A Week at Barcelona Camp

I went to a camp taught by coaches from FC Barcelona. The camp was on Randalls Island, which is in the East River across from Harlem. On Monday we took the subway and walked over the foot bridge at 103rd Street. The other days, we drove because it took a long time to go on the subway and walk and it was very hot.

The coaches taught us dribbling, juggling, shooting, and more. They also talked a lot about discipline, tolerance, and sportsmanship. I liked learning how to juggle.

I recommend this camp to someone that likes soccer and wants to improve their skills.

The Art of the Brick

Today we went to Discovery Times Square for The Art of the Brick. Art of the Brick is designs  that are made by a man named Nathan Sawaya. My favorites were the skulls, the dinosaur, the Mona Lisa, and the sign your own brick thing.

Nathan Sawaya is originally from Oregon, but now lives in Los Angeles and NYC. He went to law school before working with Legos. He started making Lego exhibits in 2007 and this is the biggest one ever. I really liked it because I saw a lot of cool things made with Lego.

Clipper City Tall Ship Tour of New York Harbor

On Mom's birthday weekend, my brother Sam, my Dad, and I surprised her by taking her on a boat called the Clipper City Tall Ship. The ship went around New York Harbor.

I liked helping to do things like putting up the sail and steering the ship. I also liked the activity book from the New York Historical Society. In the book, there is a list of things to find, a drawing game, and a quiz about the Brooklyn Bridge. On the list of things to find, there were things to find like trash, Ellis Island, and Battery Park.

During the boat ride, we saw the World Trade Center, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Battery Park. I liked seeing Ellis Island because I just studied it in school.

I liked the boat ride because I saw a lot of cool things near where I live, and I learned a lot about sailing.

See the USA 2013: Grand Rapids and Grand Haven, Michigan

(written by Max with a few minor edits from Dad)

We went to Grand Haven and Grand Rapids, Michigan to see our friends for the 4th of July weekend. We drove from New York to New Jersey to Pennsylvania to Ohio to Michigan. We saw Courtney (Mom and Dad's friend from college), Matt (Courtney's husband), Sophia, Anais, and Isla (Matt and Courtney's daughters), and Frank and Sherrie (Courtney's mom and dad).

We got to Michigan on the afternoon of July 4. That day, we went to MVP swimming pool and I really liked going down the water slides. That night, since it was July 4, we went to the lake to watch fireworks. I liked the fireworks because they were very colorful and very cool.

On Friday, we went to the beach and I liked playing in the water with everybody. I liked eating chips, pretzels, apple sauce, and juice.

On Saturday, we drove to downtown Grand Haven to have lunch and to walk around. We went to the toy store and played 10 Days in the USA, a board game that you have to make a ten-day journey around the United States walking, driving, or flying. My dad, two boys, and I played the game and one of the boys won. We liked it so much, we bought it! (Note: we bought it in the toy store, but now we see that it was much cheaper on Amazon). When we got back to the house, we played three rounds of 10 Days in the USA with Frank, Sherrie, Courtney, Matt, dad, and me. I won two rounds, and dad won one. After the games, we left to start our drive back to New York.

I thought the trip was enjoyable because because we saw a lot of different fun things, spent time with good friends, and learned a lot about Michigan.