Great Report Cards

Well, well, well.....looks like we have two straight A fourth graders!! Congratulations H/R! Your hard work and diligence shows.

You are really great kids!!

I Never Thought my Daughters would ask ME to turn the Volume Down

Well, after several years of trying to not become the TV Nazi by being overly strict with regards to tv watching, H/R have asked ME to lower the volume because they are reading. I feel I need to clarify - THEY are chastising ME regarding the tv because THEY are reading......Not the other way around!!! Haha....who would have ever thought.

So if you're wondering what it is that they are reading that has them at it today for over 5 hours already it's the first book in the Twilight series, in fact the title is "Twilight", by Stephanie Meyers.

I told them that they could see the movie only if they read the book so we bought two copies yesterday and they haven't put them down. I don't even think the motivation is the movie, I think they are really enjoying the book.

We've been enjoying (sort of) summer break which I describe as time where we get to do some fun things interspersed with longer moments of boredom. So I am very happy that reading is filling in those moments.

New York City 2008

We are enjoying 9 days in New York City - Diane, Rob and Charlotte are away on vacation.

We got her on a Friday afternoon and took the train plane and subway into the city. After settling Joel went out to Costco to buy supplies for our Saturday night "get together". Rachel and I walked around for a little while, had ff and orange juice at the coffee shop. When Hannah and Joel got home we had pizza delivered.

Saturday - we went down to the So. St. Seaport where I bought half price tix for Sunday's show "Gypsy" with Patty Lupone. We had hotdogs, saw 3 of the waterfall art installations, watched the "Lazer Yoga" (an extreme contortionist)....then came home. Later on a few friends came over and we had a nice visit.

Sunday - H/R and I went down to the "Hell's Kitchen" fleamarket and browsed around. Then we met Joel and went to see "Gypsy". Of course I loved it, everyone else was "so-so".

Monday - We went into Queens, visited Bookie. Went to her local pizza/italian restaurant for lunch. Then we drove out to see:
1. P.S. 186
2. The Farm
3. 74-15 Littleneck Pky.
4. 73-13 260th St.
5. Went to Lake Success

Tuesday - Down to Coney Island and Brighton Beach
1. Strolled thru the shards of glass to the water.
2. Rachel and I went on the terrifying "Cyclone"
3. Then H/R went on the Wonder Wheel and various other less terrifying rides.
4. Walked the boardwalk to Brighton Beach and had lunch at "Tatiyana's"....russian food. That was real nice because all the restaurants are outdoor cafes right on the boardwalk.

Wednesday
1. Went to the ABC studio set of "One Life to Live" and got to see a taping of the show. That was very interesting.
2. Had lunch down at the coffee shop.
3. Then I went to see "Hairspray" with George Wendt as Edna Turnblad (great show), and Joel took H/R on the "Shark" speedboat.

Thursday - caught up with some laundry and then we plan to go to the roof garden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But first H/R joined me as we went downtown to Chinatown. We had lunch (next time go to Green Bo - a nice looking dumpling spot- at Canal make right onto Mott and turn left at next corner).....we had shrimp lo mein and broccoli. Then we picked up some duck and pork for dinner)....Off to the Met! Really enjoyed the Met and the roof garden. On the way home we saw street performers.

Friday - Took the train to Brooklyn and then walked to the city over the Brooklyn Bridge. Then we got kicked out of the Woolworth Building (closed except to employees since 9/11) but not before we could see how beautiful the lobby is. Had crispy pizza in the City Hall area....ick. In the evening Billy and Rita came over. We had champagne and strawberries on the roof.

Saturday - went to the "Garage" flea market on 25th street. Then walked to the Village, taxi to Little Italy....lunch at sidewalk cafe. Bought salamis and bread for sandwiches on plane tomorrow. I went home while Joel brought H/R to the boathouse, I then walked to meet them and they picked me up on the boat. Rowed around.

Sunday - packed and had lunch at the coffee shop then flew home.

Pictures to follow.

First day is not like the last.

This Is Hannah and Rachel on the last day of third grade. This week they started 4th grade and although it was a really good week, I think they liked the last day of 3rd grade the best.

Hannah has Mrs. Kostner and Rachel has Ms. Briggs. By Friday they decided they liked both of them. No real homework yet, that should start up after curriculum night next week.

If this year goes as fast as last year did we will be looking at 5th grade real soon!

If not for the corkscrew we would have nothing to survive on but food and water.....

Market Day in Dinan

This was the makings of our pot au feu.....also artichokes.

Wednesday

Hannah and Rachel inside the ruins of the 12th century Fort LaLatte on the north coast of Brittany.













Here we are in front of the castle "keep."










This is the view from the castle down the cliffs to the sea. It doesn't really show how very frightening it was. Not to mention you can't hear the crash of the waves on the rocks. It was so beautiful.










We stopped at the beach and enjoyed watching Hannah and Rachel run....it was a perfectly beautiful day. It is Thursday morning now and I am going off to the local market with our neighbor Shelly, who is a chef in New Zealand while Joel watches the kids. Will write more later.

Not Your Usual Day at the Beach

Here is one of the old German bunkers on the cliff over Omaha Beach where thousands of American and British soldiers lost their lives on June 6, 1944 - D-Day. I was surprised that they were still just sitting there...on a cliff over one of the most beautiful coastlines I have ever seen. One can only imagine what it was like that day.










We were happy in a very "unhappy" way to be here today.














This is a view up the coast in Normandy.