COOP SCHOOL STYLE

Today is Roan's last day of school for the year, his last day as a ladybug.  There have been some ups and downs for him (and us) in his very first year as a student but I think in the end the Coop School has been an absolutely amazing community for us to be a part of as a family. 

It's also seriously the hippest, coolest group I've ever been a part of.  The expression "too cool for school"  is totally irrelevant in these parts.  Check out this video that fellow Coop School parents produced on school style. Roan isn't in it but many of his friends are.

http://vimeo.com/67880905

ROAN AND CHARLIE ARE THREE

Excuse the lateness of my birthday posting but Sam and I were yet again the victims of a vicious 24-hour stomach virus (me on my birthday, no less) and it's taken us a minute to get back on our feet. 

The weekend before last we threw a joint birthday party for Roan and his buddy Charlie since they were born only 3 days apart.  Roan, Lula, and Charlie all had their first birthday party together and they were all due on the same day so I will always think of them as being sort of siblings. 

We got really lucky with the weather and decided to have the party in the playground directly across the street from our apartment.

The theme was robots.  We went to town with that - it's so much fun because you can make robots out of literally any old thing you have lying around your house.  Robots rule!

Fruitbot

Sam made this.  Those are circuit boards on their chests.

Sam also made a rocket ship. Showing off, as usual.

Elizabeth and her mom made the best party bags!

My favorite part, however, was that Delores, she of Toddlers Songtime, who is one of my mom's closest and longest friends, provided the entertainment.  She is a marvel to watch.  First of all she remembered every single kids' name there after asking their name only once!  How? How does someone do that? Second of all it was extra special to me because she also performed at my third birthday. 

I got my mom to dig up a picture:

Delores (I'm in blue with the pink lei) circa 1979

She has the same captivating energy and goofiness.  And the same wicker basket for her instruments (now with packing tape all over it)!

The kids were pretty much spellbound for a good 45 minutes, and the whole thing ended with a musical birthday parade finale:

To top it all off Charlie's mom Elizabeth made the most unbelievable cakes (and she has a 6 week old baby.  AND I already got a thank you note from her for hosting the party.  Martha Stewart, you're on notice!)

We had such a blast.  We had an after party that was supposed to be more for the adults but the kids were having such a good time that we wound up letting a bunch of them play basketball until 1:00am!!!! I don't know what we were thinking except they were all being so well behaved and the adults were content so why rock the boat?

FAMILY RESEMBLANCE

Just sayin'...

'Scuze the dirty face and fingers!  Photo within the photo Courtesy of Granny Joss

VERMONT YEAR TWO

Back we went to our sweet spot in Vermont for early June. 

We avoided all highways and drove straight up sleepy Route 22.  Hard to believe that any road connected to New York City  (via the Hutch) could possibly feel so easygoing.  

A little of topic, but while on Route 22 we drove past an immense stretch of abandoned buildings that looked like the setting for every horror movie ever made. I looked it up later and for 70 years it was the Harlem Valley Psychiatric Hospital.  I was totally transfixed as we drove by.

Anyhow, moving on. We stopped here for lunch.

Here we are.  Aaaaaaand relax.

This time our friends Ben and Ali and their little ones Charles and Cecily joined us along with Cecelia, Jason and Bo, who was there last year but in utero.

View of the house from my feet

Commando swimming

Gracie and Wally jumped in immediately

Cecily

Ali, Cecily, and Charles

Breakfast

Jason and Bo

Charles and Roan

Bo!

Cecily was so taken with Bo

Sam is quite taken with Cecily

Sunbathing

There were lots of story times and a bit of couch lounging.

Sunday it rained for a bit, but really for only an hour or two, and it was still warm so no one was too bothered.  The chefs prevailed making steaks, and even the fishing was successful.  And then, ridiculously on cue, we got a rainbow for our troubles.

Obligatory dad uniform

This little guy went back in

Fishing in the rain

I mean, come on, right?

Us

Monday was perfection. Apparently Brooklyn was roasting, but Vermont was delightful.  The water was actually pretty warm, especially for this time of year.

Cecelia with Hat

Jason with Dog

Boys

Bug

Bo and Cecelia

Cecelia and I

Bo and I were really into our hats

I can't believe it took us 2 whole days to get there but we went for ice cream at Wahoo's Eatery one day, and then the next day Cecelia and Jason discovered the Creemee Stand which was a little slice of ice cream heaven.  It was like the ice cream stand that time forgot.  There really is nothing more nostalgic than an ice cream stand, but this place was so adorable and it had the most incredible ice cream.

It seemed like the locals all knew that this was the spot

A baby cone.  50 cents!

Roan waits patiently

Roan has a penchant for chocolate with rainbow sprinkles

First of all Cecelia and I look like we are auditioning for Grey Gardens here.  Second, we had Peanut Butter Sundaes.  So delicious but I really thought I was going to barf after.

The dogs are totally in their element here.  I think they remembered it from last year.

Baby bath!

She's 10 years old and she swam for hours.  Not bad for an old lady!

Roan, I fear, is really meant to be a country boy.  I mean, what is this kid doing in the city?

One of his favorite activities was peeing outdoors.  By the second day he was like the dogs, he would just run outside every time he had to pee.  Liberating, I guess.  The only thing that might have topped it was getting a ride on a lawn mower.

Sigh, five days flies by, but we all felt so gloriously relaxed.  We drove back down 22 and found this organic farm with these wonderful animal diagrams.  They definitely don't make it any easier to eat meat because they are so cute.

We all had such an effortless blast, it's hard to justify living in the city after weeks like this.  But then I need a bagel, so it was back to Brooklyn.