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.