No more pictures...

On the bus heading to the hotel

... Freddie says as we ride the Magical Express from the airport to Walt Disney World.  

I don't want to miss anything!

Love that boy.  He had so much to take in.

We did mange some photos, so stay tuned.  They'll be up shortly!

See you real soon...

School Boy

• Fewer tears last week.
• Some trouble separating last week, but less than the week before.
• No tears this week.
• Let go of my hand and walked to his classroom after a kiss goodbye today.
• His teacher said he's actually enjoying himself.
• Today he told me he had fun!
• He naps.
• He talks about his teachers and kids from his class quite often.
• Freddie visits, but after a quick hug and a kiss he declares he needs to return to his own classroom and work.
• Hans wasn't too keen on laying down one day last week, so the teacher got Freddie to talk to Hans.  Do you think Hans listened?   Not a chance.  He did get on his cot and go to sleep after Freddie left.
• But tomorrow is a new day, and anything is possible.

How did this happen??

Today I submitted two applications for kindergarten.  We have an appointment in three weeks to tour a kindergarten program.  I have signed up to receive notification of when registration opens for the kindergarten gifted and talented testing.  Kindergarten!!!! 

Today

Hans and his buddy, James

• Crisp fall day
• Warm coffee mug
• Jeans and sweaters
• Kindergarten applications
• Baking banana bread
• Swim team practice
• Beauty and the Beast
• Packing
• School work
• Snuggles
• Friends

Governors Island

Welcome to Governors Island

Saturday we took the train downtown to catch the ferry to Governors Island.  The island is open during the summer months and is accessible only by ferry.  New Yorkers and tourists pack onto the free ferry with bikes and picnic lunches.

The island served as a military base, but it is now a National Monument overseen by the National Park Service.

It's primarily a large green space to get away from the city and enjoy the views.  There aren't any cars, but there are bikes to rent and lots of room to walk and wander.

Plastic bottle sculpture

Currently there's a modern art installment along with a small French "carnival" with beautiful vintage carousels and rides.  The boys enjoyed exploring the art and riding the rides.  Freddie, the carnival expert, wanted something faster but he seemed to enjoy the slow paced rides regardless. Hans LOVED them.

Hans *really* wanted to ride this car, but refuse when another kid got in.  Finally he sucked it up and took a ride.

We took advantage of the several food booths and trucks around the island.  I was able to walk around outside with a cocktail, something I have only been able to do in NOLA!  It was a beautiful day but crowds weren't too bad.  We're used to everything in NYC being packed but with school back in session things seem a bit calmer.

It'll be closing in a couple weeks for the season, but we're already planning a bike trip through Manhattan to the island next summer.

My little Frenchmen

Bisquick Chocolate Chip Cookies

Our flour was low but we had lots of Bisquick, and google landed me in just the right spot.  Freddie and I haven't been in the kitchen together in quite some time so I was happy to be able to get baking with him today when he asked even though the pantry was lacking.

These are ok.  They'll do in a pinch.  Freddie will be pleased to have one in his lunch at school tomorrow.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1cup packed brown sugar
• 1teaspoon vanilla 
• 1 egg
• 2 cups Bisquick
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Beat butter and sugar until smooth.
2. Mix in egg and vanilla.
3. Mix in Bisquick and then chips
4. Bake for 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees.

Science Guy: Xylem and Phloem

Freddie always points out the artificially colored daisies in buckets outside corner bodegas.  We always have a brief chat about how they do not occur in nature like that and have been dyed, but this doesn't sway his opinion of their being the most beautiful of the bunch.  That gave me an idea to color our own daisies, but sadly I can't find white daisies, so we settled for celery. 

Celery ended up being better because it gave us an opportunity to talk about xylem and phloem.

 We observed the celery, especially the leaves, for a few days before slicing it to see the colored tubes.  Science Guy liked this activity quite a bit. 

Representation

He likes to draw and always has a story to tell with his drawing.  He draws lots of dinosaurs and volcanos, and sometimes he "reads' what he has written.  He has been building with purpose for nearly a year:  boats, garages, parking lots.

Today he said "Look at my carousel," and sure enough, I could see a carousel.

Mama Initiation

I'm spending the day washing linens, treating heads, and itching.  Hopefully this initiation into the Real Mamas Club doesn't have a sequel anytime soon.  Or at least until we have a washer and dryer in our home. 

Heart

We watched Free Willy this week, or what I thought was Free Willy.  Turns out is was a spin off of the original movie, but a similar storyline with an orca being reunited with his pod.  Both boys were glued to the screen the entire time as usual, but I can never really tell if they are fulling understanding the plot.  When the crew in the boat located the pod to release the whale, Freddie leaped to his feet and screamed "Willy's Mama!"  He then grabbed onto me and squeezed tightly as tears ran down his cheeks.  Hansie fetched us both some tissue and we all snuggled up for the rest of the film.  He's sensitive, that Freddie, but also so brave that it is easy to forget who he really is in there. 

Lovin'

• Waffles in Central Park
• Sunshine with my boys
• Fall creeping in
• Tales of conquering the monkey bars
• Sleeping 6+ hours straight
• New quilts
• Alone time
• Planning for pumpkin recipes
• Disney planning
• Academic readings

Science Guy: The Any Farm

Ant observation over cinnamon toast breakfast

The ant farm is up and running.  All of us love watching the ants at work.  It is so interesting.  There's no queen so this will only last about 3 weeks but I think we'll have to find another batch of ants to set up shop.  Both boys visit the ant farm several times a day and just watch for extended periods of time.

Thankfully the batch of ants consists of only 12-15 workers because I still fear the little caps on the ends, meant to connect multiple farms, will mysteriously disappear and we'll end up with guests at the table for breakfast.  It hasn't been a problem but there's still time for anything to happen.

I've loved having the farm.  It's provided lots of opportunities to look up facts about ants and make observations and predictions.

Mama's day off... (Funny, right?)

Now that the boys are in school together two days I week I have quickly jumped on board with all the moms that stay at home all day.  I've joined the ranks of ladies who lunch, and have made pedicure appointments, stocked up on bonbons, and plan on making long relaxing trips to Target in my yoga clothes.

Sadly none of that can happen until the laundry is done, toilets are sparkling, tubs are clean, clothes are folded, linens are changed, floors are mopped, meals are prepared, and 12 hours of graduate coursework completed.  So yeah, those bonbons aren't going disappearing very quickly.

The majority of my time is going to be devoted to a graduate class I am taking to help ease me back into the professional world.  I also hope to manage to workout during daylight hours in the sunshine and fresh air rather than waking at 4.45am and turning on the treadmill.  Best part of the deal...I am going to have a weekly lunch date with my husband!