First Day of School!

Yesterday, we drove into Manhattan for Hugo's first day of school. Normally he will take the bus with other children, but we wanted to meet his new teachers, see his new classroom and get a feel for how things work in the morning.

Here's the full name of his first school. It's a mouthful, so it's normally referred to as just "Central Park" and has a great reputation for teaching kids on the spectrum.

Hugo is in classroom "L." His name, as well as those of his classmates, are written on the yellow pencils (Hugo's is on the bottom).

Hugo seemed to take to school right away. He seemed very excited and darted from station to station trying to touch and take everything in. Here's Hugo's new teacher guiding him in his first-day exploration.

She showed him a box of markers and set up some paper. We're not sure whether he drew anything or not, but according to Jennifer, he came home with red marker on his hands.

A picture of his new backpack (great pick Mommy!) and his cubby hole where they store all his stuff for class.

Here's the list of the first day's activities.

Here's Mommy and Dash in front of one of the bulletin boards. The rain drops are new students, the flowers are returning students...Hugo's name is on one of those rain drops.

Before we left the school, we wanted to see how things worked with drop-off. Normally, these parents won't be here, but it's the first day of school.

Dash by this time was beat. Not even Dumbo could work his charms.

Here's Mommy and Dash in front of the school entrance. The buses have a little drive way to pull up and drop kids off. From here, each child is escorted into the building and up to the second floor where the school is located.


As we were leaving, heading to Jen's work to say hello her colleagues in the CBS Radio Newsroom, we passed a large 9-11 ceremony at Lincoln Center. The picture doesn't do it justice, but many police were gathered. No wonder it was so busy getting into the city.



Here we are visiting the CBS Newsroom. Dash was a bit shy, but he and Dumbo soon started doing laps around the newsroom and dropping into studios to say hello.

Hugo's Early Intervention teachers

Hugo has spent the last year in Early Intervention and he's had several therapists come to the home to help him. From L-R, Mary worked on Hugo's social play, Julie (OT) helped Hugo eat with utensils and write with a marker (he loves drawing!), Anna teaches speech and got the most words out of him than anyone, and Evelyn helped Hugo learn to sit nicely and work on puzzles, if you could have only seen how he'd clean up when Evelyn arrived! She meant business and Hugo knew it!

This week Hugo will start preschool in Manhattan. He'll take his own lunch and snack, get on a school bus and even take field trips. We've been reading to him a little book his teacher Griselda made about the school day and his teachers. We're not sure how much he's soaking in. But we're all ready. As Nemo says, "FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL! FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!"

Labor Day pancakes

Sunday morning

Hanging out on the couch

At 47th Street Park

...and wearing some of my new clothes for school (starts next week, so I gotta look good).

Mmm...GoGurt!

Today we are at Jones Beach

Blustery Astoria sunset

Wind picked up on the back side of Irene.

Assessing the Yard

Not much to report from last night's hurricane. A significant lean to one of the small trees in the front yard, plenty of twigs and pine needles all over, and recycling containers full of water (which gives you an idea of the amount of rain that fell in the past 12 hours--there's over a foot in that barrel). Looking like it's going to be a nice, but somewhat breezy afternoon...taking the boys out later on.

Good bye, eye...

Hello wind...should pick up again fairly soon. Dash napping.Hugo jumping. Mommy working :(. Daddy taking a moment to blog...and doodle wind gods...maybe Hugo wants to do a puzzle?

Hello Irene.

Wind and rain in abundance. Needless to say, the kids and I will be playing inside tomorrow...the dogs will have to hold it I guess....or poop in the tub; the living room rug is an options.

Our visit to Central Park today

Since Jen worked the early shift today, the boy's and I drove into the city to meet her. We walked over to Central Park and unleashed the kids in the Heckscher Playground. Although a supervision headache (as it was built for kids, they can get places quickly while the adults have to go over, under or go around), the park was really cool--it had fountains, tunnels, sand, climbs, walls and bridges. Very kid friendly. It was the first time Jen and I had been to this part of the park, and the boy's loved it.

Random images from August

Comments embedded in slide show images, enjoy.

An afternoon at Lake Welsh

For a boy who can't sit still...

Haircuts can be a problem. Last night, for safety sake and because his previous hair was a rag mop with strands of varying length, we put away the scissors and brought out the clippers (thank you Adam). So now, Hugo rocks a brush cut.

Sports Mecca's visited

Maple Leaf Gardens...check.
Lambeau Field...check.
Yankee Stadium....now, check.
(posted by daddy)

At the park

Hot July!

Randoms

Just posting random images from my phone.

(Some photos have captions, click the text balloon at the bottom left of the slideviewer)

Texting while driving

Beating the heat in Queens

When the pool's too crowded (and it was...the line was, like, almost to the Triboro Bridge), you take the wee ones to Target in College Point and let them run the aisles, perhaps park it in the toy section where time flies, products are acquired and your children forget you exist.

Below: We bought the Alphabet Apple.

Below: We did not buy the beanbag seats, but Hugo did make himself a nest.

Blazin' hot in Astoria

Holy crap!

Preschool anyone?

Mommy went yesterday for Hugo's preschool orientation. He'll be taking the bus to Manhattan. Mommy learned about what to bring for snack and lunch and had to sign a permission slip for park walks since Central Park is the school's playground (there is a rooftop playground too!).
It looks a bit corporate from the outside, but the inside, on the school's floor there are bold colors, oversized tricycles and some of the most amazing teachers you could meet. The Browns are feeling pretty blessed.

Apparently they don't make charts....

....for babies like Dash. A couple of days ago, Dash weighed in at the doctor's office (and got shots...boo!). He's 30 lbs. 13 oz. and 33 1/4 inches, which as Jennifer noted, "is literally off the charts" in terms of growth at his age. This came as no surprise to us though, all you have to do is pick him up and you realize he's pretty much the same weight as his 2.5 yr.-old brother, Hugo.

"They tell me I'm quite the specimen."

Dashiel at One!

Where we started...

and where we are now...

Happy Birthday Big Boy! It's been so great to see you grow this past year...and boy, did you grow!

Ice cream in the park yesterday

The boys love a good cone on a hot day.

Our Recent Family Trip to Cayuga Lake

So good to get away...

Swingers

The boys generally shy away from swings...but the other day it seems they caught the bug.

Green Lantern Pants

Hugo's shorts seem to glow green next to this poster.

Dash Walks, Jumps and Talks...

We haven't posted video in a while...So here's some walking...

We've gotten him to take more steps, but needless to say, he's close to a full-on sprint....or dash as the case may be. Below, a bit of jumping...

And now a bit of talking....Dash has picked up a new word: watch now as he points to "the dog" and says her name. And Hugo, he gives a big choco-smile at the end.

Drawing with Hugo

He is quite good with lines.