Big City Mom

Addicted to Animoto

2011-06-18T10:08:00.001-07:00

Even though you're here, I'm there....

2011-02-25T19:51:00.001-08:00

I don't blog here much anymore, but sometimes I leave comments around the blogosphere when I'm logged-in to this account. If you want to visit my new blog, it's www.RandomHandprints.com.
I wish I was still a Big City Mom, but I'm not. I'm Suburban Mom, and that url was already taken.
I tried being Not So Big City Mom, but it didn't take. So, now, I'm just Random Handprints.

Happy Hanukkah!

2010-12-01T10:40:00.000-08:00

Photo from the very inspired A Design Affair.

I'm in the New York Post today!

2010-10-29T07:05:00.000-07:00

Not Page Six, but still fun. My thoughts about girls' Halloween costumes are at the end of Would you let your child trick or treat in this?

How 'bout you? Should kid's costumes be more Amish Grandma or Hoochie Mama?

Ladybugs

2010-10-28T19:50:00.001-07:00

My lil' pumpkins

2010-10-27T20:03:00.000-07:00

Who wore it better?

Picture Day

2010-10-20T17:31:00.000-07:00

Let me set the scene:

It's a beautiful day, fall leaves perfectly changing color, blue sky, a slight wind. My daughters, because it was Picture Day at school, our well-attired, beautifully coiffed, a vision. I say, "Let's take a photo by the tree with all the red and orange leaves. It'll look so great!" They groan. They agree to take photos separately. I take them, they look as lovely as I had hoped.

"Now, let me just take one of you two together!" They protest. I take it anyway. And this, is what I get:

Go Phillies!

2010-10-06T18:49:00.001-07:00

FYI: Just in case you're wondering, this photo is from October 2009. Unlike his mom, Aaron is not ageless.

From the summer - Happy Birthday Aaron!

2010-09-30T19:02:00.000-07:00

The first in a series of summer events that I was unable to document due to my blogcation.

Baby turns one!

Gwizzly Bear!

2010-09-29T18:15:00.001-07:00

The kids have started calling me Gwizzly Bear!!! at particularly high decibels. I'm not sure why, but I admit that it is a nice mix of totally annoying and completely endearing.

Howevs... if they are going to keep this up the least they can do is get me this shirt:

Tomorrow is Labor Day. . .

2010-09-05T18:47:00.000-07:00

. . . and that means my blogcation is over! So ready your online bookmarks for the posts to return!
Until then, I'm going to enjoy this last day of summer vacation having the perfect mother-daughter day with my son. First we dressed-up and did each other's hair, then a little shopping, followed by a spa lunch of raspberries and grilled chicken with a side of cous cous. A little time in the backyard lying in the sun, and then back inside to the couch where we ate an entire cherry pie while watching the Real Housewives of New Jersey marathon.

Happy Summer Vacation to Me!

2010-07-16T06:54:00.001-07:00

Big City Mom is taking her first ever blog-cation and will be back in the fall. I'm going to enjoy the rest of my summer and take a break from blogging - and by enjoy I mean completing a inter-state move with three small kids and visiting my ailing father in the hospital. Anyway, I'll miss my usual blogifications but will look forward to posting again when things are a little more settled down.
In the meantime, read Edamames in the Pod. It's pretty much everything I'd want my blog to be, and more.
And have a happy summer!

We're Moving to the Garden State!

2010-06-21T15:07:00.000-07:00

That's right, Big City Mom and her family are headed to New Jersey. Just when you thought we couldn't get any less Big City then living in Westchester, we really up our un-City-ness by moving to Jersey. (In terms of miles from Manhattan, the new house is about the same as our current one).

For those of you unaccustomed to finding out major Big City Mom news via Blog, my apologizes.

For those of you used to it, my apologizes just the same.

End of the School Year Melancholy

2010-06-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

The end of the school year always makes me sad in a schmaltzy, sentimental way. Which is hilarious, since I tend to hate everything about my role in the kids schooling. I hate the driving back-n-forth in the ridiculous traffic and pick-up lines. I hate the whole being-on-a-schedule and must-be-on-time thing. I hate making lunch day in and day out. And most of all, I hate having to nag Molly to do her homework.

But with a mere few days left, it's as if I'm someone else. It's as if I loved everything about school. I can't believe tomorrow is my last Friday Volunteer day in Kelly's class! I can't believe Molly will never, ever bring home another first grade art project! And what I really can't believe is that this fall I will have a Kindergartner and a Second-grader.

I know this is hardly an original thought, but it is so true, they really do grow-up so fast.

Baby Aaron eats his first solid food.

2010-05-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

That's right, at dinner tonight (technically, this afternoon - we dine early) Aaron ate his first solid food. I'd been meaning to give him something he could pick-up with his own little hands for a few weeks now, but hadn't gotten around to going to the store and getting him anything suitable for baby's first meal yet.

But today - finally - I had time to go to the local health food store and get him some nice low-salt Oatios for his first meal. Followed by gluten-free, sodium-free mini bears. Mmmm.

Eat-up baby, it only gets better from here.

I have a new blog.

2010-05-08T19:19:00.000-07:00

It's called Random Handprints, and it's at http://randomhandprints.blogspot.com. I'll still be posting pictures of the kids and random stories here at BCM, but most of the blogging will now be at the new, non-geographical-specific Random Handprints address. Hope to see you there!

Big Day for the Kaby

2010-05-05T18:10:00.000-07:00

Kelly gets her first library card!

It is also makes a nifty eye patch:
Or, if the mood strikes,

An equally adorable ear patch:

Happy Lag B'omer! Happy Birthday Jewish Mysticism!

2010-05-03T18:59:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are not familiar with this (very fun) Jewish holiday, it was yesterday. Lag B'omer commemorates the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer, and is also known as the birthday of Jewish mysticism.

To celebrate, we went to a really great party hosted by the local Chabad chapter here in Larchmont. We jumped in the bouncy castle, ate yummy barbecue, sang songs, shot bows n' arrows (a Lag B'omer tradition, who knew?) and flew kites.

The best part, besides seeing lots of friends and hearing updates about many of our beloved morahs at the Chabad Early Learning Center, was watching Molly stick to the giant velcro wall:

For those who are interested in learning more about the holiday, here is info from the Chabad.org website:

Lag B'omer is the thirty-third day of the Omer, a minor festival falling between Passover and Shavuot, commemorating the end of a plague which killed thousands of Rabbi Akiva’s students; also the yahrzeit of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar.

If you don't know what the The Omer Count is, click here and all will be revealed.

Guest Blogger at Big City Mom - Welcome Sarah!

2010-04-06T18:12:00.001-07:00

This post is from the very talented and optimistic photographer, Sarah Sloboda. Sarah shares her tips with us for getting the best photos of the little ones this springtime:

Spring is the perfect time to experiment with photography because you can get outside and enjoy the sunshine, the kids can run rampant, and you can turn off the flash and take advantage of the natural light. Some of my favorite places to shoot in New York City are listed below - I recommend letting the kids run free, and experimenting with the direction of the sunlight and backdrops.
1. Brooklyn Bridge Park – There are lots of trees and buildings and bridges, so whatever your pleasure - urban backdrop or greenery - you'll find something here. Plus you can reward the kids with a walk over to the playground when you're done.
2. The High Line – The High Line boasts an awesome stroll for you, and tons of interesting things for kids to occupy themselves with while you frame the perfect shot.
3. Roof decks – Take advantage of your building's (or a friend's) roof deck! Just getting outside into fresh air has an inspiring effect on kids and adults alike. You'll find yourselves breathing deeper, and relishing even a brief respite from the confines of the old apartment.
4. Sheep Meadow – Nestled on the west side of Central Park, diagonally northeast of Columbus Circle, is the sprawling Sheep Meadow, where you can pack a picnic and sit in the sun or shade, blow bubbles, play catch, and capture memories.
5. Prospect Park – A little trip to Prospect Park will reward you with a feeling of connection to nature. Prospect Park is more wild and sprawling than its Manhattan counter-part, and you really will feel like you have traveled outside of the city. Incredibly photogenic views abound.

You can learn lots more tips at University of Sarah, and from Sarah herself this Thursday, April 8, at 12:30pm when she'll be hosting a teleseminar to Introduce "Photo Workshops for Moms." Get all the details here.

Thank you Sarah for sharing your fantastic ideas and for guest blogging here at Big City Mom!

I forgot the baby!

2010-04-06T10:08:00.001-07:00

I always worry this will happen, and this morning it did. I was racing around the house, trying to remember everything, reminding Molly what she needed for school on this first day back from spring vacation and asking Kelly ever so nicely if she could please put on a dress or even a tee-shirt over her ever-present bathing suit. Then it was the looking for the shoes, and the sweatshirts, and the arguing over whether they needed a coat if it was going to be 75 degrees later (their argument) or if they needed at least a light sweater because it was only 48 degrees now (my argument). Throw in a heated debate on what exactly constitutes the public schools "closed toe" policy on footwear, and we were on our way. Another lengthy discussion about whose turn it was to sit where, and we were off. Two girls secure in their car seats, one mom at the driver's wheel. I pulled into the school drop off line, said "'Bye Molly! See you after school!" And she replied with her usual, "'Bye mom! 'Bye Kelly! 'Bye Aaron!" Only this time this sentence followed: "Mom! Aaron isn't here!" I tried to stay calm as I said "Don't worry, he's just at home."
Meanwhile I drove home as lickity-split as a person can when they realize they have a six-month-old home alone, and not even necessarily secured in a play pen or stroller. And to make matters worse, because I was so distraught even though school is only half-a-mile away I kept making wrong turn after wrong turn and ended up completely lost. And right when I thought to myself, I am never going to find my house..... I woke up.

R.I.P. Alex Chilton

2010-03-20T19:39:00.000-07:00

"Children by the million sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round
They sing "I'm in love. What's that song?I'm in love with that song."

- The Replacements

The Internet startles you sometimes with news of someone's death, even if it's someone you didn't even know. Today was Alex Chilton. I've spent many hours and days and nights listening to his music, and as someone who isn't really even into music, he was one of my only "favorite" artists. I spent a while trying to find a fitting tribute to link to here, but nothing really seemed to reflect my own take on the man and what exactly I thought he was trying to do - and why I thought that was so very cool.

I saw him play the 9:30 Club a lifetime ago, opening for Robyn Hitchcock, I thought I'd find the clip online but no luck. It's probably better remembered through my teenage lens anyway.

R.I.P. Alex Chilton.

Snow !!!! Or Snow &*#%!?

2010-02-24T19:08:00.001-08:00

Looks like we're getting enough snow for school to be cancelled tomorrow. Can't decide if that will make for a fun day or a looong day. Last snowfall I outsourced snowman making to my mom who was visiting.

Here's what she built with the four-year-old:

And here's what she and the six-year-old made:

Don't ask why my kid is out in the freezing cold without a coat. But feel free to ask, "what exactly

is she doing in that photo?" Because that question I can answer - She's dancing! With the snowman!

PS The little snowman is for the baby. He didn't get any further then a trip to the porch while the rest of us were having snow fun.

Big City Mom gets a mention in Patch

2010-02-19T18:11:00.000-08:00

To be perfectly honest, I'm not really sure what Patch is, but I always love a link to my blog!

Mother Earth: Oriental Trading You're No Friend of Mine

2010-02-03T19:27:00.001-08:00

I get the Oriental Trading catalogue. For some reason this particularly offended me, on behalf of our earth mother - a whole page of disposable plastic (and paper) junk in honor of... EARTH DAY.

Are they fucking kidding? Does Mother Earth want you to make more trash or less trash? Why would you celebrate earth day with plastic erasers and plastic Slinky's? And more important, what marketing genius thought, hey maybe we can get all those save-the-earth idiots to buy paper plates if we just print Earth Day on them?

Take Action Against Childhood Obesity!

2010-01-28T08:51:00.000-08:00

Read this.
PS I'm the Anna!

My favorite part of the day

2010-01-18T19:10:00.001-08:00

Most nights, I am completely annoying to my kids and ask them all sing-song in my best approximation of 1950s mother-ness, "And what was your favorite part of the day?" Every once in a while they'll give a genuine response but more often then not they answer with something deep and illuminating like "eating poopy for dinner," or "hugging the baby too hard 'till you yelled at me to stop that immediately."

Still, mothering is nothing if not continuing the course even when it seems pointless, so as I sat relaxing on the sofa tonight I said, "Daddy's going to put you to bed tonight, but before he does, I just wanted to know what was your favorite part of the day?" and Kelly says just as sweet as can be, "Oh Mommy, my favorite part of the day was the part when you put me to bed."

Nicely done, Kelly. I hope it was.

Happy Macarena New Year!

2009-12-31T19:18:00.000-08:00

The girls are bringing back 1995!

Brittney & Jeanette go to the movies

2009-12-31T17:36:00.000-08:00

Here is it New Year's Eve, and I'm home blogging about chipmunks. But honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way because I have such a tale of Mother's pride to share with all of you.

Earlier this week we took the girls to see the new Chipmunks movie, and I am serious when I say I couldn't be prouder of my kids then when they told me they wanted to dress-up like the Chipettes (the girl chipmunks) for our screening of Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 - The Squeakquel.

Molly and Kelly spent the entirety of the morning prior to our early afternoon showtime prepping and primping like a bunch of gay guys off to see Madonna play Evita in the mid-1990s.

Here are the girls at the theater:

Kelly with her chipmunk ears

And the fabulous Chipettes themselves.

I think Molly channelled Jeanette (in the purple) incredibly well, whereas Kelly who is not always one to be the front man of the band, really seemed to step-up and make an absolutely believable Brittney (for those of you who haven't seen the film yet, she's the chipmunk in the pink).

At a pivotal point in the movie, The Chipettes perform a rousing rendition of Single Ladies, and here Molly and Kelly recreate it in the lobby of the movie theater:

Again, let me mention, prouder I could not be.

Just one of those days

2009-12-12T12:10:00.000-08:00

Out of the many things on my "to do" list today, the only thing I was able to cross-off was "find Molly's bathing suit." Oh well, I guess that's better than nothing.

just overheard

2009-12-11T03:23:00.000-08:00

molly, in conversation with her polly pocket, "these shoes don't go with this outfit. they don't go with any outfit."

The more things change, the more they stay the same

2009-11-30T18:14:00.001-08:00

and below, my favorite....

Thanksgiving Day 2007

2009-11-25T18:07:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving Day 2008

2009-11-25T17:56:00.000-08:00

Today is one year after the Tragedy in Mumbai

2009-11-25T07:05:00.000-08:00

Despite being completely heartbreaking, I find this very inspiring. These are photos of babies named for the Chabad couple who were killed in Mumbai last year.

May their memory be a blessing.

Changes at Big City Mom

2009-11-14T18:48:00.001-08:00

Today I made a big change and updated my profile description from "Life in the big city with 2 kids, 1 husband and a few million other people" to "Life just outside the big city with 3 kids, 1 husband and a few thousand other people."

I'd love to keep pretending I am a Manhattanite, but with it being over a year of me out here in Westchester, I guess my days as a city girl are over. How exactly I became an SUV-driving, suburban living, stay-at-home sham mom of three, I'll never really know. At least I can be whomever I want in my online avatar!

Life of Aaron

2009-11-12T18:46:00.001-08:00

My mom felt badly Aaron didn't get to go to the pumpkin patch so she sent me this picture with this email:
"i cropped pic of aaron so you can superimpose on pump patch and tell him he was there!"

Aaron's new pajamas

2009-11-12T18:29:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have asked, "What does Aaron look in his new plaid pajamas?" Here is the answer.... adorable! And like an old man!
If you need the back story, click here.

Lil pumpkins

2009-11-12T17:54:00.000-08:00

Molly at the pumpkin patch with her uncle a little before her first birthday...

... and five years later.

At the same age second child Kelly of course had to settle for pumpkin headgear instead of a trip to an actual pumpkin patch though she seems happy enough with the substitution:
And here she is just past her fourth birthday:

And that brings us to baby number three, Aaron. Like Kelly, he made no baby trip to the pumpkin patch, but we did bring him back a bitty pumpkin. He was delighted to be remembered.

We gave him his own baby gourd too.

For pics of the girls and pumpkins last year, click here.

R.I.P. John Allen Muhammad

2009-11-10T20:05:00.001-08:00

"In its effort to race John Allen Muhammad to his death before his appeals
could be pursued, the state of Virginia will execute a severely mentally ill man
who also suffered from Gulf War Syndrome the day before Veterans Day."

Go Phillies!

2009-10-21T18:58:00.001-07:00

You look like you're dressed by yo grandma

2009-10-17T18:55:00.001-07:00

email from my momma received today:

"Bought Aaron some plaid PJ's since U like 2 dress him in old men clothes
and he's in bed a lot."
you may also recall momma's sartorial email from last year:

"I got Kelly a Kenzo suede coat- I'm pretty sure she'll like it and it
will go well with her evening black bag and brown dog"

The Hairbrush

2009-10-17T17:30:00.001-07:00

Today Kelly says to me "Mommy? I borrowed your hairbrush."
"Okay..." I reply, not really caring but to make conversation say chirpily "Which one?" as if the answer will be the most fascinating thing I've heard all day and she says equally cheerfully, "The one with all the white hairs!"
Thanks, Kelly. Thanks a lot.

They really should make a woof translator

2009-10-05T18:14:00.001-07:00

Today, Kelly and I were taking a scenic stroll along the streets of Larchmont when we saw a lady walking two small and very cute dogs. Kelly and I both smiled at the sweet lil dogs.
And I said, "I love those kinds of dogs. I think they're French Bulldogs." And Kelly said, "So, they speak French?"
I immediately cracked-up.
Then I felt badly. I shouldn't laugh at a child's naivete I reminded myself sternly, and engaged Kelly in several minutes of inane banter about how French Bulldog referred to where the dogs' ancestors came from many years ago, and that these dogs lived here now, so they spoke the same language as their owners, and then I even threw in an example to illustrate my point that English sheepdogs spoke the language of whatever country they happened to be living in and not necessarily English, because again, the English referred to their place of origin and not what language they spoke.
Then Kelly asked, quite seriously, "Mommy, how does an English sheepdog living in France say "Woof" in French?
And I say it's the same as English - "Woof." And Kelly says, "But that is how those French bulldog just said it, so they are talking in French, like I said."
And I very quickly realized that I probably shouldn't have laughed in the first place. Kelly was right - I have no idea if French bulldogs speak French or English. Why did I think it was silly to think the French Bulldogs spoke French, and I had to be so condescending that they obviously spoke English!
So, I ask, does anyone have an accurate translation of "Woof" so I can settle this once and for all?

Molly and Kelly + Shofar = Internet Sensation!

2009-09-19T16:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Rosh Hashanah!

Kelly's Fourth Birthday

2009-09-19T16:22:00.001-07:00

Last week Kelly turned four. Fun was had by all. Here she is with her face painted:

Her Birthday cake:

And her friends singing happy birthday!

Molly's Second Day of School

2009-09-09T19:22:00.000-07:00

Today Molly told me, "Mommy, we are going to get a lot of homework. This is not kindergarten - this is first grade, so the homework will be really, really, hard. So don't be surprised if you find me asleep in my desk chair. Just pick me up and put me in my bed. Tell Daddy too. This applies to both of you."

Aaron

2009-09-09T19:14:00.000-07:00

I promised the girls they could dress Aaron up when their dad went back to work. They took me up on the offer.

First up was the Eagles dress, enjoyed by his sisters as well. Then Kelly managed to find some fetching black patent leather party shoes, and to put them on the boy without him even even waking-up.

And last but not least, Aaron in cap and sock-shoes, with giraffe and purple hippo puppet.

Here are the girls hard at work with his next fashion change.

First day of first grade

2009-09-09T19:10:00.001-07:00

walking to school with dad

photos ops with mom

a little bit of love from sis (who doesn't get to start school 'till next week)

Our last day in NYC

2009-08-30T19:18:00.000-07:00

We spent a fantastic week in NYC this summer, an urban vacay while we awaited the little one's arrival (he came an entire week and two false alarms later, but whose keeping track).

Our last day in the City we took the girls to one of their favorite destinations, The American Girl Place, for tea and a present of their choice - which was from the baby. Molly choose to get a new doll, Rebecca, and Kelly also choose to get a new doll, Josephina. Everyone was happy.

Feeding the animals at the zoo

2009-08-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

Pics of our trip to the central park zoo

2009-08-30T19:07:00.000-07:00

Pre-Aaron, pregnant as can be, I took the girls to the Central Park Zoo. It was 95 degrees, and though it could have gone the other way, we all had a really, really fun day.

Mo' pics of baby Aaron "I speak for Moses" Cole

2009-08-30T18:49:00.000-07:00

Aaron may have spoke for Moses, but Aaron's big sisters love to speak for their baby brother, "Mom, Mom? The baby totally wants to watch TV." Or, "Mom, Mom he really wants to go outside. To the playground. Now."

Aaron likes to sleep, but not at night.

Aaron likes to sleep, but not in his crib, in his car seat from Spencer. With his stuffed Stegasaurus.

Aaron likes the latest fashions:

... and his baseball shoes!

Big Brothers

2009-08-27T18:12:00.000-07:00

My older brother L.E.S.ter suggested on his blog that my newborn son looks like Wallace Shawn. Now of course every time I look at my baby all I see is this:

Instead of this:

What do you think? Is Aaron a Wallace look-alike? Do I need to get him a pair of glasses for a true comparison?

When the baby came home

2009-08-17T17:59:00.001-07:00

Molly: Can we pet the baby now?

Mom: Sure, you can "pet" the baby.

Kelly: Uh, Mom?

Mom: Yes, honey?

Kelly: Um, why do you still look pregnant?

Big News at Big City Mom

2009-08-17T10:12:00.001-07:00

Life in the big city just got a little bigger! Big City Mom (who never really admits she now lives outside the City) is now the proud mother of a baby boy, Aaron, who was born Saturday at 8:01am in the heart of Manhattan.

If anyone wants some guesses of how he might grow-up, here are some like-named folks whose footsteps he can follow: The Photographer, The Under-Achiever, The Hollywood Producer, The Web Developer, The Attorney, The Cool Teenager, and my personal favorite: The Animated Poser.

For those of you following BCM News at home.....

2009-08-13T05:29:00.000-07:00

no baby. still. it is too hot to be this pregnant.

Nature Camp

2009-07-24T19:51:00.000-07:00

This summer Molly is going to nature camp. Kelly is going back-n-forth in our SUV taking Molly to and from nature camp. The irony is not lost on me that every kid without exception is dropped-off at nature camp in a SUV. No hybrids, not even a regular car.

The first day of camp Molly took forever picking out her outfit, I couldn't really figure out what her angle was, but then she finally told me: "I want to blend-in with the trees. I'll see more animals."

Today Molly's nature education progressed to her pretending to be a grandma spider. And mine - I got to see a Black-Crowned-Night-Heron dive into the water and swallow a fish whole in one giant gulp. It was truly amazing.

A Gift from Above

2009-07-20T04:57:00.000-07:00

The DVR gave me the greatest gift on Saturday night - a NEW episode of Dirty, Sexy, Money - which I think has irrevocably been cancelled. Where did it come from? DVR Heaven? And more importantly, are there more DSM's that are coming my way from the beyond before it's truly over forever?

Bunny Baby Brother

2009-07-11T19:04:00.000-07:00

If there's anyone out there who hasn't heard the news, Big City Mom is about to have another little one, a boy, practically practically any day now (August). I asked the girls what they thought the baby would like to wear home from the hospital and offered that they could pick something out with me at the store, and maybe a blanket.... and clearly we are not all on the same page:

Kelly: let's get him a bunny outfit
Molly: yeah, and a hat with bunny ears
Kelly: in brown! so he'll look like cottontail! (cottontail is the bunny who lives in our yard)
Molly: and then we'll leave him on the porch, or maybe the yard, and we'll put a tail on his bunny outfit... Mommy, will the outfit have a tail?... and then cottontail will follow the baby inside the house!
Kelly: yay! and then we can leave the baby outside and maybe another cottontail will follow him inside and we'll have two bunnies!

For those in the know...

2009-06-15T13:40:00.001-07:00

IFM is coming back.... by the end of the week. I'll let you know when it's live. I have a lot to post.

American Girl has a new girl - Rebecca!

2009-05-30T15:17:00.000-07:00

And Rebecca is - gasp - a Jewish doll! She even lives on the Lower East Side! I'm sure my girls will insist on one of these, and don't think it's lost on me that American Girl knows I will be much more likely to buy them a $95 Rebecca then a $95 Kit or Julie.
The New York Times article I just read about new girl on the block Rebecca expresses my thoughts perfectly on this new addition to the American Girl Family:

The company hopes the doll will appeal to everyone. If a blond Christian
girl in North Dakota enjoys pretending she is living in a tenement on the Lower
East Side in 1914, helping her Bubbie make latkes for Hanukkah,
American Girl will be happy to sell her a toy menorah.

Kickball: Week 2

2009-04-25T09:22:00.000-07:00

Molly started kickball last week. The first week was filled with the thrill of the game. The second week, I guess the thrill was already worn-off. I didn't attend the game, but this is the update I got:

Me: How was kickball today?
Mike: Fine, oh fine.
Me: Did she seem to improve from last week, or the same?
Mike: She played the first two innings, the last three innings she held a worm. When she was in the outfield, she insisted on everyone coming over to see the worm. When she was at bat, she ran the bases holding the worm and pointing things out that Wormie (that was his name) might find of interest.

Kickball Week One

2009-04-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

Sunday's Trip to American Girl Place

2009-04-22T16:21:00.000-07:00

Upon finding out we were going on vacation in two weeks...

2009-04-14T03:43:00.000-07:00

Molly: Kelly, let's start packing now!
Kelly: Right now!
Molly: Hurry! Mom! Dad! We need our suitcases!
Dad: Uh, girls.... we're not going for two more weeks.
Molly: I know, but time flies when you're really excited!

End of an Era

2009-04-10T09:19:00.000-07:00

R.I.P. Dave Arneson.

Chag Sameach!

2009-03-09T19:26:00.000-07:00

The Purim celebrations have been underway since last week, starting with a visit by Molly to her alma mater on the Upper West Side for pre-Purim circus fun:

Then it was face painting and cotton candy at Kelly's school's Purim festival on Sunday:

Monday was Mordecai and Esther lollipops from Grandma.

So what does that leave for the big day itself on Tuesday? Tune in to BCM tomorrow to find out!

Two Ways of Looking at an Ant

2009-03-05T09:59:00.000-08:00

I.
Mom, Molly asks, can you open the front door for me. It is literally freezing cold out. Sure, uh why? I just gotta let this little guy go, that's all, and she shows me an ant crawling up her arm.

II.
Mom!!!! Mom!!!!!!!!!!!!
I run up the stairs to Kelly's room.
What's up little bear?
There is an ANT!!!!!!!!!! On my bed!!!!!!!! Get it! Get it!
I get it with a tissue, and it is gone.
All gone, little pie.
Mom, there was an ant! An ANT!!! Are you SURE it's gone?

Overheard in Kelly's Room

2009-02-23T13:14:00.000-08:00

4pm, Monday afternoon
_____________________________
Molly: The party has been cancelled.
Kelly: Why! Why has the party been cancelled?
Molly: Because my Aunt is coming over. I didn't know she was coming over, I just found out she was, so we'll have to have the party another day. For those of you who don't know, an Aunt is your mother's, mother's, mother's sister."
____________________________
Molly: I need to look pretty. VERY pretty.
Kelly: Why?
Molly: I'm getting married. Today!
___________________________
Molly: This is mine! And I also need lots and lots of trains.
Kelly: That's OK. I have three mountains.
A few minutes later.
Molly: Kelly, can I have a triangle?
Kelly: No! I told you I need three mountains!
A few more minutes later.
Molly: Are you sure you don't have just one triangle I could have?
Kelly: No!
Molly: Are you sure?
Kelly: OK, I will try.
Molly: Thanks, Kelly.
__________________________
Molly: No dinosaurs allowed at this slumber party.
Kelly: Is the slumber party today?
Molly: No loud noises at this slumber party!
Kelly: Well then why do you get to talk?
Molly: Because it was my idea.
Kelly: OK, as long as we are having rhinestones and spaghetti.
Molly: Promise.

P&G Cafe Update

2009-02-03T19:30:00.000-08:00

http://lostnewyorkcity.blogspot.com/

5.09 update to "P&G Cafe Update":

http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/the-pg-bar-returns-quietly/

GO NOVA!

2009-01-27T17:11:00.000-08:00

Jill Biden to teach at our hometown school.

Vote for the TOADY awards!

2009-01-22T12:48:00.000-08:00

Click here to vote for the worst toy of the year.

Farewell Noel

2009-01-04T17:22:00.000-08:00

With thanks to A.E., the genius behind Farewell Noel.

Sandler Family Hanukkah 2008

2008-12-29T12:42:00.000-08:00

The Light-up Spinning Dreidel

Annual Merry Zoo Day

Mike Love at Saks Fifth Avenue

And Even More Love from Saks for Mike

Now here is a word I should use more often

2008-12-21T17:27:00.000-08:00

Jeremiad

First Store to Receive Permanent Immunity: Trader Joe's

2008-12-19T08:15:00.001-08:00

How did Trader Joe's earn the first ever Immunity Award I've ever given out to a business?
Like this:
I went to Trader Joe's. I did an entire grocery shop. I got in line. I realized I didn't have my wallet. They let me take my groceries with just the promise I would bring my receipt back and pay later.
Long live the Trader! I promise I'll never cut-you-off (again)!

More things overheard at Kelly's Nursery School

2008-12-16T09:19:00.001-08:00

Mom (looking at pretty, glittery menorah pictures from the preschool class): Ooohhh, honey! These are so nice! Which one is yours?
Daughter: This one!
Mom: I love it! And pink, your favorite color!
Daughter (pointing to another picture, of a shiny Mogen David): And this one is mine too!
Mom: That's great! I love it! It will look great on our Christmas Tree!

A trip to the Larchmont post office

2008-12-14T17:13:00.000-08:00

Last week I took your regular-ol trip to my local post office. I needed to mail a package. After getting postage for the package, I realized this being the holiday season and all, I should probably get some stamps. I'm not much of a holiday card sending kinda person, but I send a few. I asked for Hanukkah stamps. The postal employee cheerfully told me they were all out, "given Larchmont's sizable Jewish population as you know, I'm sure you're not surprised." Actually, I was completely surprised. First, at the thought of Larchmont having a sizable Jewish population - it was news to me. And second, that the Jewish population had managed to clean out the post office of all its Hanukkah stamps by mid-December. So I say "I can just take any stamps, as long as they're not Christmas." And he says "How about Kwanzaa?" "No," I say, "Just anything non-holiday - don't you usually have snowflakes or snowmen or something like that?" He says "No, I don't think so. We have all the holidays though. We even have Jihad stamps." I look at him blankly. "I know you won't want those. To be honest, their a tough sell. They came out right after 9-11. Bad timing. No one wanted to buy them. A few people did, I think they felt guilty. So they bought the Jihad stamps, but in general, they're not a good seller. Not like the Hanukkah stamps!"

At this point, I am kinda ready to leave without stamps, but being a small town post office with a small town feel, the lady at the teller next to me says, "Get the ones with the man carrying the heart. They're perfect." Given that I had very low stamp requirements, I was sure they would be perfect. The guy brings me green heart stamps. "Perfect," I say, delighted to be getting out of this suddenly too-long and too-religious post office outing, when my friendly neighbor looks over and barks "Not the green ones! It has to be the red ones!" Without consulting me, the teller then goes frantically from bay to bay looking for the red ones. At the last bay, he grabs a strip, and shouts to me "It's the last ones! You got here just in time!"

Molly's Birthday Weekend

2008-12-08T06:46:00.000-08:00

Molly's birthday was last Wednesday, but the celebrations continued through this weekend with a family party on Saturday at our house and a party with her class friends on Sunday at the Children's Creative Corner in Larchmont.

Here's her birthday cake from Saturday, a joint effort of her Uncle Ethan and me:

And here is the cake from her party on Sunday with her school friends, make by Erica of Erica's Edibles:

Erica also made great ice-skate cookies, I'll post soon.

Here's Molly and her Dad decorating her birthday reindeer:

It was great, it was fun, but now Monday the birthday festivities are over. Except, as Molly reminded me, "I still need to have a party with my friends from the City."

Big City Larchmont Mom has Hit the Big Time

2008-12-07T17:37:00.000-08:00

I am very excited. Someone has linked to my blog and even wrote a post about BCM! I know seasoned bloggers wouldn't be acting like this is the biggest deal ever, but for my little blog and me, it is.

So thank you Lynda Larch for your post and your link.

We feel at home in Larchmont already.

Happy Birthday, Molly!

2008-12-03T12:39:00.000-08:00

Molly's fifth birthday is today.

She celebrated with purple cupcakes...

Her Central School classmates...

And Grandma...

Scholastic: This Means War

2008-12-02T19:21:00.001-08:00

I have been dreading the day Molly goes to a school Scholastic Book Fair ever since January, 2007 when I read this particularly depressing article from my oft-quoted Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood:

Last year, Caroline sent her seven-year-old son to his Scholastic school
book fair with five dollars and a note to his teacher that she wanted him to
pick a good reading book. Instead, he came home with a Batman drawing
book and three thirteen-inch flexible pencils.

I have been dreading the day, too, because I know when my daughter brings home her version of the tale above, I am going to insist that her public school no longer holds Scholastic Book Fairs. And then, all the trouble I've gone to to fit-in will evaporate. Scholastic themselves claim that 35-40% of the books sold at a typical book fair are linked to a movie, television show or video game. This is not what I want for my child.
Have educators really just given-up? Just told the corporations, OK you win - make the kids consuming clones who think a book needs to go with a movie or TV show, that this is what life is all about?
Well, today was the day. Book Fair Day. I gave her twenty bucks. I told myself, my kid loves books as much - if not more - than any other kindergarten kid. She will bring home a good book. A classic, or maybe a new book destined to be a classic. I can't wait to see what she gets!

But, alas, that fairytale was not meant to be.

She brought home these:

1. Dora's Perfect Pumpkin - what possible plot could this book even have? Have we not already exhausted the Halloween genre completely?
And wait, it gets worse:

2. Barbie the Island Princess Panorama Sticker Book - this is not even an actual book, it is a sticker panorama!

So I ask you, my loyal readers? Is it time? Should I start a rival school Book Fair company? Vote here!

Is there such thing as commercial-free holidays?

2008-11-30T15:39:00.001-08:00

At least one organization is trying. Here's the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood's guide:
http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/holidayguide/home.htm

Being Thankful

2008-11-29T16:04:00.000-08:00

Our little clan had a tropical twist on Thanksgiving this year, celebrating in Puerto Rico (photos to come soon).
Right before bed, after eating too much, sunning to much, and swimming way too much, I said "Hey! We should all say what we're thankful for!" Mike and I said some boring platitude stuff, Kelly said "me too" and Molly took the cake with:
"I'm thankful for Hashem for this perfect little sister," and kissed Kelly on the head.

One more reason to avoid the big chain stores

2008-11-29T06:10:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe that a man died on Friday because of shoppers insane desire for the latest and cheapest TV, or whatever it was that seemed worthy of line-waiting, five-am-arriving, running, and ultimately, ending a man's life in the quest of something sold at Wal-Mart. What has this world come to?

If I didn't already semi-boycott chain stores, this would be reason enough to start. I don't shop 100% local, but I do try to buy from the "little guy" when I can. I blame the culture of possession in this country just as much as I blame every one of the people involved in this horrifying expression of Americanism. I don't even celebrate Christmas, but I am pretty sure this is not what the "Christmas spirit" is all about.

As I read on another blog online, "You know, it makes so much sense that this happened at Wal-Mart, the epitome of American grossness. I hope that on Christmas morning, when the Wal-Mart savages' children are opening their stupid presents, they tell them "I hope you like it, because I had to kill a man for it."

My Other Car is an Art Car

2008-11-12T18:27:00.000-08:00

This art car was done entirely with Sharpies. Seriously.

Toddler Poetry Community Still Strong One Year Later

2008-11-03T17:34:00.001-08:00

Today, the approximate one year anniversary of this blog, I wanted to take a moment to look back to our roots as a toddler poetry blog, and to share with everyone that we still are not only the first, but also the second, search result when you Google "toddler poetry community."
Am I proud? Sure. But would I be even prouder if there were tons of other blogs that followed in our footsteps to bring poetry to the teeming toddler masses?
Sure. (As long as they come-up third and fourth in Google search.)

More kids dressed-up - my actual last Halloween post

2008-11-01T22:44:00.000-07:00

And One Last Halloween Update

2008-11-01T22:42:00.000-07:00

After all the candy discussions, we got no trick-or-treaters at all, probably because there was a large sewer truck parked outside of our house due to a problem at the house about three doors down.

If we had gotten a trick-or-treater, you can see what our two candy bowls looked like: mini-fruit-roll-ups, mini play-dohs, leftover kosher lollipops, and dum-dums with gum in the middle I bought by accident back in August.

It's almost like someone had already told the local kids to skip our house....

The pirates and their treasure

2008-11-01T19:37:00.001-07:00

A Larchmont Halloween

2008-11-01T19:14:00.000-07:00

Some people's houses were impressive....

...but the highlight of the night was going to Franklin's house:

Anna (to Franklin's mom, when she opens the door): Molly and Kelly insisted that the house they wanted to go to the most was Franklin's!
Franklin's mom: Isn't that sweet! I don't know where Franklin is right now, or I'd have him come say hello... honey (yells to husband) do you know where Franklin is?
Husband: I'm not sure, I think he might have gone up the street...

Mike: Hi, I'm Mike. Nice to meet you. Are Franklin and Molly in the same class?
Laughter.

Molly and Kelly: Daddy!!!!! Franklin's a cat!!!!!

Mike: Oh.

After Franklin's house, the second highlight of the night was... CANDY!

This Little Light of Mine

2008-11-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

When you hear the line: "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine.."
What do you think of?

My Lil Pumpkins

2008-10-30T20:32:00.001-07:00

In case you're wondering

2008-10-30T20:27:00.000-07:00

These are the two times the name of Jesus was invoked at my daughters' Jewish nursery school.
Incident #1:
Caregiver A: "School is closed tomorrow."
Caregiver B: "Again, tomorrow? Really? There's another holiday?"
Caregiver A: "Yes, there's another holiday."
Caregiver B: "Sweet Jesus, Have Mercy! I can't believe they're having another day off!"

Incident #2:
Mother A: (Reading a sign) "There's another meeting?"
Mother B: "Yes, I just read it too, I guess there's another meeting tomorrow morning."
Mother A: "Jesus Christ! How many meetings are there going to be?"

Jesus is alive

2008-10-30T20:24:00.000-07:00

Number of times I have heard the word Jesus at the Westchester Jewish Center (WJC): 2
Number of months Kelly has attended the WJC: 2

Number of times I heard the word Jesus at the Chabad Early Learning Center (CELC): Zero
Number of months Kelly attended CELC: 10

The numbers of times I would hear the word Jesus if Kelly went to CELC for the next 100 months: Zero

It's starting to look a lot like Christmas

2008-10-29T08:46:00.000-07:00

You know the retailers are worried when the Christmas decorations are up before Halloween is even over. I got an email today from one of my favorite organizations, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. They are urging toy companies to only target parents and other adults this holiday season, and not children directly. They are asking for the toy companies cooperation because especially this year, new toys just may not be a possibility for a lot of families. It's so sad to think of a kid being totally unhappy on Christmas because their parents couldn't - or just didn't - get them some over-hyped piece of mass-produced plastic from China.
The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood is sending emails to all the toy manufacturers asking them to advertise responsibly. And I am asking you to please send an email, too. Click here.

Halloween

2008-10-26T19:47:00.000-07:00

Halloween. I've got a scary skull ninja and an adorable scarecrow living at my house. I can't wait for the trick or treating. Last year, I gave out stickers. I don't think we got anyone over the age of 4 at our apartment house, so these were a big hit. I didn't see anything wrong with it. Mike came home from work and saw the little bowl of stickers, and said "What? We're the house giving out STICKERS? And no candy? I can't be that house."

He vowed to make things right this year. I said, if you want candy, you need to go get some. I like being the healthy and wholesome house, even if it's the healthy and wholesome, covered with toilet paper, house.

This year we're giving out Play-doh, unless the man of the house gets candy between now and Friday. What do you think? Is candy the only acceptable offering to the trick-or-treating gods?

Icons

2008-10-26T17:58:00.000-07:00

I love these German - Chinese comparison icons.
I first saw them on my cousin Arthur's blog.
You can see them here.

It seemed like a good idea at the time

2008-10-25T18:08:00.000-07:00

That's what Molly and Kelly would say if you asked, why did you take everything (and by everything, I mean everything) out of your rooms and put it on the stairs? Every piece of bedding and nighttime sleeping companions, clothes, books, toys, even rugs and other furnishing!

Why? Because we wanted to re-create our rooms on the stairs so we could slide down our room.
My biggest regret? No batteries in the camera to commemorate this moment.
Where is their stuff now? As this little room-switch-aroo happened right before bedtime, bed stuff went back on the beds, everything else is in shopping bags.

For those who know me, you know I just unpacked and did a pretty half-assed job of that as it is. When do you think their stuff will ever leave those bags?

I couldn't have said it better myself

2008-10-23T15:56:00.001-07:00

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f168/ikediggety/priceless.jpg