More California 2011

Butterflies, Ballet and Annie's Birthday!

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!!!

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...

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

American Girl

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!

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

Easter 2011

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!