Suddenly this summer!

It has been a long hiatus from the blog and suddenly it is here- Summer 2010. Chloe and Ines start off their summer with a visit to some dear friends' home in Shelter Island. Shelter Island off of the North Fork of Long Island, New York. Approximately 2 hours drive away and what seems like years back in time, when summers are still summers without the hustle and bustle, just the way it should be.

Santa!

Our annual santa sighting took a different turn this year. After having gone to Macys 2 years in a row, thinking that it is THE new york experience, Chloe hinted that she thinks the Santa at ABC Carpet and home is the actual 'real deal'. Ines on the other hand, does not discriminate. She would sit on all of their laps and tell them she wants a 'pink present'.

Last Days of School

The last days of school are filled with such emotions- happiness (school's out! summer's here!), sadness (how did they grow so much?), surprises (they made THAT much art through the year?), reflections (again-how did they grow so much?)

Ines' school year ended with Memorial Day weekend, with a pizza party, and a roof top picnic and misc. memorabilia to bring home- as in giant sunflower and framed picture of teachers with each individual student. Chloe's school year ended with much more pomp and circumstance, complete with a 'passing under the rainbow' ceremony and a song filled assembly, as well as presents to and from the teacher, which had to be all handmade, incidentally. Of course there is an entire binder of artwork, progress, poems and pictures to take home. The day also coincided with with Chloe's first successful piano recital. Yay!

...and 'Hellooooooo Summer!'

Snow Day

What is confusing about Snow Day 2009 is why private schools have to call all Manhattan parents at 5:30 a.m. to congratulate them on their good fortune of not having to wake their kids. What is even more confusing is why preschools are still open. Being a good 2nd time mom, I, of course, did NOT send my preschooler to go that 6 blocks.

For we certainly must not miss out on the winter wonderland that is called Central Park! Our own local Brearley team (Coco and Cornelia, Yassie and Chloe) as well as little sibs partake in an UES winter tradition of sledding at Cedar Hill. OK, some blood was involved and frozen faces too (mine). But hot chocolate and a warm bath solve all those problems.

Rye

Our weekend at Chloe's classmate Yassie's country home in Rye, NY. The kids were completely entertained without ever leaving the house (The mommies even got to visit a nail salon)... Thank you Wii, thank you jumpy castle, thank you aquarium, thank you pink rooms, stairs, basement playroom, hide-and-seek courtesy Eric, dimsum, and of course our lovely hosts the Liows!

Ski weekend

Our dear friends the Hanlin-Rodolfos invited us to spend President's Day weekend at their Tuxedo Park country home. Lots of skiing, kissing (it WAS Valentine's Day!),eating and three dogs makes for two very happy families.

Kung Hay Fat Choy

Boy did we have a good celebration! Part one was the obligatory photo session, as seen here. On New Year's Day, we had fellow ice skater/chinese Brearley classmate Yassie (along with brother Lucas and mommy Eeling) and fellow ice skaters/half chinese friends Kayla and Alyssa (with mommy Nancy) over for a home cooked dinner.

home made lo mein, home made dumplings, home made spring rolls and turnip pudding rounded up a slightly chaotic but highly festive evening...

Best wishes for a prosperous, healthy, lucky, fun and food filled year of the Ox!

Things that Kindergarteners do

Things that Chloe is doing at Brearley- self portrait and being a school day counter. (???)

Prepping for School

While big sis Chloe is leaping and bounding along kindergarten, I realize it is time to let Miss Ines Alto understand that her career as a student is about to begin. According to the guidelines, the parents are supposed to talk to the child about school, and that he/she would be attending soon. So I decided to give it a try after dinner.

"Ines, you will be going to school soon."

"School?"

"Yes, the same one that Chloe went to"

"Chloe school?"

"Yes, and you have to be a good girl"

"Ines good girl"

"Yes, so no biting."

"Yes biting. Ines bite."

Realizing I probably have to dish out a bribe, I continued,

"Kids that do not bite, there will be snack."

"SNACK!!!!! SNACK!!!!! SNACK!!!!"

After which she is completely sold on the concept and hopped away.

Not to mention tonight she dreamt out loud and said,

"I hungry. Mommy, I hungry."

It's going to be a long road.

Back to School

A certain somebody in our household has been itching to start her kindergarten career. This began with the once a day questioning of when we are going to our new school, to the 'why do all kids wear uniforms' questions, to the 'I WANT SCHOOL TO START'. to the waking up on her own, an hour before time is called, teeth brushed, hair combed...and I present to you, Chloe Alto, our kindergartener.

First day of school (well, first HALF day) began with the MTA bus, in which we bumped into a fellow new Brearley kindergartener. Then of course, is the to-be-expected crowd of parents with their professional digital SLR's in front of the Brearley doors. The girls, after a dry run on the previous day's orientation, knew exactly where they were going, and were greeted by name tags which they had created. Parents were reluctantly shut out of the classrooms and patiently waited in the assembly hall where coffee was served. (Or, in my case, I ran home to fix a lunch for Chloe) An after school picnic awaited at the neighboring Carl Schurz Park, where all ice was broken in the 90 degree heat.

In a month

A lot happens in a month. And apologies for not having posted. We have been busy enjoying the summer. Okay, okay- truth is that I have been working hard and the kids are blissfully at camp and class. But we still manage to have some fun over the weekends- as in a 4th of July trip to our now favorite Mohonk Mountain House, in New Paltz, New York. Chloe caught a small trout, Ines had her first face painting of clashing stars, and breakfast

Strange Coincidence

A rather strange and random encounter on Net-a-Porter today.

Presenting the Ines box clutch from Chloe, no joke.

'In a brilliantly designed color blocking style this is the epitome of an instant classic design from Chloé. The perfect clutch for when you have just a little more than the very necessary.'

It too can be yours for an incredible bargain- $966- on sale!

http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/30973#

MOMA & P.S. I love you

We were on a roll and visited MOMA and P.S. 1 in Long Island City within 2 days of each other. Consider them parts 1 and 2 of the Olafur Eliasson exhibits, which Chloe consumed with gusto along with the Eastmans. Ines on the other hand, much preferred the P.F. 1 architect's installation- a pool/playground at P.S.1. She tested the waters and inevitably ended up completely soaked and subsequently naked. Fortunately it was a sunny day and we hung out to dry off along with croque monsieurs and chestnut sorbets- yup, they were from the cafeteria menu!

Museum Mileage

So it was decided that this summer's exploration theme (last year being 'sight-seeing in NYC') would be 'The Museums of New York'. Considering it is a city of an abundance of the theme subject, I must say we probably would not run out of ideas. First stop- the Met with out of town buddies and former New Yorkers Wyatt and Ella Eastman. Now Wyatt and Ella were native born and have transplated to Arizona for a couple of years already. Yet they are rather worldly. Wyatt knows about 50 countries and their capitols, AND their flags. He was fascinated by the fact that I grew up in Hong Kong and that Eric, though Filipino, is not actually FROM the Philippines. Photos: Chloe poses with Jeff Koons dog and the gang in from of the Temple of Dendur.

Then and Now

In case you want to see the evolution of Chloe Alto from first to last days of preschool...

Pomp and Circumstance

I probably should not be so casual about this. Afterall, it is a big milestone to have one's daughter graduate from preschool! Yet, the mind is scattered and in a general mood of once being overjoyed yet sad at the same time. It was not so longer ago that I too went through preschool graduation at Hong Kong City Hall. And it seems just like yesterday that Chloe was just a baby. So I can only manage some random notes on Chloe's preschool graduation day: Moms helped out to decorate the party space the night prior. Dads were dispatched to secure seats at All Souls at the crack of dawn. The sun was shining on the beautiful May morning. Major Giuliani sat amongst friends, family, grannies, caregivers. Moms cried. Hankies flew. Kids sang 'Give a Little Love'. The preschool director gave an individual description of each kid ('Chloe Alto had the most interesting lunches- lamb chops- and many many coats') And then my little girl marches with her class to 'Pomp and Circumstance'...