Catskills again

Grandman and Grandpa Ruane (Gma and Gpa) got back from their winter stint in California a week and a half ago, Wednesday, and stopped by our place on their way home upstate. We were so happy to see them! Aidan and Kiana looked forward to it all week, and were completely joyful at the reunion. :) That weekend (2 weekends ago), we drove up to the Catskills for the first time since Thanksgiving 2011 (!), and basked in being back! Aidan and Kiana were thrilled to play with Gma and Gpa, and Alex and I were thrilled to have backup again! We got to sleep in, I read the first of The Hunger Games trilogy, and we all enjoyed having tea with Marguerite and Nadir and seeing the doggies and the chickens. It was wonderful! We are so excited that they are back!!

1. 

Piano Recital

Aidan had his first piano recital this week! He was amazing! I am so proud of him! He has been taking piano lessons after school at PS 187 on Thursdays this spring, and on Thursday had his first recital with his class. He was the youngest kid in the recital, but did not play the simplest song, and was completely competent and confident despite the crowd. He played "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on first his right and then his left hand, in front of at least 40 people (parents, other students, siblings and friends), and did a wonderful job! Afterwards, Kiana brought him flowers (thanks, Cherie, for remembering them!), and everyone celebrated with treats (brownies, muffins, crackers, juice).


Cherie picked up Kiana for me that afternoon, so that I could spend some special one-on-one time with Aidan, and I absolutely made the most of it! I told Aidan that the whole day was about celebrating him and his hard work getting ready for the recital, and just said "yes" to everything he asked - it was so fun! I got him special snacks (brie & baguette, raspberries, apple cider), read his Batman book with him, and bought him a bouquet of flowers (daffodils & other white & yellow flowers). He loved it! Cherie also came to the recital with him and got him red carnations, too. Aidan just basked in the glow! After the recital, he went out of his way to get all of us snacks and drinks from the treat table, without being asked, and generally just beamed from the tips of his fingers to his toes - he was so proud of himself! (and rightfully so!) I need to come up with more frequent reasons to celebrate the kids like this - it was a wonderful experience. :)


We missed Alex while he was gone in Washington D.C. this week (Sunday through Thursday), but at least it wasn't as long as other trips. Fortunately, Alex thinks that he is going to have a break in big trips for a while, so that will be a relief!


This weekend was full. Baseball school Saturday, and Sunday we had church, a "Winter that never was" party for Aidan's preK class at Fort Tryon park, and than Oscar's 5th birthday party. It was a beautiful, 60 degree day, and everyone enjoyed themselves, despite the busyness!

"I dub oo!"

It's been a while. Things continue to be wild! What with Alex traveling and me picking up responsibilities in women's rights activism, attending a variety of conferences, and teaching, keeping up the blog every week has been too much. But here it is again!


Alex made it back safe and sound from India, and everyone was happy to have him back. Then he was home for two weeks, and then next week he will be going to Washington D.C. During this time, I attended parts of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations, and also part of a "Women in the World" Summit by Newsweek/The Daily Beast. Both have been wonderfully inspirational and invigorating! I love seeing so many amazingly accomplished and wonderful women role models (Gloria Steinem, Leymah Gbowee, and Charlotte Bunch being just a few) - strong and passionate women who are taking meaningful steps to work towards more just social change. It's very motivating! There may not have been a female US president yet, but being able to see (less visible but still very important) other women in leadership out there gives me hope that a better and more equal world is possible.


Aidan and Kiana continue to do well, though both of them have been sick with what seems to be an unavoidable winter cough and cold. Aidan is regularly switch-hitting at baseball school on the weekends, and Kiana tried out ballet/acrobatics school while we were there one weekend (it was WAY too organized for her, but she did really love jumping down the trampoline path, and would have stayed there all day if she could!). Aidan did the kids run at Coogan's Salsa, Blues, and Shamrocks run last weekend with his friends (Emi, Virginia, Olivia, and more); this year, he was more excited about it, and knew what he was getting into, which made it more fun!


All of the receptions and crazy schedules have meant that Kiana's sleep schedule completely went out the window for a while, but fortunately, things are turning around now, so that is encouraging! We are also excited, because Grandma and Grandpa Ruane (Gma and Gpa) are currently driving across the country on their way back to New York, after being in California for the winter, and we are going to see them again soon! We are also starting to plan our next Hawaii trip - probably in May - which makes me rather deliriously happy (it's been over 2 years, and WAY too long)!!


Favorite quotes:

KIANA:
- "I dub oo" (I love you) (She told Nana and Pop pop / Grandma and Grandpa Ross this on the phone a few times, as well as to me and Alex, and it makes my heart just melt!)

AIDAN:
- Just before Alex got back from India, he told me, very carefully (to make sure that I wouldn't' get my feelings hurt): "Mama, when Daddy gets back, I'm going to love him a little bit more than you for a while." ME: "Because you miss him when he's gone, right, buddy?" AIDAN (very concerned looking): "YEAH!" (He's such a sweet boy!)