Sunday, July 28, 2024

Recap Third Week: APEC, Fun Times and Family Gatherings

Before we left for Ohio, we had a productive and fruitful last week in New York.  The kids played at home, went to the playground, and also attended their weeklong science camp at Alley Pond Environment Center (APEC) in their newly renovated space. 

 I attended a summer associate event at the Central Park zoo but sadly due to timing and logistics couldn't bring the kids.

My cousin Ed came by with his two kids (who are now high school seniors and first year college students, oh my goodness) to meet the kids.  Then to celebrate our last days in Great Neck, we went to a nice dinner with popo and yeye.

Friday, July 19, 2024

Farewell New York, Hello Ohio!

Bidding New York a bittersweet farewell, how these weeks have flown...we head to Ohio tomorrow afternoon.

How cute are these jumping shots?  How cute are these kids?!  Love.

Thursday, July 18, 2024

Recap of Our Second Week in the US: DCITP, Rock Climbing in LIC, and Reunification with Michael, Among Other Happenings

Hard to believe our second week in the U.S. has also already drawn to a close and we are in the second half of our third (and final!) week in New York.

Other than the amazing mid-week break in the Hamptons, life continued apace with work (I am already picking up the commuter tricks such as which streets to take and which entrances shave off a couple of minutes which can make all the clutch difference between catching the train and not), day camp in the park (DCITP) for the kids in Great Neck, hanging out with Rachel and the grandparents, a trip to the ENT in the Bronx, rock climbing with Amanda, welcoming Michael to NY, and a swim playdate with Victor and his two little boys.

Below, first day of drop off at camp! Despite all the stress and anxiety and wailing about it, the kids were super brave and scampered off with no fuss. I barely had time to say goodbye!

While I was away, my cousin Ed stopped by to say hi to the kids, ate ice cream with them, and also observed Lola play piano.
The kids also met and played with a neighbor.
Part of the reason I left the Hamptons so early was to head into the cit to meet up with Lola and Rachel, so we could go together to an ENT specialist I arranged at Columbia Presbyterian. So we rode the 1 train all the way up to 168th street, got an opinion on her ears and adenoids, then stopped on the upper west side for a sushi lunch. Thereafter, I dropped them off at Grand Central and headed back into work. It was so heartwarming to see how happy Lola was to see me. The genuine joy and delight that she expresses when seeing me - and the joy and love and devotion and tenderness toward her that that causes me to feel - it is nearly ineffable. 
After my time away, when I returned home I just wanted to see my kids and cuddle and hang out. While I was gone, my mom dug out an essay that I had gotten published when I was 16, for Lola to read.  She loved it and was so inspired by it.  Michael also read it for the first time and was pretty amazed that I had never mentioned this.   It wasn't deliberate on my part, but rather goes to show how we forget or overlook what factors about ourselves are interesting or may be impressive.  It is hard to believe, but also kind of fun, that after so many years I can still surprise him!
Over the weekend, we went to Brooklyn Boulders in Long Island City to climb, hang out with my sister and Joe, and enjoy a nice lunch nearby before we took the train back to Great Neck.
We met Michael at the train station (my dad had gone to pick him up from JFK, thank you dad!!) then spent the afternoon just hanging out.  
Michal did get the chance to see Lola dance though, and he also marveled at how much she looked like a ballet dancer. 
On Sunday, we tried to beat the heat by going to the GNE swimming pool and baby pool with cousins, and our kids probably collectively jumped into the swimming pool 50+ times.
Another great week in the books!