Archive for the “Holidays” Category
Mother’s Day 2011
I was a little sad this mother’s day because it’s the first year we didn’t go to Sayen Gardens, which had been our mother’s day tradition since Natalie was a baby. I only let myself be sad about missing the azaleas for a little while, then we decided to make a new Brooklyn tradition: a visit to Brooklyn Bridge Park! It was a bit of a trek to get there by subway—mostly because Natalie wanted to ride her bike, which meant that we had to carry the bike, plus Miranda and the stroller up and down the subway stairs. And also because before we got on the subway we walked down to S’nice, our favorite vegetarian cafe on 3rd street. Natalie did a lot of good practicing riding her bike and the girls were totally engaged by the park. And we didn’t even go to the playgrounds! A lovely Mother’s Day indeed.
Throwing Rocks
Daddy holds Miranda back
"Look where we live!"
Under the Manhattan Bridge
Mama and her girls
Ice cream under the Brooklyn bridge!
Under the Brooklyn Bridge
It’s not always a love fest… 
Happier with Mama 
“I’m so lovable!” 
Clapping for love! 
Our 4-year-old Valentine 
Finally, some sisterly love! Halloween 2010
Halloween this year was special for a few reasons: it was Miranda’s first Halloween, Natalie’s first time trick-or-treating, and our first holiday in Brooklyn! I know, it seems late for Natalie to be trick-or-treating for the first time. But last year was the first year that we would have let her eat the candy anyway, and it rained. She’s always had a lot of fun giving out candy, and this year she had a blast collecting candy like a big girl.
Trick-or-treating in Brooklyn is a lot different than in the suburbs. In a lot of ways, it’s easier, because people sit out on their stoops to hand out candy. There is no walking up to the door, no ringing of doorbells, and no waiting for people to come to the door. In some ways, walking down the street and collecting candy from people already sitting outside feels like cheating. But the nice thing about trick-or-treating city-style is that walking down the block feels like being at one huge Halloween party! And Natalie still got to proudly say “trick-or-treat!” and “thank you!” to many, many neighbors this Halloween. By the end of two blocks, she was very excited and proud of her full bag of loot.
Miranda rode in the mei tai so everyone could see her wings. It turned out to be a very good decision because the sidewalks were so crowded that maneuvering a stroller would have been very difficult. After a little nap, she seemed to enjoy watching all the activity and colorful costumes. She’ll get to fully participate in Halloween soon enough—I’m betting that we won’t be able to keep her from eating candy for as long as we held Natalie off.
Here are the pictures of our Halloween festivities, from carving pumpkins with Aunt Kary and Uncle David, to trick-or-treating with Natalie’s good buddy Josie.
Miranda wants to help, too! Look in the lower left-hand corner!
Natalie helping scoop out the pumpkin
Scary faces!
Meta Pumpkin
Post-carving bedtime story
Halloween in Brooklyn!
“Let’s go!” Off and ready for trick-or-treating
Mei tai bug
Trick-or-treator
Waiting their turn in the crowd
Trick-or-treating!
Lady Liberty and Flower Fairy So proud of all their loot!