Sorry about the Vimeo mix up..

that previous post is now fixed!

Click the link here and watch the vids by clicking on the ‘white triangles’ under each to start the video … (yes, I’m breaking it down simple here and hoping it works. It’s worth the effort.)

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This is how we do it…

This is how Jackson Heights does a ‘Family Day’ – with Mr Met of course, and NDI.

Then Zoe (in the brown dress in front) and Ezra (in blue top and plaid shorts behind the gal in denim) joined in on the fun.. Zoe and Ezra have some pretty great ‘spaghetti arms’ and a fabulous finish! Broadway, here we come! (to see larger, click on the link to vimeo here.)

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Get on the Lennon Bus

Ezra’s school had an amazing opportunity to be visited by The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. We were the only school in Queens (and one of only 5 schools in NYC) to get the opportunity to explore the bus which “continues to be dedicated to providing young people with tours of the studios and participation in free songwriting and multimedia production workshops”. With the assistance of three on-board engineers students learn how to write, perform, record, and produce original songs, produce and shoot music videos and documentaries and complete a broadcast quality music video – all in one day!
Our very own councilman Danny Dromm most likely made it all happen (see him posing next to Yoko Ono in the photo below) – and at the end the kids created a peace sign like the one seen in this Manhattan school picture below.

photo from http://www.lennonbus.org

photo from http://www.lennonbus.org

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And then Tessa came to town

The nicest thing about our friends coming in from London (aside from playing all day) is that they force us to look at parts of the city that we haven’t seen in awhile. For example: Chinatown in Manhattan (instead of the one in Queens) and Little Italy. I had no idea there was so much great art painted on the lamp posts and outdoor areas in lower Manhattan lately! And of course we love exposing Tessa to all our favorite eats – including one real close to home at the farmer’s market. We miss you guys already!

a little ice cream from the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

Tostados at the farmer’s market near our house.. yum!

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End-of-summer party at the lake

One weekend evening there was a ‘last hurrah’ of sorts at the lake – where everyone brought a dish for the potluck and bluegrass music entertained the crowd. When everyone pitches in to pick the flowers and create the candle path, it really feels intimate and cozy. The kids took one last dive off the dock with a bit of hesitation – all of us wishing the day at the lake could last forever.

look who was hanging out for dinner

splash!!
(this pic by Greg Kessler)

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Back to the Goshen Fair

Remember this fun place? We were back at it… trying on the amusement park rides and checking out adorable baby pigs (and trying real hard to avoid all the deep fried food in the summer heat.) But we definitely brought home some blue ribbon pies to test!

grampa got someone a little hooked to apple fritters

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Hautboy Hill Farm egg hunting

We had a relaxing weekend with friends in Connecticut again, and had a chance to visit a chicken farm and collect eggs! I was surprised by how patient the chickens were around small kids, and not a single egg broken!

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Wellfleet Mass and Provincetown

There’s nothing like finding new beaches to explore while the summer is still soldiering on. While making our way to the tip of The Cape we explored Cahoon Hollow Beach – and its glorious sand dunes. We then made our way to Provincetown to explore the galleries and eat at the AMAZING Canteen Restaurant. I can’t stop craving their glazed brussels sprouts and fish tacos .. and of course I am always missing New England dishes like scallops, lobster, and stuffed quahogs like my dad use to make. We then finished the day off with a night swim in the pool back at Auntie Betty’s place. Perfect!

lobsta, scallops and stuffed quahog!

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Plimoth Plantation

Ah finally we got to go to a place that I remember so fondly as the ‘school field trip’ location of my youth! When I was young we regularly went here (and to Sturbridge Village) – so often that I felt as if I had both memorized. But a lot has changed since then. It was a hot day, and I’m happy my kids made it through without too much complaint.

We arrived on a day when they had a demonstration of cooking/baking in the 1680s – and they pointed out that since wheat and sugar were rarely plentiful, a cake or ‘butter pie’ like the one seen below was an extra special treat. I was fascinated to learn that part of the reason why people back in England kept rumoring Plimoth as a ‘paradise’ was largely due to the fact that the pilgrims could eat whatever they caught. According to the actors at the site – swan, deer, pheasants etc were game that – when captured back in England – was considered the King’s property and only he could eat it. Who knew? The thought that our country may’ve been started largely based on the culinary boredom of English eaters kind of makes me giggle…

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That time of year again…

Oh man how did my kids get this big already? Public school uniforms and all .. Not to mention that I’m in shock that summer vacation is over, as I still have some summer pics to post and am lagging behind on keeping the blog current with all our summer adventures. Will be back with more summer scenes soon.

Meanwhile, their dad let me talk him into shooting some more professional first-day photos:

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