It’s been too long!!

Hi, Family,

We promise we haven’t forgotten about our blog!!!

This past week Charlie had surgery to remove a sty & he was such a trouper.  Luckily they had a bunch of toy cars he could play with, which kept him happy most of the (very early) morning.

Here is the after picture:

One reason I’ve been so busy is that I began teaching an Intro to Theatre class at Raising Astoria Community Center, around the corner from our home.  Jack was super pleased to be the subject of my flyer.

We got a major “monkey see, monkey do” situation going on over here.

On a related note, Jack went on a field trip to Queens College today, to see Golden Dragon Chinese Acrobats perform.  When I picked him up, his teachers told me that one act involved the actrobats stacking 16 chairs (they counted), & as they placed the 16th chair, they announced, “Do not try this at home.”  Jack turned to his teacher, disappointed, & said, “Aw, I wanted to try that!!”  So later today, at Raising Astoria ……

After each pose Jack did, he would make a little “tada!” sound, & when Charlie saw what he was doing, of course he had to join in, & he was making the same sound, “Tada!”

GOD HELP ME!!!!

Love,

Jack & Charlie’s Mom

Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year!

Hi, Family,

What a crazy month it’s been!  I stayed super busy this holiday season.  My mom visited my class & read The Night Before Christmas.  We all made elf hats.

That last picture, the top four flags are the flags that I made, that represent me.

I am very into doing arts & crafts right now, & a super fun one we did on Christmas Eve this year was ….  I elfed myself.

I also helped my mom make cookies.  I was begging her to make gingerbread cookies that we could shape like little gingerbread men & I could decorate with some icing.  On Christmas Eve, we finally made the cookies!  I kept telling my mom, “Mom, be careful.”  “Hey, Mom.  Be careful.  With the gingerbread men.  Because one might jump out & run away.”

I was so happy, after all the counting down, when Santa’s big night finally came!!

When I woke up the next morning I could barely contain my excitement!  Right away I noticed there were some big presents from Santa, & our stockings were full of stuff, & Santa had put bows on our elves!

It was an amazing Christmas, & I kept telling my mom how lucky we are!!

I think my favorite gift was a new helmet & a new big boy scooter.  (Like Cal’s.)

Of course, since I got a new helmet & scooter, Charlie got a new helmet & (well, my old) scooter.

Another exciting gift we got was superhero rain boots from Aunt Amatey.

Well I decided it would be very cool to wear my Superman costume with my new Superman boots, & Of course my mom wanted to take my picture.  Well, *someone* was not happy that I was mugging for the camera, pushed his way past me saying, “Take me!  Take me!  Take me!”

Tonight was our big New Year’s Eve Party!  We had so much fun!  We got party hats & horns & noisemakers & ring pops.

We wrote out our resolutions, & I illustrated mine.

We counted down to the New Year (at around 7:00PM).  Twice.

We used food coloring & shaving cream to paint in a blue bath.

Overall, I’d say a pretty good ending to a pretty good year.  Here’s to 2015!  Peace & prosperity to all.

Love,

Jack & Charlie

An old hand visits Santaland

Hi, Family,

Yep, it’s that time again.  I made my annual pilgrimage to Santaland!  It was so much fun!

Man, that Charlie.  He is a hoot.  I think by the time we got to Santa everyone online knew his name.  He just wanted to run all over the place & grab all the things you’re not supposed to touch.  I think my favorite part was when Charlie threw his bowl at an elf.  The elf said to my mom, “My jokes aren’t THAT bad!”  And that just really cracked me up.

^^That’s the infamous bowl!  I was trying to show him it really makes a better hat than a ball.

^^That last one is pretty much the only decent picture my mom got of both of our faces in the same picture.  We like to keep her on her toes.

When we got to Santa, I was so nervous.  I told my mom I was feeling shy.  She kept saying things like, “Santa is like the nicest guy ever!” and was trying to convince Charlie to take a picture with Santa.  In Charlie fashion, he just nodded that yes, he would take the picture.  When we walked into Santa’s room, Charlie waved hi.  Then he walked straight to the exit & started waving bye.  My mom tried begging, pleading, she even sat next to Santa with us for a picture.  Then she tried to sneak away.  Charlie wasn’t having it.

Five years of Christmases, five visits to Santaland, this year I was so excited about my picture with Santa & my fifth Santaland button.  I asked my mom if she’d take these pictures of me on the subway.

The best part of the whole visit, however, is that Santa said I am on the good list!  I even gave Santa a hug.  I told my mom that Santa hadn’t said anything about what list Charlie is on.  I told her that Charlie wouldn’t take a picture & threw a bowl at an elf.  My mom asked me if Charlie would be on the naughty list this year.  I told her, “No, because Charlie is really a good kid.”

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Love,

Jack

Belated Halloween Post

Hi, Family!  Happy Belated Halloween!  Charlie & I had so much fun during Halloween week.

First we attended the Astoria Halloween Parade.  It’s the best way to show off our costumes to everyone.  And if you’re picturing two rogue superheroes hopped up on sugar terrorizing–er, making the streets safer–why, yes, that is exactly what it was like.

(These two are super difficult to get photos of, lately, says my mother.)

Next up was my classroom Halloween party, & my mom & I made these awesome spooky cupcakes to take to my friends.  Charlie came (in character), & I ate a ton of treats, & Charlie had a blast playing in my classroom.

When we got home, we were so psyched up about Halloween.  I’m sure it had nothing to do with the juice box, cupcake, cookie & Munchkins I’d just inhaled.  I couldn’t believe it, when my mom started snapping pics of us in our costumes, Charlie started posing like a superhero just like me!

My mom didn’t get too many pics of us trick or treating.  She did seem kinda busy then.

Otherwise, we’re just enjoying the Fall weather & falling leaves.

And we love to have dance parties everyday & act wild & crazy together.

And I love school, & I love to do arts & crafts, there & at home.

Anyway, life is good, y’all.  Enjoy every second.  Can’t wait to hug everyone Thanksgiving week!!!!!

Love,

Jack (& Charlie, too, I guess.)

Happy Birthday to … My Mom!

Hi, Family,

Did you know yesterday was my mom’s birthday?  I LOVE to celebrate birthdays, because it involves toys, & parties, & of course yummy, delicious cake!  So I was really happy to hear that not only was it my mom’s birthday, but that she would be making a delicious, homemade chocolate cake!  I felt certain I could be there to support her in this endeavor, by testing any cake she worried might be substandard, or by licking any delicious beaters covered in scrumptious chocolate icing.  That’s just the kind of kid I am!  I am a great helper.

All week, I kept wondering, what would my mom’s theme be??  I finally decided for her:  Stars!

I really wish that there was a smell function on this blog, because this cake smells divine!  I LOVED this cake.  If there’s one thing about me you need to know, it’s this:  I ….  LOVE …. CHOCOLATE.

So, my dad threw my mom a party at Bohemian Hall Beer Garden for her birthday.  It was so fun!  Lots of my friends came (& their moms & dads).  We ate a lot of yummy food, & danced to the Oktoberfest band, & played with some dump trucks in the rocks … it was a total blast!

Then it was time for the cake!  The moment everyone was waiting for!

I think my mom had a great time.  I bet, if asked, she would say her favorite part of the day was when I ran & jumped in her bed & yelled “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMY!!” with a birthday card in which I had signed my name myself.  Probably the next favorite moment was when Dad asked Charlie if he’d wished Mommy a happy birthday, & he nodded yes so emphatically he almost fell down.  And a distant third was the Oktoberfest band, & entire beer garden, singing Happy Birthday to my mom.

Happy Birthday to my mom!!!!

Love,

Jack

First Day of Pre-K

Hi, Family!

I love my school!  I love Pre-K!  I had a great first few days of school.

One cool thing about the first day of school is ….. NEW SHOES!!!!  Guess what kind of shoes I got …… Spider-Man!!  I love to wear them with my Spider-Man socks, too.  Here I am, showing off my new shoes.

I was so excited to see some of my good friends from last year in nursery school!

It was so fun getting to play in the new Pre-K classroom.  I like my new teachers; they seem really nice.  But I guess I really miss my teachers from last year.  My mom says I will grow to love my new teachers, too.

After the first day of school my mom took me for the Traditional First Day of School Donut.  I think she made this up on the spot.  But my friend Maksimilian came with us.  Maks was in my class last year, so we had a fantastic time.

 

So ….. guess who else got new shoes?  And guess who decided to copy my style & show off his new Avengers shoes for the camera?

 

My mom said on the first day of school, when she handed me off to the teacher, that Charlie was ready to just walk right in with me, but I think my mom was kind of glad Charlie’s stuck with her.  I just remind her everyday that she has to make sure Charlie doesn’t play with any of my toys while I’m gone.

At the end of my first week, to celebrate starting Pre-K, we got together with some of our best friends & had some cookies my mom made.

 

It’s going to be a great year!!!

Love,

Jack

Jack’s Spidey 4th Birthday

Hi, Family!

Whoa, I just had the coolest birthday ever!  My mom & dad spent the whole day saying stuff like, how has it been 4 years already?  And, how did you get to be such a big boy??  Meanwhile I was saying stuff like, can we see if there’s a package in the mail for me???

I got SO MUCH COOL STUFF!!  If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I LOVE ALL THE TOYS.

I have had such a blast playing with all my new stuff the last few days.  And today was my birthday party!  We had my party in the park, so that all my friends could come, & my teacher from last year, Mrs. Ferreira!

Jack running to hug Mrs. Ferreira.

 

So, as if playing at the park, opening presents, & eating cake weren’t enough, we also had a pinata!

It was just a fantastic day & I had such a blast.

So wish you could have been here, Family.

Love you,

Jack

xoxox

Summer 2014, part 2

Wow, we are having such a fantastic summer, we have been bad about updating the blog!  We have just been so busy.

Jack has been very into making costumes this year.  Here he is as a spy:

We’ve done a lot of fun adventures this summer.  A couple weeks ago we went to Brooklyn Bridge Park, which has a big sand pit & sprinklers.  It was a big trip, b/c we take a ferry from Queens to Brooklyn.

Then we had a “culture kids” day, where we went to Broadway in Bryant Park.  It was really fun seeing songs from different Broadway plays, & I am very interested in that, b/c someday I want to have my own show.

Our adventures usually end with some sort of treat, & that day we had Mom’s favorite, Magnolia Bakery cupcakes!

That same day we went to the Astoria Park outdoor concert.  Astoria Park is in our neighborhood, & we’ve gone to almost all the concerts there this summer.  Mom loves it b/c she & Charlie can relax on a big blanket, & I love it b/c I run around like a crazy person with my friends!

 

(Mom tried to get a good pic of Coralie & me walking hand in hand in the evening light, but this was the best she could do.)

So our adventure this week was going to Hudson River Pier 51 park, a very cool park right on the river with a fantastic view.

Living in NYC is a pretty crazy place for 6 mamas to travel with 12 children.  We get all kinds of receptions, from, shall we say, lukewarm, to incredibly welcoming.  Being on the train with that many kids is a wholly unique experience!!

 

Hope everybody is enjoying summer as much as we are!  We’ll see ya next week; of course I’m dying to tell you all about my Spider-man birthday party!

Love,

Jack

Summer 2014, Part I

Hi, Family, Having a fantastic summer so far! To kick the summer off, my mom, Charlie, & I went down to Madison Square Park for some play in the park & the fountain.

Coralie & I ran through the train station; we couldn’t get to the park fast enough!

Charlie wasn’t too sure about the water.

I was in heaven, though!!

Our next big trip was to see a kids’ concert in Madison Square Park.

But nothing beats the beach!

We had a fantastic Fourth of July, too!

 

 

Happy (Belated) Independence Day!

Love,

Jack

Summer Solstice/Birthday Party Today!

Hi, Family,

We are so sorry you guys missed our fun party today!  We had a Summer Solstice/Birthday Party Brunch, & it was so fun.

My mom made a sunshine smiley face cake & it was so tasty!

I got to help my mom decorate yesterday.  That was super fun.

 

We served brunch at our party.  It was pretty good.  Well, the grown ups liked it.  We kiddos were too busy playing to eat, of course!!

The highlight of the day was celebrating Charlie’s birthday.

Then we went back to playing!

I tried to help Charlie open his presents, but it turns out, he didn’t really need my help!

We had such a blast today, & we’re so sorry y’all couldn’t make it.  Hopefully next time!

Love,

Jack