Let's Go Mets!

John's first MLB game and our first visit to Citi Field. 

James said this was the "best hotdog ever." (I don't know about that, but I'm sure it was the priciest hotdog ever.)

The Family that Landscapes Together...

Bowling

Today was our second week of rec league bowling. Let me just say, upon arriving home afterwards I had opened a beer before I even set the diaper bag down. Yep. 

Here's the thing. You have a team of four five-year-old boys. So they chase each other around. And play with the balls and ball return machine. Constantly. And yes, of course, every adult is telling them to cut it out as we don't want any finger amputations or what not. And they need constant reminders that it's their turn. And that it's still their turn. 

They play two games, and let me tell you, the last three frames of the second game seemed to last forever. 

Did I mention that this is happening from 4:00-5:15? Yes, the "witching hour."

Oh! Then there's John. In a building full of what? His favorite thing in the whole world... Balls! But these are all heavy and dangerous. So he's mad that I won't let him play with them. And he's running around. And heading toward the lanes. And thieving other people's food (even though he'd already had a soft pretzel AND a squeezy fruit-veggies-grains pouch). 

Exhausting. 

But James likes it. It's actually fun. And those boys chant each other's names and throw their bowling balls in the funniest ways. It really is a good time. 

A boy and his toys

 John and I are just hanging out, enjoying the gorgeous day before we have to go pick up James from school. 

John insisted we go out to "play!"

He gathered these three items from the garage before heading out: a bouncy ball, and empty giant bubble wand, and a play pitcher (from my childhood).  

He has run around the yard/driveway/street, gone up and down the slide, and chilled at the firepit (no midday fire, in case you're wondering).  All with his items. 

Kinderkicker!

Today was James's first day of recreational sports! He's playing Kinderkicker soccer which is for kindergarteners (duh) and is clinic/fun based. Every kid has a ball, and there aren't teams. There are hundreds of kids and an army of volunteer parent coaches. James had a great time, and John had a ball as well. Truly, he chased down other younger siblings who had their own soccer balls. He'd take the ball and dribble it down the field. Dan asked, "How does he just know what to do?" It was impressive.

We were so impressed with James too. He listened well and really worked up a sweat! He also had a super fun time with his pal Sophie (whom he'd met during swim lessons at the pool in July; she goes to his school).

Renaissance Faire

Yesterday we closed out summer by venturing to the New York Renaissance Faire. James, as we'd predicted, was enchanted. As we walked from the parking lot, through the woods and over the hill to the fair, James said, "I think we're traveling back in time."

There were many people in costume, and it seems some people have a loose interpretation of the Renaissance. There were many elf ears, horns sprouting from head(band)s, tails, belly dancing skirts, dragons, kilts, suits of armor, wench-dresses, combinations of the above,...

Fascinating!

We had lots of fun though- caught an amazing magic show, a live-action Robin Hood-themed chess match, a jousting competition, a trapeze routine, the dungeon museum, a ride on a flying dragon, a turkey leg, some dragon chips, mead,...

This evening James created some armor for himself. I think yesterday made an impression!

First Day of Kindergarten (pt. 2)

James came out of school with a big smile! He told me a bit about his day as we walked home-- he got to see his teacher feed the class fish, they got to sit wherever they wanted to on the rug, they were assigned seats at the "working tables" (his table has all boys; there are ten boys and five girls in the class), there are three children who didn't listen (a girl got out of her seat when a different table was called, and two boys didn't put their pencils down when the teacher said to do so-- James is quite the policeman, eh?), they saw Mr. Parcells as they were leaving. That's about it. Throughout the day I got more snippets-- they played on the new caterpillar playground, they drew self portraits, there were fish decorations everywhere and a big whale on the door that says "Make a Splash in Kindergarten!" 

Once home, we had a quick lunch then stopped by Grandma & Grandpa's house to take a First Day of Kindergarten photo in the same tree where Daddy had taken a photo on his first day of kindergarten. Then it was off to swim class!

Today was James's first lesson at the Ray level, and he did great! They worked on side breathing. His instructor is fantastic. 

Next it was off to Planet Swirl for celebratory fro-yo, then we hit the playground for an hour or so (to burn off the sugar). Both boys had a ball. 

Tomorrow will be his first lunch in the cafeteria as he'll stay the full day for his first day of Wrap-Around Kindergarten. So exciting!

First Day of Kindergarten (pt 1)

James is off to kindergarten this morn. He practically skipped, hopped and jogged all the way there! (It's so nice to live within walking distance, especially on the first day when the parental paparazzi make for quite the traffic situation!)

We found his teacher's line, and he excitedly greeted his friends. (So glad he went to preschool there last year-- our goal of lessening the number of transitions while also giving him an opportunity to meet kids in town and get to know his school certainly was a success.)

Soon enough the teachers came out, and the lines of kindergarteners filed into the building. I'm not going to lie-- I got a bit teary-eyed. Sure, partly because my cutie is growing up, but also because I'm so grateful to have been there to see him off this morning. Next year, I'll be back to "working (outside the home) mom" status, and may very well be welcoming my own students to school as James heads in the door to first grade... Cherishing every moment this year!

James's (current) Favorite Book

About a month ago, James asked me about Charlotte's Web after having read about it in a Horrible Harry book. We were headed to the library the next morning (for a music class for John), so I assured him we'd look for it. 

We got to the library in time to find and check out Charlotte's Web before John's class began. James curled up with his book while Mommy and John joined the other toddlers for singing and dancing. 

He basically didn't put the book down until he'd finished it a few hours later. Then he started reading it again. 

Since then, we've watched two DVDs (the Hanna Barbara animated version and the Dakota Fanning as Fern live-action movie), re-read the book a few more times, done Charlotte's Web-inspired sidewalk chalk, visited a farm, and generally fallen in love with pigs and spiders. 

Oddly, this almost-vegetarian boy still professes his love of pork. He happily gobbled up some bacon yesterday remarking, "I hope this isn't Wilbur." 

here James admires the spiders' webs on the barn