Easter Past

2011-04-20T18:05:00.001-07:00

We realized today that Finley doesn't remember last Easter! That just will not do... so it was time to whip out the pictures and tell some stories. Today we also had a really fun time dying some eggs and making some egg salad which she Loved - I have not seen a more intense reaction to food. She squinted her face up almost angrily and growled MMMMM!
Here is to remembering Easter last year at Flower House...

First they woke up to the letter from E.B. (easter bunny)

Then it was down the stairs in jammies

To find the baskets

then out in the yard to The Hunt

I love this picture of Nana putting jackets on sleepy hunters

I also love this random picture getting ready for Easter Feast. And I love love that yellow bunny dress and Silas with his cup puppets on his face. I love it alllll!!!!!

bavorite fooks of the moment

2011-04-19T21:56:00.001-07:00

Shell Silvertstein really had his way with words... mixing them up and such here:

And our first chapter book has begun - thanks Cousin Nora!

Star Wars Birthday, Park With Papa and other news...

2011-04-19T10:38:00.000-07:00

We attended Sadie's 2nd annual Star Wars birthday party. The girl is obsessed with Star Wars and now Finley is too. Her favorite is Obi Wan Kenobe. This has started a whole mess of birthday party obsession where she is fluctuating between a Hello Kitty birthday party to Star Wars to Pokemon and back... until finally I had to say, you know the only thing you can really know about your birthday is that there will be cake and singing and some presents and that you will have a good time. Micromanaging her own birthday parties HAS to be kaboshed. I know I don't have as much fun when I am expecting all kinds of things, ya know?

I went on an errand for a friend to this uber cool establishment
The Public Library for the Performing Arts which is right next door to...
Juiliard! Any takers?

I had a job at the studios at Chelsea Piers and this is what is across the street now.
For all of you who have not seen the west side in a while... ew.

We met up for a few precious moments in the park.
Are those birds or squirrels?

Finley took this picture of me and I like it.

Happy Easter!

This past weekend Finley and I went to Woodstock to see Sandy and some green.
It rained buckets which was fun too. With hoola hoops on the way up to make a
fairy house.

April Fools blows.

2011-04-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

Today began with a smash to my finger with a ball-peen hammer while I tried to make her oatmeal with extra "love" and wanted to put in some real brown sugar. You know, the kind that is in your pantry disguising itself as a brick. I know, pretty stupid - but I just wanted a little piece really quick!
Then I had a disagreement with a "boss" and obsessed about it all day - am actually obsessing about it Right Now. Next we have a frantic call from Craig that the car got towed. Which would actually be a really great April fool's joke if it weren't True! Ahhh, NYC...make a mistake around here and it costs you $300. Today also brought some pretty awful cold/rainy/snowy weather. Unrelenting, unrepentant winter. Damn you!!
Finally, she has just peed the bed.
So, so long April 1. Next year I would like to see you working with me not against me! But to keep it all in perspective I would like to end this log of misery with something light and hilarious a friend just shared with me about 5 minutes ago that probably everybody has seen but me.

Marcel... I love him.

Love Town

2011-03-28T11:08:00.000-07:00

Finley's reading material of choice in the bathroom is a craft book that she picks projects from as she whiles away the minutes... This is our "cardboard village."

Dogs, Cat and Bird

2011-03-27T21:06:00.000-07:00

The winter won't die. The sun was out the whole weekend though and that is something to be grateful for. Craig was in Sun Valley, Idaho and we were loose, free as birds.
Saturday found us at a local and free if kind of lame dog show. She loved it and that is all that matters sometimes. Sunday we went to Baby Loves Disco which is basically a dance party for those under 7. She was so "essited!" to go and dressed as a fairy. We danced a little, made a puppet and had her face painted. It was fun but I was hoping for a lot more dancing and had a hard time letting go of my preconceived expectations and then had a small mama tantrum;)
We walked home through the park (scary forest) pretending to be Little Miss Riding Hood (me) and Grandma (her). Then we lay on the ground and I cut our two ballons from their ribbons with my keys and we made wishes on them and sent them up into the sky with the kites. She tried to chase hers for a long way. We ended up on the giant hill and rolled down. Why, now that I am 40 am I not able to stomach going round and around? I used to love that feeling and now it is just nauseating! No more rides at Coney for me. The day ended with her telling me not to do anything to hurt her feelings like... say another kid is cute. I find jealousy repulsive, apparently unless it comes from my child. Is that wrong?

Sylvester and Tweety

Big fish and a trip to the ER :(

2011-03-20T21:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we went to the Aquarium at Coney Island with Lily and Paul but did not have the best time because just before they picked us up Finley jabbed herself in the eye with her thumb and scratched her cornea pretty good. I had no idea but every 20 minutes or so she would cry about her eye. We finally just had to leave and head to the doctor who then didn't have the drops needed to detect scratches so she sent us to the hospital. Luckily all this was a few blocks from the house. Craig had to work but brought great get well presents in the night. She's totally fine today - amazing how fast eyes heal. Ring pops are terrific at healing eyes too dontcha know!

Spring!!!!!!!!

2011-03-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

Lord know it can't come soon enough around here. We were in the backyard today and all of the kick balls that normally live out there year round were totally flat because this winter was just too dang tough.

To quote my favorite little song from Willy Wonka... "In springtime the only pretty ring time, birds sing hey ding - a ding a ding. Sweet lovers love the spring!"

Purple flowers peeking! (new favorite color, btw) "I have summer in my mouth!!"

Scenes from an erratic blogger

2011-03-20T20:05:00.000-07:00

The past couple weeks have been a blur with all this and more while my thoughts have been mostly with the tragedies in Japan and now another war (started on the same day as the endless Iraq war March 19, 2002.)

Sigh.

Our first Saint Patrick's Day Parade.
The leprechauns were out leaving gold coins and balls on the subway and the streets.

got her irish all up!

coupla limeys

she really wanted to see the tiny leprechauns marching in the parade - so did I!

Bird sitting Darla for a week for our neighbors. I love my groovy new camera app.

another casualty of modern life, our neighborhood video store ... so sad to see this place go. it was a meeting place with real characters playing their parts in my real life. netflix can never replace that.

a favorite pastime - browsing the aisles of places like this... no more! waaaaaa!

i happened to be in the city on the night of my 13 year anniversary of living in NYC and decided very impulsively to go see this documentary about fran lebowitz. it was great - then she showed up and talked and signed books. great nyc character. great night.

The GREAT Museum of Natural History. I will never forget her face when we walked in the door.

great view from the dinosaurs on the 4th floor

Finley and Craig checking out the bears... wait, is that Grandpops?

My current favorite picture.

The Dear Edwina Show!

2011-02-26T16:31:00.000-08:00

Bebe strikes again with a fun lunch and great tickets for an off broadway show! This time it was something for Finley called Dear Edwina which is a very cute story about a girl whose talent is giving advice. The kids in Edwina's neighborhood put on a show every Sunday based on letters that other kids write asking for advice such as: what to do if food tastes/sounds icky (say no thank you!) or what to do if your brother is a jerk during your birthday party (don't be a "frankenguest") or how to say hello if you are shy (hola, lola!)... pretty cute stuff. These young actors were totally incredible. The trick to really enjoying these musicals I think is to buy the music. We are so into this new show - playing the cd non-stop just like she did for Pinkalicious. Thanks a bunch - we love you Bebe!

Being more careful.

2011-02-26T16:17:00.000-08:00

You may recall me blogging about bad luck and broken cameras a couple months ago. One camera they were able to fix (for a pretty large fee) and the other (very expensive) camera they were not able to fix at all. It became what they call "a brick". This is what happened to that camera...

Dredging up the past in preparation for the future...

2011-02-26T15:54:00.000-08:00

If all goes well, I will be going here starting in the summer!

What the Frack is up with the WATER?

2011-02-26T10:13:00.000-08:00

I can remember laying in bed at night when I was a kid and before I would fall asleep sometimes I would try to freak myself out. I would think about myself laying in bed and then think about rising up into the sky higher and higher until I was in space and then just stay there in space feeling the enormity of it all until I was truly freaked. These days a darker version of this for me is thinking about Population and now more and more... Water.
s

I have yet to see Gasland but I did watch the trailer and could not believe my eyes when this poor old guy turned on his sink, lit a match and a ball of fire exploded from the tap. Apparently natural gas companies are leasing rights from people to drill into their land and cause explosions that then cause small earthquakes and releases natural gas (a f-ed up process called "fracking") which then gets sucked up for big profit. It's not supposed to affect the drinking water but IT DOES.
This brings me to my next film which I did see last week on my streaming netflix...

Here in Brooklyn our tap water smells and tastes of chlorine. We boil it and it tastes fine. I then put it in a glass pitcher in the fridge. When out and about I often get bottles of water. Well, no more. After seeing Tapped there are so many reasons not to. Now I know that the City of New York probably tests the water up to 300 times a month while the self regulating bottled water industry does virtually none. Then there is the truly mortifying fact that there are giant plastic soup masses that are growing in our oceans.
I can easily not buy anymore water bottles. Having a little kid you kind of resign yourself to lots of plastic crap in your life. But consciously trying to cut back I must. Then there is the packaging of food... What else? YIKES.

Wooly Bully!

2011-02-18T19:49:00.000-08:00

Tired of waiting for the snow to melt we decided to take matters into our own hands. This can only go down between the hours of 9-5 Monday-Fri for our neighor's sake...

Hiding from my seeking and mastering the twisty thing. Playground is going to be fun this year!

Winter Siesta in San Diegooooo!

2011-02-05T20:47:00.000-08:00

What is better than spending 10 days in the sunnylicious sunshine of San Diego with those we love gigantically while everyone freeeeezes their pahtooteys off in NYC?? Nothing! Nothing could have been better than that. Smack dab in the middle of Mac and Emmett's birthdays, we had lots of cousin time while completely and happily immersed in their super crazy busy lives. Lots of trampoline and dollies and pokemon and time spent in the new musical garage and ice cream and yummy foods. A couple of awesome music days and drives to school and playgrounds and zoo (thanks Nana & Mac!) We even made a visit to Grandma Carol and Grandpa Arnie. Matt was around for a lot of it taking time of for us which was so great - and he got that promotion...sweet! The only bummer of the trip was that I only had my camera phone this time and I am never making that mistake again... Here is all the grainy and blurry action:

Look at those faces!

Muggin the man

flower girls on the walk home from plum pottery

this is Your Poke Decks. Silas and Finley together almost every minute.

music just springs up at any time/place

finger knitting with aunt sugar cookie

strumming love

Butterfly Barbie "it's the most beeuoteeful."

Omg that book!

Emmett rocks. truly. Mac kills it with the geetar too.

slurpees!

music day!

that long walk to dog park

emmett makes finley a little crazy - always has.

playing grumpy parents at Chula Vista Nature Center - this pic reminds me so much of Colorado

random flower house beauty

creative boys + stick + string + duct tape = awesome bow and arrow!

"who me compulsively feeding the chickens?"

getting him

Yet to come... Mac's very own chronic silly face post.

Emmett is 10!!

2011-02-03T11:39:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Emmett!! Welcome forever to the double digits - hope you make it to triple!

We love you forever!! It is so fun watching you grow.

She Becomes a Teen!!!

2011-01-16T19:23:00.000-08:00

Happiest of Happy 13th Birthdays to YOU Madeline Jill... We love you and admire you so much. What a cool and magnificent person you are!

What Craig and Finley saw on the air conditioner last night!

2011-01-12T10:50:00.000-08:00

red-tailed hawk! finley said "is it going to eat us?"

Happy New Decade! A year begun in firsts and lasts...

2011-01-06T19:44:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve fireworks over Prospect Park and her first time up on the roooooof!

Last project of the year... out out ugly white table!

oooooo - my favorite paint Aura in "black bean"

First soup of the year. Potato leeeeeeeeek. First thing I made with me new food processor.
Thanks Bebe! That machine makes me feel like a genius.

The rocking chair snowman we made one night who by morning had seen his first and last sunrise:)

The Last Days of 2010

2010-12-31T18:10:00.000-08:00

With a CNN truck and other news trucks rolling through the snowy mess of the hood, Park Slope made a fair amount news this past week with the Christmas blizzard and those missing-in-action snow plows. Craig had a gig and a night straight out of the apocalypse trying to get home. Cars abandoned in the middle of major avenues, endless digging, broken snow shovels and exhaustion. This is all after working until 4am. I am so thankful that he was not injured or worse and that the car was not injured either. I was also thankful all week that I was not among the legion of those poor people trying to get to and from their loved ones during the busiest holiday weekend of the year. Our street was not paved until Wednesday evening! Crazy and ludicrous. The flip side is that the street belonged to the people and that was fun to do and see.

the sidewalks were fine - because... they were shoveled!

this man had a LOT of shovels and he said he used them all

that man way back there is digging out the street himself!

The big bummer is if they would have had a better response everyone could have mostly just enjoyed what was a beautiful, white day-after-and-days-after-that Christmas!

Rosey cheeky so precocious!

on my run the day it started and then 3 days later! I LOVE running in the snow, by the way. Crazy, I know.

One of my favorite parts of the park...

Even the playdough gingerbread men and angels have goose bumps! (her words not mine:)

Lily and Finley exhibiting perfect princess pinkness tonight right before bed...

This was last conversation while falling asleep on the last night of her three year old year, 2010
"Are there any monsters in the world?"
"No." I said.
"Yay!"
"Are there any monsters in the zoo?"
"No." I said.
"Yay! Then there's nothing to be scared of!"

A few seconds later...
"Mama? Why did you call me Fi... Fi... sounds like fish! Can I change my name?"
"Sure, what to?" I said.
"Rocky."

The Photos of Christmas Past

2010-12-30T18:29:00.000-08:00

A wonderful Christmas Eve was spent with Granpops, Bebe and her sister Ann. There were presents bountiful, veggie lasagna plentiful and good feelings abundant. Finley passed out in the car on the way home and didn't wake up until 8:15 Christmas morning!

Santa's helper eating the cookies...

Our neighbor Clara made July a hat and scarf

Croquet! from Uncle Scott & Aunt Deb

Craig relaxing with the girls (and shaving Ken!)

Feeling Festive

2010-12-24T19:32:00.001-08:00

Not in any particular linear type order this is some of the fun we've been having.

the solstice moon out front

school party!

sugar cookie making

present making

Maybe we could live here?

we have LOVED the advent calendar! It made every day festive and special. Thanks again West Coasties.

Bebe, Finley and I went to Macy's one day and then got the haircut and saw Tangled on another...
the last Santa at Macy's who was not sat upon by Finley

not to worry - she got her request in beforehand

she kept asking for real ladybug girl hair...

Merry Christmas to ME - thanks Bebe! She and I had a blast.

One night Sandy, Jeff, Uncle Mitch and Finley and I participated in a caroling/performance art event called "Unsilent Night" where hundreds of people walked from Washington Square park to Tompkins Square park all walking with boomboxes playing tapes and cd's of bells chiming. A walking sea of bells. Finley slept the whole way.

Check out this amazing lunar eclipse photo a friend took last week.

Santa has come and gone and Craig and I are pooped and must get ourselves to bed before she gets up! Merry Christmas to all of you cozy in your beds.

This is our neighbor.

2010-12-17T18:13:00.000-08:00

The song "No You Don't" as reimagined by the world-renowned Ms. Chantez Pudel.
Rob also does all the decorations for our building - every holiday. every year. Have I said I love Park Slope lately?

Christmas time is the best.

2010-12-12T19:11:00.000-08:00

This is Finley's face watching her first Nutcracker at a P.S. 89 in Tribeca. My friend Connie did 163 amazing costumes.... That's me after the Jingle Bell Jog (5miles!) 5,000 people running around the park with bells on their shoes wearing reindeer ears and santa hats. All $ went to needy kids for Xmas. They gave us green bagels:)

Treeeees!

decorations! she had half her stuffed animals in the tree before we could even get the actual decorations out.

giving the tree his baby

with the birthday hat on top it suddenly became the princess xmas tree!

Craig singing some Hebrew - getting our Hanukkah on.

Gingerbread House!!

Heart potatoes!! ?

The dances are getting interesting...

Another look at Perspective from my friend Tom...

2010-12-12T18:54:00.000-08:00

My friend Tom sent this to me in an email. I don't go on my facebook page hardly Ever!, so I don't know if this has gone viral, though it should. Annie, I actually got this the same day you posted your amazing perspective post. Isn't that coo coo?

In Washington DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.
About 4 minutes later:
The violinist received his first dollar. A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.
At 6 minutes:
A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.
At 10 minutes:
A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.
At 45 minutes:
The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.
After 1 hour:
He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.
No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the DC Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

This experiment raised several questions: in a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? If so, do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:
If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . .

How many other things are we missing as we rush through life? This was the end of the email... I want to just add that it immediately made me think of one of my favorite songs For Free by Joni Mitchell.

Finally!!

2010-11-30T06:09:00.000-08:00

I didn't realize how badly we needed this. Craig and I decided the box set will be our Christmas gift to each other. Quality of life is UP.

Homemade Family Christmas Treasures!

2010-11-27T21:50:00.000-08:00

While in Virginia, Uncle George gave us a beautiful wooden Nativity scene that fits sweetly in it's own custom wood box. A treasure... and today we received the Advent/Christmas Countdown calendar made chock full of felty love from the West Coast Dreyers. Thank you guys, we love it and yous!!

Thanksgiving 2010 - Virginia Burgesses

2010-11-27T20:22:00.000-08:00

A great holiday spent with family. A vegetarian feast! Much gratitude felt and shared.
Some highlights...

A painting by Great Aunt Katherine - she studied art in Italy (my grandmother was with her) and is largely why we have painters in our family today. I don't think I would be where I am without her.

Caitlin, Aunt Joan, Connie and Claire

raking leaves in her new boots

Baby July napping in the leaves

big heart just add water

Finley loves Nora (who got the only hug given out:)

Traffic casserole cop

My uncle George is a artist too, with wood...

she is obsessed with croquet

Nora, one of her oldest girl friends Mei and Finley in between hide and seek games

My great grandmother Mary Belle Richardson (your welcome, Scott!)

Finley has finally outgrown Nora's loaner high chair :((( boo hoo.

a last snack in the chair

our block welcoming us home

november mish mash

2010-11-21T11:35:00.000-08:00

the view these days running around park slope

another strange pumpkin in the slope

Some time after I took this picture I carelessly set my camera (the big one) on top of a stack of library books on top of her dresser. Yes, it fell. Yes, my lens was crushed. Yes, yes, I cried like a baby. Yes, it is being repaired for the big $ I don't have. This after a week of a stolen phone AND broken point and shoot. It has sent me on a spiral of - should I just sell it all? It's not like my big photography career is taking off. It took a couple days to breathe and decide that no, I am not selling. Well, maybe but only to save so I can upgrade. I love photography too much. I don't care if it remains a hobby my whole life. That said, I love this picture of Finley and Thomas, The Princesses. I look forward to not making the "death of camera" association when I look at it;)

Funny little iphone pic on the way to school

Tomorrow we drive to Virgina to partake of the thanks with cousins Phebe and Nora, Uncle George and Aunt Joan and others. We will not be blogging and wish everyone a yummy and Thank-Full holiday.

Dream Gig at The Beacon Theater!!

2010-11-13T20:11:00.000-08:00

This year the 30th Annual John Lennon Tribute was a benefit for Playing for Change (who had several performers present and sang "Imagine" - so awesome!!) Craig got the call and I got to go! Here is the write up about it from Rolling Stone. The quality of these videos kind of suck and they are tiny because I was sitting 2nd row balcony and didn't want to be the annoying person with camera phone up in the air in people's faces. The pictures are a little better...

Here he is playing with Taj Mahal!! and Keb Mo - "You Can't Do That"

And here on flute with Jackson Browne "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" (just one little Hey!)

Here is the flute solo at the end. He said that was the hardest part - staying cool and calm in the midst of the excitement and playing a slow, gentle flute solo. He really delivered the goods the whole show.

He also played some flute on "Day in The Life" with Cyndi Lauper and Jackson Browne but the video was no good. Finally we have "Power to the People" with everyone. The sound doesn't get right until about 11 seconds just in time for the sax solo. That's Patti Smith walking across the stage.

There was a lot of sitting around during the two days of rehearsals and gig. He got to hang out and talk with Jackson Browne and Keb Mo and unbelievably had a bite to eat alone with Taj Mahal!! For me the whole night was magic. What a bright star Lennon was, what a great project Playing for Change is, and what a musician our Craig D is!! As Finley says, "Rockin!!"

More and Final Halloween 2010

2010-10-31T18:54:00.000-07:00

This holiday was so much fun this year because Finley's want to dress in costume anyway is just hitting stride. It just kind of feels like everyday is Halloween lately. It's been so fun that I forgot all the other great things that go on. Like the pumpkins (picking, carving and seeds) and trick or treating and the books, the decorations, the parade, and on and on. This year Craig got to be with us for the third year running. I guess it is not a live gig kind of night? Anyway, we are happy - more Craig for us! Finley was going to be several things... A fairy, Ladybug Girl, Snow White, Witch, Dorothy, A princess... The last few days it has only been Ladybug Girl being talked about and I thought we were decided with this:

BUT when it was time to get dressed she wanted Snow White. I know we will probably be Ladybug Girl tomorrow or next Thurs - who knows? I ended up in her witch hat and broom and bought a nose and chin. It's pretty weird to walk down the street and have people recoil from you. Craig had a blast scaring the kiddies in his Wizard from the other Oz. What a hambone - he is all entertainer. My friend DonnaMarie showed up with her new little man Liam, Superman to her Lois. We walked the parade route for a bit and even entered the contest at the last second (beat out by a bottle of champagne??) It was a gorgeous fall day, super crisp but too windy so we made our way back home and handed out candy on the stoop. Neighbors Rob and Phil joined in. Finley had a blast. We all did.

Wizards need Pizza!

she's eating her first box of Dots - those suckers get stuck in your teeth Every time!!

Damn that was scary mask!! Love this picture if I do say so...

Feel strangely sad to see it go. That said, bring on the Save The Turkeys Thanksgiving! (and our one year vegetarian anniversary, I might add...)

Happy Halloween!!

2010-10-31T10:18:00.001-07:00

Fall 2010 Big Fat Post

2010-10-27T09:54:00.000-07:00

Making lots of glitter soup and homemade playdough which is the shiz - hardly dries out even when you leave it out. Finley and I seriously walk around the city wearing lots of stray glitter. In fact, I am wearing some right now.

Note-able moment... Finley's first knot. Here is Murray the dog, all carrolled up at the canteen. Not to be confused with our our actual pet, Murray the cat.

Here is Craig testing Arthur's failing eyesight with the old "how many fingers am I holding up?"

Here we have our new friend Thomas. Nothing like a new friend.

This was the Park Slope Fall Festival which we parlayed into another costume dress rehearsal. Pink Samurai Butterflyface Princess!

Last weekend was Sandy's 40th birthday which we celebrated by doing a zipline tour up in the Catskills. I will add those pictures soon... Flying through trees in a physical but physically unchallenging way (meaning it wasn't exhausting and didn't hurt) was big fun. Aging adventure women! Clearly we have something to prove.

40 grains of rice - not so much! nice perspective... ;)

Jeff & Sandy's in Woodstock

The Pumpkin Patch near Rhinebeck where Fee was born!

There's no place like home!

2010-10-13T09:34:00.001-07:00

We were talking about all the possibilites for Halloween and by the end of the conversation we were fully costumed and sitting outside enjoying the evening air whilst entertaining everyone on their walk home. Even our neighbor Clara got in on the act.

We have a rule in the house, no running from 8 am - 5 pm and on the weekends - trying to be sensitive to the nerves and quality of life of Mr. Daniel, the single, childless man in the apartment directly below us. We rarely see him and when we do he doesn't say much and hurries on his way. He came home from work this day, went inside then came back out and gave Finley a packet of publicity photos from The Wizard of Oz. What a guy. Costumes are total magic. Which brings me to my last point...
Thanks again for the sweet costumes Mac!!

New York City Ballet & Nails with Bebe!!

2010-10-13T07:56:00.000-07:00

Grandpops watched Finley while Bebe and I snuck out on Saturday night to go to The New York City Ballet!! I have only seen a ballet once in my life about 20 years ago and this was so exciting. Lincoln Center, the people, the dancers, the costumes... absolutely thrilling!! I know I spent most of the time with my mouth hanging open in awe. The dances by Balanchine were Chaconne, Concerto Barocco, and Tarantella. But my favorite of the night was the last dance, a modern ballet called Glass Pieces by Jerome Robbins with music by Phillip Glass. It was so good I felt kind of frantic! The only thing that would have made the night better would have been if sister- dancer Annie would have been there. You were definitely missed. Next on my list is some Alvin Ailey!

Sunday Bebe treated us to Finley's first nail salon experience. They whipped out a little pink sink and pink booster seat (they obviously knew who they were dealing with;) She chose one pink hand one pink foot one red hand one purple foot. Bebe got silver and I got gold toes. Granpops met us after for lunch at the "dine-a"...

Thanks guys we love you and always have a good time - you KNOW it!

What was your favorite part? "Playing with Bebe."

Happy Birthday!! Silas Loyal is FOUR!

2010-10-09T06:04:00.000-07:00

Feliz Compleanos!! or Droonkher Tashi Delek!! (Tibetan)OR Mi frester ju!! (in Surinamese)
We hope you have the Best Day - we will always love to celebrate the day you were born! Wish we could be there to party in on down 4 year old style with you guys! We love you Silas!! Big birthday hugs and kisses to you!! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxooxoxxo Here are a few more pictures from our trip. I saved some great ones just for this occasion.
ps how cool is it that you share a birthday with John Lennon!?

Cobbler!!!

2010-10-04T09:19:00.000-07:00

Well it's bye bye to watermelons and popsicles and helloooo cobbler which means I have to crank up the cooking skills... This is a recipe from Simple Foods for Busy Families. The Mix and Match charts are a great way to narrow down the possibilities and help me focus, focus, Focus! Here is what we made and the dish of beauty we made it in that makes it taste that much more like Love... We used gala apples, cinnamon, ginger, lemon juice and a bit of nutmeg, agave, apple juice and corn starch. The topping was whole wheat flour, almonds and sunflower seeds, coconut oil (which they don't have listed in the fat section - big mistake in my opinion), and more agave...
With a little plain or vanilla yogurt or even ice cream if you are feeling dangerous! The book is really worth having as it has mix and match charts for soups, sweet and savory hot cereals, smoothies, quiches, sandwiches, pastas, stews, and salads, salad dressings and marinades. That's a whole lotta help.

Lily & Finley Take Coney Island and more...

2010-09-27T05:57:00.000-07:00

They bravely rode a ton of rides, played some games, ate pizza and ices and swam in the surf fully clothed! It was 85 degrees and a great last hurrah - the tip of the tail of a perfect summer...

Sunday was the bi-annual switching out of the clothes party (that's being positive spin) and today of course my throat is itchy from all the dust. Craig reminded me that I am over 40 now - my health may start to deteriorate;)

Here is Finley having "Music Sunday". Thinking of all you out there in San Diego pickin and a grinnin!

MORE Strange Occurances in The Slope!

2010-09-18T19:49:00.000-07:00

Lily, Finley's friend from school and her Papa met us at the park today. He is training for a 1/2 marathon and I am NOT though I am running - one watches the girls as the other runs around the park. Today when I got back I went to throw something in the garbage when i noticed... my first ever, seen with my own eyes, Praying Mantis! I rescued him from the can and we ooo'd and ahhh'd over him for a minute or two before sending him on his way among the brush. A fascinating creature to be sure, but the way they turn their heads to look at you is SO creepy!

VERY STRANGE! Two cute little girls eating cupcakes!

Last night out the window like nothing had happened...

Then there was this tornado in Finley's room today as well! I tell you, this one took more that a few minutes...

Tornado in the Slope!

2010-09-18T19:13:00.000-07:00

Maybe you have all heard we had a bit of tornado in Park Slope the other night. Of course that is like saying one had a bit of a heart attack... and certainly a little goes a long way when you talk about the long and seemingly pissed off arm of Mother Nature. Thankfully we were all home and not trapped on the street somewhere. We were all in the bedroom right in front of the windows when in started. I have never seen rain pound windows like that nor have I seen that much lightning back to back. It was pretty scary and we had to back away into the living room a few times. It wasn't until today that I learned it actually was a tornado. So bizarre.

Here is some footage I found on youtube in Prospect Park that looks like it was taken right after. The uprooted giant tree is the same one I have a picture of from my run today...

Our Awesome Weekend

2010-09-12T20:19:00.000-07:00

It started on Friday with a truly transformative visit to LuLu's for Finley's first haircut. A couple weeks ago she asked "when do I get to look like Ladybug Girl?" It is very sweet and yes she looks like a really big girl now.
Saturday was the best September 11 since... well, September 11. The day started with a charity walk right here in Prospect Park for ovarian cancer that Finley and I did with Sandy and her work team. Then Craig, Finley and I drove up the Saw Mill "a piece" to Hastings, NY for the Take Me to the River Music Festival where he played with Matt Turk (who just might be the nicest guy in the music business). This was the crunchiest hippie event I have ever been to which means I loved it - SO much fun. Mazes made out of sticks, cardboard box tunnels, lots more than that and not to mention lots of great GREAT music. Most important for me - it was the first time that Finley may remember seeing Papa play. There was face painting done by kids for kids where she got her first ever and I even managed to do a little crafting - a god's eye - a first for me too. Then it was over to Dave and Colleen Hamburger's who live right there in Hastings for some fun with old friends. Home by 2am! which means... we did a whole lot of nothing on today, this rainy Sunday.

Ladybug Girl watching Papa play

Southampton Summer 2010!!

2010-09-09T19:38:00.000-07:00

Grandpops and Bebe rented a sweet little house by the beach for the month of August and we were There, baby! Lots of sun and sand, lots of reading, and food and general family fun. And late night potato chips and ice cream, right Pops? Thanks for sharing and for your generous, adventurous spirits!

Wild child who wore not a lot of clothes and had grass in her toes!

At the beach the day of the hurricane. Bebe looks so sporty!

At the concert in the park - girls day!

A morning with Pop at his fishing hole.

I love this picture. They had so much fun "making them talk"

Here is me trying to take a real portrait of Pop - I like it.

My friends Lauren and Jaime were guests a couple days. Breakfast and paper were so good in that little room.

The living room was a colorful, funny and happy place.

At my friend Kelli's 40th b-day in Montauk with her nephew "Snaggle"

Our last day was Hurricane day. No matter, we saw plenty of good beach days - used more sunscreen in August than my whole life I think. AND I was still brown like a local.

Beach nuts.

Some great memories made here :)

Butterfly 1-2-3!

2010-09-05T06:50:00.000-07:00

Before we went to bed last night I asked her if she wanted to do the video for Annie. You know that usually when asked a direct question lately the answer is a resounding NO but she cheerfully jumped up and said "sure!" and then without any direction did this... Love and miss you Aunt Sugar Cookie!