Uh-Oh

Bus Ride

Last week we decided to take a joy ride on the public transportation system after we realized that Lucas hadn't been on a bus since the days when he was carried around practically every moment in a sling. We hopped on a bus to Coney Island, then took the subway home. Lucas was crazy with excitement and had a huge smile on his face the entire afternoon.

Centerfold

Huevos Verdes Con Jamon

One of Lucas's favorite books these days is the Spanish version of Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, which we read every day when he awakes from his nap. There are cars and trains and boats and tunnels, so the book was bound to be an instant hit with Lucas; and he loves eggs, though our basically vegetarian kid certainly doesn't know from experience what ham is... But perhaps because he's a bit glass half-empty these days and "no" seems to still be a favorite word (sometimes even when he means "yes"), Lucas loves to chime in along with the grumpy character a resounding "No!" at the end of each of Juan Ramon's (otherwise known as Sam-I-Am, to rhyme with "jamon") requests to have him try a new food. So much so, in fact, that when we reach the last few pages where the grinch (why doesn't he have a name?!) finally tastes green eggs and ham and finds that Yes! he does indeed like them, Lucas gives us an even more emphatic "No!" and dramatic head shake, closes the book, and decides that we need to skip the end and start over from the beginning.

We'll get a "yes" out of you yet, little booger.

Sweet Boy

Mazel Tov!

We had a lovely evening at Becca and Josh's house a couple of neighborhoods away celebrating the Jewish New Year. As always, Lucas and Amalia made a great team:

Check out Lucas demonstrating his excellent knowledge of potty etiquette. He's crouching down to "wipe" before disposing of the toilet paper into the big potty. Can you make out the little wad in his hands?! Nice job, Little Man!

Hello, My Name Is. . .

Thanks to Grandpa and Grandma Sig for the t-shirt.

Labor Day

To the beach again! This time we were invited to a parishioner's lovely beach house on an island just 20 minutes away from home. It was hard to believe we were still in New York City!

Having fun with the Jacuzzi:

His beard's kind of like Papi's!

I touch your head, then my own...

Pretending to be asleep with Tia:

Being chased on the beach:
Lucas spent lots of time stepping on and off the foot sprinkler:

The Adventurer and the Citizen

(Play the Soundtrack of Indiana Jones's Raiders of the Lost Ark in your mental stereo...)

In the spirit of the great adventurers, like Magellan, Raleigh, Bartolome de las Casas, and Sacajawea, Lucas having mastered all the wiles of playing in the sand heads to the beach shore:



Walking back to our towels, Lucas is heard in eloquent toddler babble, saying: "Papi and Tia, did you two see that the water was chasing me? Can you believe that?! What was that all about?! I am not going back there."

Papi searching for words of understanding, says: "Don't worry, my great adventuring son, I am sure the French were behind this great affront somehow."

Err actually. . ., (Please play The Star Spangled Banner) In the spirit of all the great citizens who appreciate what they have where they are, Lucas returned to fun in the sand with dreams of improving his sand creations beyond compare.

Coney Island II

We had such a great time at the Coney Island beach last time that we decided to go again, this time with Tio A. and Tia. But first, a stop to Toys 'R' Us, where Lucas immediately found the Thomas section. . .

Rediscovering the sand. . .

Let's go see the water!