Summer vacation, part I

We drove to Syracuse Friday, spent the night with Grandma Vickie, then continued north to Rodman on Saturday. Visited Old McDonald's Farm outside Sackets Harbor that afternoon. Slept late Sunday, then Carey and I drove back to New Jersey without them. They're at South Lake as I type, hopefully sleeping. Here's a link to a quick Kodak Gallery slide show.

A sense of place

I took an entire writing course about that topic in college, but don't think I appreciated many of the assignments until years later after I'd graduated and started a family of my own. Now every time I return to Rodman, N.Y., I'm overwhelmed with memories and amazed at how visceral things seem to me -- the stone wall in front of the old Woolworth's house, the trees in the backyard (once in danger of being run over by my lawnmower, now 50' tall with a canopy that blocks out the sun), even the cracks in the sidewalk. The one thing that's different?  Well.

Daddy!

I picked up the kids today at school, after a 9-hour commute from L.A. Lincoln was the most excited I think I've ever seen him, racing across his classroom floor and yelling "DADDY!" as he ran over for an on-the-floor hug. Greta didn't see me enter, but turned when she heard Lincoln yell. She actually leaped into my arms like some scene out of a movie.

It was about 10 minutes later when we were unloading backpacks and lunch bags in the house that they both asked, "Daddy, what did you bring us for presents?"

We're off to Rodman tomorrow and I'll post some photos then.

EWR --> LAX

I had a lovely weekend with the kids and am now off to L.A. for the work week. No promises that Carey will post anything. But in chronological order, here's how Greta & Lincoln spent the weekend with Dad:

1. Movie night pizza party -- "Barbie & the Diamond Castle" with Jack & Emma
2. Attended Charlotte's 3rd birthday party at the pool
3. Watched "Barbie & the Diamond Castle" with Duncan
4. Played Batman & Cinderella in the backyard
5. Movie night -- "Mickey Mouse: A Christmas Carol"
6. Ate breakfast at the Village Diner
7. Trained into the city for a spontaneous visit to FAO Schwarz. Enjoyed a Big Piano dance show and story hour. Left with a $10 Audubon-authenticated singing, stuffed bluebird and a $20 Spider-Man Web Jet.
8. Ate a dog and a pretzel on 5th Avenue

No Internets

Our Verizon DSL stopped working at home, so no posts after this one until Monday when they fix it. Our home phone is on the fritz, too, so if anyone needs to reach the Merrills, call my cell.  Carey is heading home for a high school reunion with her friends and I'm staying behind to attend Charlotte Hayden's 3rd birthday party at the pool on Saturday. Tonight it's movie night. My goal is to keep them up so late they'll pass out with no complaining about Mommy's whereabouts.

Chuck E. Cheese

We enjoyed a birthday party for one of Greta's classmates on Saturday at the pizza/arcade joint that must be doing something right -- I can remember my first party there in 1982. On past visits, Lincoln didn't like the kid in the mouse costume, but this trip he proudly slapped Chuck five and gave him a thumbs-up. 

Paddle boatin'

We rented one for $15 on Sunday to paddle around Verona Lake. The kids were very well behaved until about the 28th minute (out of 30), at which point I wanted to throw Lincoln out of the boat and see if the life preserver worked. Didn't help that the seats aren't adjustable. Carey and I were both eating our knees on the up-stroke. The cockpit didn't allow for much depth of field, but I like this shot, taken by Carey from the back of the boat, of me and the kids.

Spontaneous Sunday

No plans when we woke up this morning, so we loaded up the kids' bikes and drove 10 miles to nearby Verona. Walked through the flower garden, played on the playground and took a paddle boat ride. Best photo is Greta lost in the Black Eyed Susans.

School fashion show

Can't call it back-to-school because our big girl is just beginning her educational odyssey, but Greta did have her first experience shopping for school clothes yesterday. Carey and I both recalled weekend trips to Syracuse where the Big Mall was filled with rugby shirts and floral-print pants. Greta got a trip to the local used-clothes store instead. I didn't partake, so was treated to a fashion show before bed. Cousin Kim mentioned the other day that Greta might grow up to be a fashion model. As long as she's more Heidi Klum and less Naomi Campbell, I'm good with that.

Baterella!

Lincoln on Sunday playing a modified version of the Grand Duke finding Cinderella's missing slipper.

Fair is fair

Carey gave me grief for not cropping her orange-clad bottom out of the last post. So I'm posting this unflattering portrait of me and my girth as penance. The photo was taken by Lincoln at the beach. Yes, mom, I know I need to lose 30 pounds.

Fearless

Lincoln is all boy. Never walks when he can run and likes to jump off the strangest things. Here he is on a plastic Mickey Mouse table Sunday in the gloaming. I gave him a 9, with one point off on the dismount.

Life's a beach

Facing a weekend with no plans, Carey made the mistake of asking Greta Friday night what she wanted to do on Saturday. "Let's go to the beach!" said our darling 5-year-old. So we loaded up the CRV with towels, pails, shovels and gallons of sunblock. Destination: Seven President's Beach, which was recommended by Greta's pre-school teacher as a family-friendly place. We got there about 11:30 and staked out a spot just above the high-tide line. Spent the afternoon jumping the waves and burying the kids in the sand. Turns out it wasn't a mistake at all.

Precious Fridays

Carey gets off work at 2pm and picks the kids up around 3. I try to catch the 443 train out of the city and get home about 530. The last few Fridays when we haven't been traveling someplace I meet them at the pool. We splash around on noodles for 90 minutes or so then debate where to eat. Tonight it was the Village Trattoria in nearby Maplewood. Got home about 830 and the kids and Carey watched the second half of Mary Poppins while I threw things at the TV as the Red Sox went up 6-3 against the Yankees in the 7th inning. No plans for the weekend other than some more quality family time. Here's a nice pic Carey took Thursday night as I unsuccessfully tried to calm the kids down before bedtime.

Bootie Dance

We've captured this on video a couple times, but Carey always deems it child porn and doesn't let me post it. So tonight I took a photo and cropped it above Lincoln's butt crack.

Anyway, the Bootie Dance was taught to our children by the otherwise fairly refined Emma Bailey, who we think modeled it after Mr. Guinea Pig's dance on Pinky Dinky Doo. It involves stripping off all clothes and then shaking the rump in the direction of the audience while yelling "Bootie Dance, Shake Your Bootie Dance!" 

Carey joined in tonight, but I couldn't convince her to get naked. Yet.

Back scratching

Greta has inherited my fondness for it. Every night I'm home for bedtime, she requests a couple minutes of light fingernail grazing. Pulls up her nightgown, rolls over on her tummy and says, "Back scratch." Tonight she sighed as I began scratching and added, "This is my favorite part of the night." Mine too, sweet daughter, mine too.

Jack's 3rd birthday

Jack Bailey (and his mom and dad) convinced the Maplewood Fire Department to host his 3rd birthday party on Saturday. A swell time was had by all. First we met Fireman Bill and learned about the various things he has to wear to help him put out fires. Then each kid was given a chance to spray Engine No. 33's hose. After, we went across the street to what the kids call Dizzy Tulip Playground, but what Maplewood Town Hall calls Memorial Park. Lunch was pizza, fruit, salad, chips, hummus and salsa, chased by a birthday cake made from scratch by Anneli that was unlike anything I'd ever eaten before. Hints of banana, berries, brown sugar -- topped with a more traditional frosting. Jack was a gracious host throughout, never once throwing a tantrum or refusing to share. Lincoln is honored to call him a friend.

Natural History Museum

A weekend late, but worth sharing because I don't have anything fresher. Greta insisted on posing atop every one of the rocks out front of the museum. It was only 108 degrees, so I stood in the shade and humored her.

Duncan

His father remarked to me tonight at the concert in the park that Duncan was being exceedingly affectionate towards Greta. Is it possible she told him about this morning's conversation?

Idle chatter

Greta: How old do you have to be to get married?
Me: Well, Mommy was 27, but some people get married earlier than that. It depends on if they're really in love and mature enough.
Greta: I'm going to marry Duncan. I love him. What's mature?
Me: Mature is being responsible and knowing who you are and what you want. When you came into our room last night at 1145, 130 and 4 a.m. -- that was not mature.
Greta: OK, Daddy.