Good Morning, Christmas Tree

Although they "helped" last night, the boys woke up to the full kitschy splendor that is our holiday tree.  They sat and stared, bedazzled.  This tree will also mark the day that Dashiel has learned to scramble out of his crib.  He did it once last night when Jen was in the room.  At that moment we passed silent wide-eyed looks between us – telepathically I heard Jen say, "holy sh*t!"  She got that right:  this morning I went in to rouse the kids, to get Hugo up for school, only to find Dash snoozing on the trampoline!

Today's artistic pursuits

Dash loves to draw while Hugo makes music and then later, "sculpts" with radioactive green putty.

Pre-Thanksgiving Spread

At Chez Besch-Turner

Attack!

Here's the boys lovin' on some chips and guac from Los Amigos this afternoon.

Baby Break @ the Kettle of Fish...

Jen and I spending time with Steve, Mara and Ken watching the Packers at the Kettle Of Fish in the Village.

Dashiel and the Pear

Dashiel enjoys the act of chomping and chewing.  Swallowing is another story, however.

Not tired

After being outside at a park yesterday afternoon, the boys took a long nap.  Consequently, they were wide awake last night...check out Dash's moves like Jagger!

Dash's new pal...

Dash calls all dogs, "foh!"....which is to say "foow" as he says "woof" backwards.

Some pictures from Halloween...

It was a very New York Halloween. We got to attend a costume birthday party at a beautiful nightclub not far from home. Kids and parents dressed up. Open bar and live DJ during the day! Trick-or-treat! Our little Dashiel dog sniffed out some french fries. Nobody's plate was safe!  The next day it was off to the Beer Garden for a neighborhood gathering. Daddy was Thor. Hugo played the part of Captain America. And mommy played a witch!..

"BAH?!"

We've been catching Dash in the kitchen as soon as his PJs are on. He wants his milk bottle ("Bah?!") and he shouts, stomps and uses sign language to let us know his demands. Also, when Jen sings itsy-bitsy spider, watch how he rubs his fingers together to simulate the hand movements that go with the song.  Eventually he will be able to do it like Mommy.



Here's a quick bonus video of the boys.  Both boys love to dance when they are inspired.  We will work on getting a full-fledged dance party video online soon.

Pre-Halloween Snowfall

What the ffffff.....heck!

An afternoon on the farm

We took an afternoon this weekend to get out of Queens and visit a farm/theme park out on Long Island.  Hugo loved tossing hay while Dash lost his marbles in the inflatable bouncy rooms!

Spanikopita

It's a banner lunchtime...Hugo has elected to bite into something other than a banana. No simple task for him.  Not a problem for Dash.

Park boys, last day of September, temps in the 70s

Dashiel, Carmen and Ev's finger.  Hey, it was hot and sunny.  Hard to take a picture, but a fun time!

Hangin' with C. Jr.

Good friends visiting from Chicago...these from this morning's play time.

Dancing Dashiel?

Not quite.  Not even Al Green could get him to wiggle it.  I was hoping you would be able to check out his moves but when the camera came on, he got shy.  He does tell me "bye" which could also mean "hi" at this stage in the game.  As well, our little ham likes to carry a "murse," or a set of keys, whatever's around.

@ California Pizza Kitchen

34 lbs.

@ 14.5 months....this from last week's doctor visit.

Our boys love yogurt

A portrait of two eating styles.

Dash at Astoria Park

Last night's beam of light

What you are seeing here is called Tribute in Light as seen from our neighborhood last night--rising above the tree in the middle-ground. Two gigantic beams of light where the two towers once stood. These massive lights have been switched on every September 11th (since 2003) to mark the anniversary. We live 11 miles away, but these beams have been reported from much farther away than that. Today is a pretty solemn day for New Yorkers (especially those who were living here when it happened...but the gravity of this occasion is not lost on those of us who were living elsewhere, such as Jen and myself). I look forward to seeing the new memorial someday soon.

Finger painting!!!

We are elated to be getting these little notes with pictures from Hugo's teacher. Here's one of him finger painting on his second day of school:

"Hello Jennifer, Hugo had a better day. Here are some of my favorite pictures from Hugo. Enjoy them!!. We are so happy to have The Brown's family in our class."


We call this one, Study in Magenta #1

After school, Hugo and Dash went to play with their friends in the park (in LIC at Gantry Plaza). Here's a serious-looking Hugo on the slide with his friend Alexi. They had more fun than their faces reveal in this photo. Thanks for the photo Dr. K.

From my ride into work yesterday

Finally the rain had lifted and I got a chance to stop on the George Washington Bridge (connecting the city with, well....the rest of the world heading west) to take this picture. Just remembering ten years ago, on September 11....what a different view this was. (Click the photo for a larger view).