MOVIE TIME

It has been so miserably, blisteringly, meltingly hot in New York the past couple of weeks that on Friday I couldn't even muster up the energy to take Roan to the pool.  Everyone in this city is fed up and cranky, myself included. 

I had been suggesting to Roan all week that we go to the movies but I think I freaked him out when describing what a movie theatre was like.  I think he thought that rather than watching Despicable Me 2 we were, in fact, going to the main villainous characters house.  Funny when you realize how difficult it is to describe something so familiar to onesself.  

Finally on Friday he took the bait when our neighbor Claire offered to join us.  We went to a giant multiplex in downtown Brooklyn.  Roan squirmed in my lap for the first half hour but I think mostly because the movie was so damn loud.  I am not sure who decides on decibels for films but I can only imagine that they are suffering from significant hearing loss.

The movie was pants (Scottish for "it sucked")  Why why why does Hollywood insist on recycling the exact same archetypes and gender roles and story lines in every kids movie?  Seriously the structure was pretty much a g rated version of any James Bond plot.

ANYhow, Roan enjoyed it and apart from a trip out for a pee and popcorn managed to stay put the whole time.  After we took this little photo booth memento.

ROAN IN FLIGHT

Roan on the biggest bouncy castle I've ever seen!  It had 2 levels and, I swear, was bigger than our apartment.

Photo Courtesy of Sam

BESTIES

I think it's safe to say that Roan officially has his first best friend, his classmate Suraiya.  Today is Suraiya's third birthday.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY SURAIYA!!!

I would like to think that his best friend is a girl thanks to Lula and the fact that he shared the womb with a little girl.  Perhaps he will always want to have the good influence of a female companion  around because of Lu.  However, in reality I think he found the prettiest girl in class and discovered she was every bit as rambunctious as him and that was that.  These two are partners in crime.  Let's just say that Tasneem (Suraiya's mom) and I are no longer letting them go unescorted into another room and leave it at that.

They ask after each other every day and look for each other first when going to the playground.  Last night I got a text from Tasneem that said "Suraiya just said she loves Roan.  Let's just plan the wedding now".  SO CUTE!  Although I think they are a bit more Bonnie and Clyde than Wills and Kate.

Here's Suraiya.  I know, right? 

Monkey see monkey do

Free music and hula hooping

Don't ask

Cuddle!

Suraiya sat here and Roan kept bringing her things to eat

There's a lot of snacking with these two

First and last time they had chocolate ice cream cones before bedtime

They are pretty much always right next to each other

Even with other kids around (with Oliver and Nico)

My guitar for your bubbles?

Note the matching gold sandals

SPRAY IT DON'T SAY IT

This is something that all NYC playground rats must learn how to do sooner or later.  It is essential to fending of advancing troops in water balloon fights and to staying cool in general. Roan has been watching the big kids techniques for some weeks now and is perfecting his method.  

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