Play Date

When Lexi & Margaret decided to play in Lexi's room, I turned on some kiddie music & they both broke out in song...

Today, Margaret Herrick came to visit for a few hours. She and Lexi sat in the little chairs my grandfather made (and I painted) while watching Beauty and the Beast. 

Tonight during an after dinner walk, Matt & Lexi had a cute little conversation. And I promise that this is verbatim. We were shocked at the sentence structure, too!

Matt: Oh, that tree almost hit me.
Alexis: On your head?
Matt: Yeah!
Alexis: Oh dear. Well, we'll have to put a band-aid on it. And neosporin, too.


I usually pack a little lunch for Lexi to eat in her Nursery class at church, since we are at church during prime lunch time and I discourage snacks during sacrament meeting. Today I didn't have much time to put together a lunch, so instead of her usual PB&J, she got 2 slices of whole grain bread, a cheese stick, and some strawberries (in addition to any snacks they give her in Nursery). Her nursery leader reported to me that when Lexi took out her sandwich she remarked, "Oh no. She forgot the jam!"


The other day while walking down the sidewalk, Lexi spotted some unsightly piles left by a dog. She quickly instructed, "Don't step in the poop, Mom. Understand?"


While driving home from my mother's house a couple of weeks ago, Lexi asked a question from the back seat. I was trying to pay close attention to the road as I didn't want to accidentily miss an exit, so I did not answer her query. Once again, she asked the same question and I again did not answer. Then she said, "I asked a question, mom!" How rude of me to disregard her inquiries!

New Video Feature!

So I think I have figured out how to get video on the blog... this one was taken way back in February at my grandparents home, and Lexi is talking a whole lot more now, but we think it's adorable!

Scroll down for a couple more videos... It seems that the picture & sound are not perfectly synced... sorry for the annoyance that may cause.

New Living Room

Back in April, we painted the west wall in the living room. Then, my mother graciously lent us some furniture while she is renting a furnished home... and here is our completed red & black living room... Do you like? 

Albany, New York

This past weekend we were lucky enough to have access to a car (Thanks, Ryan & Abbi!) and decided to take a long-awaited trip to Albany to visit Stewart & Carolyn Forbes, some friends from our Provo days who are now living & working there. On Sunday evening we took a drive around town to see some of the sights. We spent time walking around downtown Albany and we were most amazed by the fact that the place was absolutely DESERTED! We only saw a handful of people while we were out! We walked into a park with an elaborate configuration of wood structures perfect for climbing and Lexi commented, "This is my favorite park!" The Forbes drove us around some residential areas of Albany as well, and we felt twinges of envy for all the people living in their own single-family homes- we especially fell in love with many of the row houses & brownstones in downtown Albany that are priced oh-so-affordably! On Monday, we took Lexi to the State Museum of New York, where there was a great exhibit about New York City (including a portion of the set from Sesame Street). Kind of ironic that we travelled to Albany only to visit a museum about the city where we live! We enjoyed a free ride on the State Carousel and then had some delicious & authentic mexican food at a little joint called La Familia (and enjoyed platicando en espanol con los duenos). Then we took an Aqua Duck tour on an amphibious vehicle. We spent about 45 minutes driving around the streets of Albany learning interesting things (that we then shared with the Forbes)... and then the tour bus drove right down into the mighty Hudson River where the tour continued for another 30 minutes or so as we learned about Albany & it's relation to the river. Lexi got a turn to drive the boat, and we really enjoyed this *twist* on a tour.

On Tuesday, the 4th, we took another drive out to Saratoga- a town we absolutely fell in love with. Another (cheap!) ride on a carousel and a nice leisurely walk around town and then headed over to a Revolutionary War monument and spent some time thinking about what a fabulous country we live in.

We had to drive back to the city on the 4th, since Matt's classes began on the 5th, but were able to see some fireworks on the drive home. We even enjoyed a firework display right in front of our bedroom window, as some people in the street below set some fireworks off which exploded at our level, and some people in the building across the street set off a display from their rooftop. Dangerous, I know. But fun to watch, too!
More pictures of our trip to Albany: click here.

Lexi loved the Forbes & their cats. Stew & Carolyn were so nice to Lexi and spent lots of time doing what she wanted them to do. On the last day of our trip, Lexi said "Stewart and Carolyn are my friends."

Descending into water on Aqua Duck Tour

First Movie in a Theater

Today we took Lexi to see her first movie in a movie theater. She has seen lots of commercials and advertisements for the new DisneyPixar production Cars, and so today she got to see it. She did really well and was quite amazed by the grandness of it all. All during the previews she kept leaning over to ask "We watch the car movie?" and I would say, "In just a few more minutes." I have always enjoyed the previews, but I suppose it was just too much for her to have to wait for the feature presentation!

Towards the end of the movie, she fell asleep on my lap, but I think she had a good time. We have a cereal box with some Cars promotional ads, and she comments "I see the car movie!" every time she sees the box. 

Play Ball!

Tonight we attended a Mets game at Shea Stadium along with some 5000+ other Mormons from around the region in a Family Home Evening activity. The missionaries sang the National Anthem (although we didn't arrive in time to hear/see it- bummer!) Aunt Allie came, too! She bought us all a Nathan's hot dog, making Lexi's first baseball game experience an authentic one, don't you think?
 

Dancing At The Mets Game

The DaVinci Code

I liked the book. I liked the movie. And I believe there are LOTS of other people who did, too. They just don't want to admit it.

The Frontier Prophet

Today we went downtown to see a statue of the Prophet Joseph Smith right smack in the Financial District. As you may notice, there was some defacement done to the plaque on the statue. It seems an entire line of text has been not-so-discreetly removed. Matt thinks it may be the line about how Joseph saw God the Father and Jesus Christ. Our stake has sponsored the display of the statue through June, possibly longer. Joseph stayed only about 2 blocks from where this statue is now standing when he came to New York City all those years ago.

BBQ- Big City Style

Today we went down to Madison Square Park with Grandma Susan & Aunt Allie to enjoy the delicious BBQ of well-known pit masters from all over the country at the Big Apple Barbecue Block Party. Once we got there, though, the lines were INSANELY long. We love to eat a good piece of meat, but when you have to wait in line for 45 minutes, we draw the line. We got some great ribs from the Blue Smoke tent and then let Lexi run out some energy at the playground. Then we mosied on over to the Shake Shack where we ended up waiting 45 minutes anyway for some burgers and shakes. The atmosphere was fun. Live music, some free stuff and time with family.

Anticipation....

Lexi had been riding the subways since she was 5 months old. But as she has gotten older, the racket of the train hurtling into the station has progressively bothered her ears. She loves to stand near the edge of the platform and watch as it pulls in, with her hands carefully protecting her ears.

On another note, the noise in the subway can at times be excruciatingly loud. One stop we use on occasion is at 66th St & Broadway (near Lincoln Center & the Temple). There are 4 sets of tracks in that station allowing for express trains to rumble through without stopping. When the express 2 0r 3 trains pass by, it is quite literally deafening. I would be interested to know the rate of hearing loss of lifetime New Yorkers.... any one know? 

Rainy Day Fun (?)

So we had a series of very rainy days and were stuck inside for most of the time. I got a bit ambitious and decided to bake some homemade wheat bread (that's a whole different story), and Lexi was anxious to play with the flour. We already had some rice out for her to play with, so I added the flour to her pie plates and let her at it. She spent, literally, 45 minutes happily transferring flour & rice from one pie plate to another, scooping and pinching and sifting etc. Simple pleasures. 

Quotables II

"I can't like that!" ~After taking a rather large swig of what Lexi thought was water, but was actually a fizzy, carbonated ginger ale.

"Are you a silly girl?" I asked Lexi during a funny moment today. She responded, "No. I'm a movie star!" She must remember that I ask if she's a movie star every time she puts her sunglasses on.

Morris Jumel Mansion

Yesterday we participated in a service project that I organized for an Enrichment Activity. We went up to the Morris Jumel Mansion which is only 2 blocks from where we live. This is the oldest house in Manhattan and was also the headquarters for General George Washington for several weeks during the Revolutionary War. We did some weeding, pruning, planting and other various gardening activities. The weather was quite threatening all morning, but the heavy rain waited until we were finished with our project! Miracle!

This is Lexi playing in the water fountain while Matt & I do some tree pruning. 

Update on the car situation

For those who want to know how we are faring in the city without a car, we say VERY WELL! It has not been hard at all for us. Somedays it is frustrating to wait and wait for a bus or train, but we have been able to get everywhere we want to go. We can even escape from the city easily, which I wasn't too sure about as others have told me it's hard to get out without a car. You just have to know where to go and how to get there. For instance, on Memorial Day we went up the Hudson River to northern Westchester county in less than an hour- we took the subway to a Metro North station and took the commuter train up the river and then a short cab ride to our destination of Van Cortlandt Manor. And it probably cost us less than the gas for a drive in a car plus parking etc. The Manor was less than a mile from the train station, so we walked back.

The only thing we do miss are our Costco trips, but thanks to some wonderful friends & my mother who think of me when they go, we can get a some things on occassion. It is even easy to get to my mother's home in White Plains- we take a bus into the Bronx from our home and then take the Metro North Commuter train to White Plains where my mom lives only a couple of minutes from the station.

We also indulged in an iPod, which has made Matt's daily commute somewhat more enjoyable. And he can listen to his wierd music (i.e. Frank Zappa) on his own time and not at home. Although, I have to give him credit for NEVER playing that wierd stuff when I am around. Thanks, honey!

Who Says New Yorkers Are Rude?

A short anecdote proving that New Yorkers are not all mean-spirited people:

When Lexi and I go to swimming class, we have to take one bus south on Amsterdam Ave and then transfer to a west-bound bus on 145th Street. This requires crossing the street twice as the bus stops are located on opposite corners of the intersection (diagonally across). Yesterday, as we got off the first bus I noticed the second bus was already at the stop. If we miss it, we end up waiting and waiting and waiting, so I swooped Lexi up in my arms and made a dash for it, precariously crossing the busy streets as soon as traffic was clear. We got to the door of the bus just as it began pulling away, when I got daring and stepped up to the door of the moving bus to signal the driver. He pointed to the bus behind him (which I hadn't noticed) and motioned that I get on that one as it hadn't made a stop yet. However, since it was the same busline & didn't have to make a drop-off, he assumed no one needed picking up at that stop and also drove right by me, even though I was running alongside with a small child in arms banging on his door. A cab driver must have witnessed the whole thing, because he pulled up and told me he would take me where I needed to go. I told him I didn't have any money (which was the honest truth) and he insisted it was fine. And so, we got a free ride to our destination from an oh-so-kind cab driver! Only in New York!

Swimming Class

For the past several weeks, Lexi and I have been attending a swimming class at Riverbank State Park on Thursdays for tots & their *caregivers* (to be perfectly PC). Here is Lexi with her little friend Ezra, who is also in the class, and thier teacher Peter. One of Lexi's favorite lessons was when they were learning to do the Elementary Backstroke and Peter explained the arm movements to be like a "Chicken, Airplane, Soldier." Lexi recites this over and over throughout the week, although she has yet to really perform the actions in the water.

Today on our way home from class, while waiting for the bus, we watched a couple busses headed west. Lexi turned to me and said, "That bus is going to Jersey, right?" And she was, partly right- it was driving toward New Jersey!