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.

India, 2012 - Ankit Weds Pakriti

Here are some pictures from our trip to India for Priyanka's cousin's wedding. For the purposes of the wedding, Priyanka is considered Ankit's older married sister, which culturally, holds a place of great honor for Priyanka and the rest of us. We all got to participate in many of the ceremonies and rituals, including the opportunity for Max and Sam to ride the horse with Ankit on the way to the wedding. There is nothing like an Indian wedding, and we are very thankful to Ankit and his new wife Pakriti for allowing us to celebrate their marriage in such a meaningful way.

Late Summer Fun

Two brothers having fun in Manhatta, Grand Rapids, and Brooklyn

Max Turns 5!

As usual, we celebrated Max's birthday in style . . . not once, but twice!

On his birthday, we had the Bobelians, the Shahs, the Tyndales, the Saint-Sauveurs, and Liana over for Daddy's famous mac&cheese and cake.

The next day, a few of the families from Max's school took in a Staten Island Yankees game. Thanks to the Morrisons, the Scharffs, the Fernando-Englishs, the Punzalans, Team Brecken, and the Garces' for joining us!

Fun with Brothers, Buddies, and Broccoli

Summer, in the City

June is a great time to be in NYC . . .

You Can't Beat a Fresh Picked Strawberry

. . . especially of you pick strawberries with people you love.

Another reason we love living in NYC: Urban Camping

There are people (I won't name in any names), who think that you can't have a normal childhood in NYC. Of course, we love living here, and on top of the usual stuff that everyone knows about, we also have some secret NYC experiences that really make life here great. For example, Daddy and I went camping in Central Park last weekend. We showed up with sleeping bags and some bug spray, and the NYC Urban Park Rangers brought the rest. We pitched our own tent, we took long hikes through the wilderness (during the day and at night), and we studied the flora and fauna. We even survived a very rainy night.

Goin' Back to Cali

We just finished our annual cross-country excursion to California to visit friends. We stayed in the Bay Area this time visiting the Nash-Chen and Tye-Chang families in Noe Valley, the Lager family in Alameda, the Wu-Ma Clan in Emeryville, and the Alfano family in San Jose. Rachel dropped in on us at almost every stop. We also made a stop in Palo Alto to see Laurie for a tour of Mommy's old stomping grounds at Stanford and to see Amit and his new pad.

May . . . We were outside

More Spring Fun!

Its Never to Early for Lincoln Center

Max got to attend a series of concerts this year featuring members of the Lincoln Center Chamber Orchestra playing Vivaldi's Four Seasons . . . lots of opportunities to play instruments as well!

Caribbean Blue

We took our first triple family vacation with the Saint-Sauveurs and Kendalls. Hopefully, the beginning of a tradition for many years to come!

Spring is a comin'

Spring is a 'comin, oh yeah!

Brooklyn Children's Museum

A day off from school usually means an adventure with Daddy!

FFFF - February Fun with Friends & family

A new take on an old fave