Right Now

We headed down to the river for the free soccer class we've been
attending for the last month. Only to find out that last week was the last
session (which we missed). But we are loving the free, unstructured
play and the fantastic breeze.
This unplanned "chill" time is exactly what we needed.

Summer Streets 2011: week one

Summer Streets is right up there with blueberry picking and Florida in February.  I love it!  This is it's 4th year.  It occurs the first 3 Saturdays every August (it's only from 7am-1pm).  I think we've gone to it every single time.  And I still love it!

Last Saturday we didn't have our bikes (they are in storage in Connecticut) but we still did a part of it (E 23rd St to Spring St).  Brian rode his Dahon and I jogged pushing the kids in the stroller.  Isabella scooted some of the time and sat on the back of Brian's bike the rest of the time.  We had a great time.  But I am dreaming of biking the whole thing soon!

New Yorkers: even if you don't have bikes you should still got to at least part of it.  It is so fun to see the city from a whole new perspective (bring the camera). Whole Foods sponsors a block party with tons of free, yummy, organic food at E 24th & Park Ave.  (Seriously, you can walk away with a weeks worth of Stonyfield yogurt, Organic Valley cheese, Odwalla juices, etc.)  Other fun places to go: through the tunnel around Grand Central and on Spring St & Lafayette (there is a lot of fun stuff as well).  Here's the route map.

Every year I dream about how I could saddle up all the kids and take them on frequent bike rides.  We came across the Adams Trail-a-bike Tandem (super cool) last Saturday.  And I still love the Zigo that I first saw last year!

Cow milking by Organic Valley.  I got to tell my kids about how when I was little my daddy taught me how to milk a real cow.  (Thanks Dad!)

Free Ciao Bella gelato. 

Say, "gelato"!

Why I don't fold laundry anymore...

This morning I was reminded why I always fold laundry late at night, while the children are sleeping.

Unique New York

I'm grateful for good subway & street performers.  When they make good music it makes this city even more fun to live in!

Simon's New Skillz

Simon might be my busiest baby yet.

Friday Fun

On Friday, after all naps were done and accounted for we walked down to midtown to meet Brian.

Brian off work early + perfect weather = the most beautiful evening in the city

Stopping by Columbus Circle for a jump in the fountains. 

Isabella, "I like Times Square."
Me, "It's a fun place, isn't it?"
Isabella, "Mom, I knew this was Times Square!"
(In the last week she's developed a strong sense of places/areas in the city.  I'm amazed.)

Feeding pigeons in TriBeCa.

Enjoying the sunset and green grass in Battery Park.  The kids ran and ran and then rolled and rolled all over this lawn.

Not pictured: Dinner at Max Restaurant.  We found them via yelp, and I'm so glad we did.  The gnocchi alla sorrentina (homemade gnocchi w/tomato sauce, mozzarella & basil) was so soft and tender.  The spaghetti alla chitarra (lamb ragu over homemade spaghetti) was fantastic.  And the insalata di finocchio fresco (fennel salad w/parmigiano & balsamic vinegar) was so fresh, simple and delicious.  (We made the same fennel salad Sunday night.  It will make a regular appearance on our table now.)

Also not pictured: We walked almost all the way home along the Hudson River.  It was such a beautiful, perfect night.  The big kids slept in the stroller, Simon slept in the ergo.  We all slept extremely well once we were home and tucked in bed around 11pm.

Hired Help

Over the past year I've been going through an internal debate of how to handle "chores" with Isabella.  She use to always put the clean silverware away but at one point she stopped and I started nagging and tossing out threats and it was no good.  That's not how I want to run a home.

Then we had a standard morning routine where there was a list on the wall with a handful of things she needed to get done every morning (like get dressed, make bed, etc.).  It worked well for a week.  But one morning Isabella said, "I don't like doing the list.  I like it when you just ask me."  (Part of the issue was she felt like those things had to be done in the exact order as the list.  When things would mess up the order--like Oliver still sleeping in the room--she would get frustrated.)  Once that routine stopped working she no longer had chores.  And I was thinking I was failing as a mom.  Not teaching her the value of hard work and contributing to our home.

I asked some friends (moms I love and adore) for their advice.  One friend told me Isabella helps around the house and with the boys all the time! She encouraged me to just look at all Isabella does in our home.  It's amazing what those few words from my friend did.  I began seeing so much more.  Isabella loves helping all the time!  It was such a relief.  Isabella is contributing to our home and working hard; I just had to change my perspective.

But in the last few weeks Isabella has been consistently begging asking for some of her own money.  I didn't feel like just handing over some dough.  (That's definitely not a habit I want to get into.)  On the other hand, I was conflicted about getting into the habit of paying her to help around the house, since I feel she should contribute to our home, because a home is all of us working together, not because she will be paid.

I reminded myself, "Kiasa, it's not an all-or-nothing situation!"  (Yes, I have to yell these things to myself sometimes.)  If I pay her for a few things I don't have to pay her every single time she does something!  When I got that into my tired brain I relaxed.  Then I drew a super quick, simple list for her, showing her how many quarters she would receive by doing each one, gave her a sponge and a squirt bottle with water.  And she got busy.

I love that she added/drew the fridge.

She worked so hard for over an hour.  I was so impressed.  And she loved it!

The most surprising part was the huge sense of relief I felt.  It felt so good to have some extra help.  As she worked, I supervised and taught her.  And then I worked hard too.  Her excitement and dedication was contagious and motivating for me.  The house was so clean after about an hour.  It was the best $2.25 I ever spent.

The list is now in the garbage.  It worked and was fun for the time.  We might use something similar in the future, but I'm not planning on making a habit out of it.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by my favorite blog: SouleMama

Attitude of Gratitude

I'm grateful for my ergo carrier.  I've carried each of my babies in it for a good portion of their baby-hood.  My busy, active life in New York City is possible (and enjoyable) because of my ergo.  It is worn, tattered, and quite faded, but I still use it almost every day.  If it isn't strapped on me, it is stashed in the stroller.  I love it!

I'm about 5 months pregnant with Simon and comfortably carrying Oliver...in Maine.

Isabella (age 3 1/2) asleep on Brian's back in Savannah.

I wish I had asked a stranger to take my photo while travelling all over the western U.S. last September.  I was 7 months pregnant with Simon, carried Oliver (16 mos) on my back in the ergo, pushed Isabella 4 years old in the stroller, and I pulled 2 suitcases with 2 car seats attached.  It was quite amazing.

If there is ever a disaster in NYC and I have to get us out without the use of the stroller I've already figured that out: Simon on the front in the moby (thank you Kristen), Oliver on my back in the ergo, and (if completely necessary) Isabella on my hip.

I love that whenever I strap on the ergo Oliver asks to ride in it.  I love carrying my babies!

Why I almost bought a new toaster...

Our trusty old toaster was on the fritz.  I was ready to buy a new one when I found the culprit.  

Who put a duplo in my toaster?!

Attitude of Gratitude

Right now I'm extremely grateful for fun kids apps on iPads and mess
free ways to feed my kids breakfast of the go. The app is Peek-a-boo;
Oliver's favorite right now. And we love the Trader Joe's carrot
applesauce squeezers.

We are headed to Connecticut (via MegaBus) to pick my years supply of
blueberries.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by my favorite blog: SouleMama

One of those days.

Do you ever have one of those days when nothing seems to go right?
...when your patience is thin?
...when your stress is high?
...when accomplishing something (anything!) feels impossible?
...when you are so tired you fall asleep reading Moo, Baa, La La La?

Well, I had one of those days today.  It was a doozy.

Do you know what the best medicine is for one of those days?

Holding this guy.

Gently pressing my fingertips into his very ticklish back

'til he squeals with delight.

And remembering this is why I love my job so much.

Right Now

Enjoying a beautiful day at the Bronx Zoo.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by my favorite blog: SouleMama