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. 

SaveSave

Hanging with Hamilton

Today my girls had a first--an outing with our playgroup friends without me. It was like a friends field trip and it was wonderful. I have Julie, Kira and Maya's mom, to thank for the spontaneous invite since she bought tickets that were going to be wasted and decided instead to fill up her car with extra kids. Nacho was working and had our car anyway, so I wasn't going to make a big day of it. So a weekend morning to myself while the girls hung out at the kids Hamilton show at Brooklyn Bowl sounded delightful. Of course, I knew neither Elisa or Carolina are familiar with the musical. But I didn't figure it would matter too much. And I was right. They rocked and rolled and danced their way through the production. And afterwards, I found plenty of evidence that they had a great time. Thanks to Tania and John Frisbee for the photographic evidence! 

And all of this reminds me that we are so lucky to have this group of friends and neighbors who are the kind of people who I trust with my kids and who make such generous offers. As we debate more and more about moving out of the city in the near future, we wonder what our lives would look like and it's hard to say. This patchwork of friends has developed over the better part of 9 years already and it can't be easily duplicated. I know that and yet the unknown still beckons. But for now, for today, I am happy in our current state. We are surrounded by kindness and friends and that matters. 

Getting on with it

We've had one of those springs where it felt like it might last forever. The weather got warm, then cool again. It rained and then rained some more. We had one glorious late Friday night in the park that felt like summer and then BOOM! It was 40 degrees and we broke out the winter coats again. But that's what this time of year is like. It lingers.