May Wrap Up

Oh May. Oh my. This month is swerving dangerously into the final curve and I don't know whether to brake or just throw up my hands and scream WEEEeeeeeeeeee! I have been on such a dead run with all the last minute errands for the upcoming Memorial Day Fair at the park that it was nice to take a day to myself recently and get a hair cut (for FREE!) at Arrojo in SoHo. My usual stylist Jessica needed someone to model a razor bob and I was more than happy to sit in her chair for a little longer if it meant I could save some cash. After that, I wandered through Washington Square Park and enjoyed a little bite at Daily Provisions near Union Square. Then it was back to the grind with more errands and laundry and birthdays! 

Kinda cracked me up that I didn't see Carolina's face at first

Dawn's birthday gave us a reason to come out for a little Friday night bbq fun

Jasper turned 6 and we celebrated with cake and a beautiful park afternoon

Lunch in Red Hook ended up being lobster, though we went for BBQ. Next time! 

And truly if I hadn't been in a tizzy trying to wrap things up for the park, I might have spent more time worrying about how fast life was moving ahead. In the midst of all this chaos, Nacho texted me the results of the AE that was just published at Delta. Basically, that's the advanced entitlement which means it offers new positions and aircraft slots to those who bid for it. We spent much of the spring discussing his options and whether or not he would put in for a captain slot and if so, where and what plane. In the end, the chance for promotion and the staggering raise that comes with it was too much to pass up, and he bid for it. The process closed and by then he could see how many others had done the same and what their seniority was. He was pretty sure there was no chance he'd make captain and so I started to move on from that scenario. And of course, that's just when I suppose you should know something is up. We had been chatting at Carolina's field day about when to expect the results and then not two hours later, he texted me that he made Captain on the Airbus 320 in NYC. It was an announcement full of potential and some serious excitement. What??! What does this mean for us and when would it all happen? I have to admit it was almost as stunning as the message I got from him about Delta calling him for the interview. I was standing at Costco trying to blink and reread the text. It felt like life was all about to change, and for the better. And that's a good feeling. I took him for a celebratory pint at the Lowery when I got back from my park shopping.  It was all starting to sink in and we couldn't help but see the possibilities of where we might end up in the next few years with that salary.  So yes, we're holding on for now, but we're pretty pumped. And I say we, because this job is a partnership. He couldn't do this alone and I think he knows that now more than ever. We are facing these changes and these opportunities together and the idea that he could upgrade in three years at this job is pretty amazing. No one deserves it more. And I think he's starting to believe that. So yeah, May has been a real humdinger. Now to survive the rest of it!

First Field Day

I almost didn't make it to Carolina's first Field Day this year. I was this close to sending Nacho and using the time to work on the Memorial Day Fair for the park. There is still a lot to be done and not a lot of time left, but somewhere in the back of my brain I figured I can't do this over again. I wanted to be there and so I decided to make it a priority. What's a few hours out of my busy week when I can see this girl smile and jump, spin and kick? I'm glad I went and even happier I took my camera to capture a few of the highlights. The kids are such hams and so eager to goof off on a day like this. What fun they had. And I have to say that after a few years of attending Field Days for Elisa, this was run with almost military precision. What a change from the first year when they still hadn't divvied up their groups and it was approaching 10am. Ha. Oh yes, every year we all learn a little more. I was actually surprised this one wrapped up by 10:30am and I was heading back home. 

I've written before about my own love of field days from my childhood. And this hasn't changed. It's almost as if just the idea of the free day outside takes me back to elementary school and that end-of-year feeling we all miss. It feels like summer is getting closer and freedom with it. And that's perhaps overstating how Carolina sees it now. But maybe in time she will associate all of those things with her own memories of this day. So yeah, glad I didn't miss it. Some things are worth taking the day off for. 

K sings!

May seems to be spinning out of control a bit lately and it's only just getting started. In the midst of my work for the park's Memorial Day Fair coming up, there are lots of end of year school events like field trips, concerts and field days to work around. And with the way AOC splits its grades into two chunks (K-2 and 3-5), there is double the fun for the next few years. Unfortunately, I've had to say no to most of the daytime stuff in order to preserve some sanity, but the evening concerts are a must. So this week we went to see the Kindergarteners belt out their spring songs and considering it was the hottest day of the year so far with temps near 90F, the gym was actually surprisingly cool and comfortable. 

And honestly, since Nacho was working and took the car, we took a Lyft over and it was so much easier than parking and running in late. We were there right on schedule, grabbed some seats near Amanda and Max and his parents and the big girls ran around the gym for a bit before the show started. The K classes went first this time which was nice, and we sat patiently through the rest of the concert before bolting to get another car home and the obligatory ice cream from the ladies vending outside. So yeah, one spring concert down, another one to go!

Making my own day

Mother's Day is no longer a day that I feel I have to wait and see what happens. It's really just like every other day, except that I make shit happen that I WANT to happen. And I try really hard to prioritize what will make me happy while simultaneously giving my family a chance to spoil me. So yes, I ordered a few dozen donuts from my favorite bakery in Brooklyn. And then I sent my husband out to pick them up, thus allowing for him to also make a flower run. And then I scheduled a donut brunch at Carmen's so we could see her and her mama on this special day. And we also invited José and Irene over too so we could share the sweet treats. Bringing people together with food is always a win for me, and so why not on Mother's Day? I got to see some of my favorite moms and got to drink mimosas and chill. And that was pretty fucking perfect. So no, I don't run off for a massage or a pedicure or some kind of alone time. I was happy to spend the day with my girls--the creatures that made me a mom. But I don't feel like a martyr of motherhood on my special day. I feel like my family wants to treat me right...but they still need a little help. That's why I pick up the phone and make it happen. It's why I handed the camera over and said "take my picture." It works. And I don't feel bad for asking. 

Sleep Overs

Another first happened this weekend. Carolina made it to her first sleep over birthday party. First sleep over, period. But the fact that it was combined with a party to celebrate her BFF Kira's 6th birthday was just icing on the cake. With Elisa, her first sleep over happened at age 6 during a sleep over for the Girl Scouts at the Parish Center. I didn't chaperone and felt mildly guilty the whole night. But she made it through and I was happy that so many other moms I knew were staying as well just in case she needed help. Fast forward a few years and Carolina and Kira started planning a sleep over somewhere in the middle of UPK last year. I wasn't completely opposed but it did seem a tad early. So when this party invitation came through, I figured it was time. Carolina showed no signs of anxiety and I suppose our Hamilton invite last weekend where the girls went without me was a forerunner. 

The only real kicker was what I was going to do with Elisa during her little sister's night out. She had attended two Girl Scout sleepovers, but had never had one with a friend. So I thought perhaps this was a chance to host her BFF Birdie since they wouldn't be bothered by a third wheel. I got the clearance from Amanda and away they went planning their evening together. It went through several stages including one where they ordered sushi and went to a movie, but in the end, they were mostly just happy to get McDonald's and hang out on the fold out couch. Yes, this was a girls night IN and I think they had a blast between their fashion show (in at least 4 parts) and their late night run to the deli for ice cream. Elisa and Birdie have been friends since my first meeting with the playgroup at 4 months, but it's taken most of that time for them to find their groove. Somehow here we are with 3rd graders who made it through a whole evening of fun without getting upset or hurt feelings, and were all giggles going to bed at 11pm and waking up at 7:30am to watch videos and eat cereal together. They exceeded my expectations so I'm looking forward to more of those fun nights.

The rest of our Sunday was picking up Carolina and dropping Birdie off before setting out for the Waterfront Center in Oyster Bay, Long Island. This is where I took Nacho for a sailing class a few years ago. And we promised we'd be back...some day. Well, the time has come and Nacho is all gung ho to take the intro sailing course this summer. And why not? He's got the time and now the money and I think it's great he has something he is so passionate about. He never ceases to amaze me in that regard. This time we asked José and Irene if they wanted to join us since the center was having an open house and we could check out the area and grab lunch. They were game, so we met up out there and had a walk around and visit with the bay wildlife on display before making some fantastic buttons and heading out for park and burgers. The kids were happy and we were content so it was a win-win kind of day. Driving home in the early rush hour on a Sunday night also turned out okay since both girls slept a good part of the hour-long drive and I was finally able to bathe them before starting the new week. So yeah, all these new adventures were a fun way to end the weekend and I have to say I think we'll be back out there and on a boat in no time. 

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