U.S. Open and Shut

Our family had a big BALL at the US Open. (Thank goodness, because the closing of the RFK bridge meant it took us two hours to get to Queens.)


Although the prediction was for rain, this was the only water we saw falling the whole day.


Still, we spent some time indoors at the kids clubhouse, where we competed in the air balloon challenge.


Disorder in the court...


My verdict: this is a big racquet.


No, sis, THIS is a BIG racquet.


Ice cream, set, match.

Mahopac Boot Camp

Who knew life in Mahopac was so tough? First, we had to swing across the dangerous swamp.

Then we scaled the highest mountains (or at least AWOL).

Next, we jumped into the frigid waters...

...and had to avoid sea creatures.

At last, mommy said the most important part of boot camp was getting your toes ready for your boots. Princess Army here we come!

Happy Birthday, Octoscar

Today Oscar turned ate. At least that's what we said, after we had Mema's yummy dinner and Aunt Julie's homemade Magnolia Bakery cake (cooked with huit flour).

The next morning, we headed str-eight to the lake for a swim.

But the highlight of the weekend was a trip to Brooklyn to watch Oscar throw out the first pitch as the hometown eight--um, nine--Cyclones played the Tri-City ValleyCats. We all convened on the diamond (too bad it isn't an octagon) before the game...

Mema gathered with seven of her eight grandchildren. Yeah, can anyone figure out who's missing?

Oscar threw an amazing strike, right over the pl8.

And then got to take home his very own Cyclones baseball - we had ocho much fun.

Newport Department of Transportation

Our final trip this summer to Newport required all modes of transportation.  On our first day, Mary arrived by carseat (accompanied, of course, by her family).

I figured I should show Nora how we big sisters swing - with help from "Uncle" Sean.  Funny how with all this energy exerted we don't seem to be going anywhere.

After they left, Liana and I tooled around town (or at least the parking lot) on a Plasma Car made for two...

...but daddy said he wanted to take me horseback riding.

Then I took a spin on Liana's two-wheeler (note, no training wheels!).

We spent a rainy morning at the library and built these special binoculars to go on safari - by elephant of course.

But imagine our surprise when a turtle made himself available for a ride!

After a busy week like that, it was nice to kick back in the tree to take our annual family photo.

 Bye, Newport and thanks for a "wheel-y" fun time.  See you next year!

Boat Wait, There's Moor

We had a "ferry" fun weekend - taking not one, but TWO ferries. First, it was the one to visit our cousins in Fire Island.

Holy "ship" - it was really windy on deck!

But that wind in my hair was nothing compared with the breeze I felt as Charlotte helped me navigate on a two-wheeler without training wheels.

Atticus also taught us a thing or two - about setting new records on his iPhone game.

Atty and I had a lot of fun snuggling at App-time.

The next day, we took the Staten Island Ferry to see the SI Yanks host the Brooklyn Cyclones, where we had four "fore" seats.

Once we got our bearings, I took a "bow."

As good as our seats were, nothing compared to the company - Ari and his mommy and daddy.

After the game we charted our course around the bases holding mommy's hands...

...but we went home with daddy.

Speaking of our way home, we waited forever for the Ferry back to the mainland (sort of)...but at least we had our first mate Ari's companionship.

Ahoy!

Wild About Key Wilde (& Mr. Clarke)

Thanks to mommy's colleague, Ralph, we have gotten really excited about a new CD: Rise and Shine by Key Wilde & Mr. Clarke. Today we got to hear them perform live at mommy's work - which was AMAZING! Here they are singing daddy's favorite song: The Rattling Can...

I don't know, YaYa, I think you do that song pretty well yourself considering you don't have a guitar (or Ralph on bass). I wonder which rendition our readers will prefer (and whether they will join us to check out K.W. & Mr. C. at Symphony Space in January.)

Yankees vs. Red Coats

Usually in the middle of the summer, the rivalry we keep our eyes on is Yankees/Red Sox, but this weekend, it was the Yanks vs. the Red Coats as our favourite [sic] British family - "Aunt Niffer" and her boys - visited with us on this side of the Pond.

I was particularly enamoured with Arthur, despite his ridiculous hat with the B on it. I was surprised they didn't walk on the left side of the street!

We also got to meet Avalon (undoubtedly named for the British isle of the same name) and spend some time with her mommy and daddy whom our daddy has known since 1986. In this case, my knickers were in a twist, so I took the picture instead of posing for it.

Cheerio!

We're Hung-RI

The rest of our Rhode Island weekend featured a lot of eating, first at the Sweet Berry Farm (the home of New England's best ice cream), where I made sure that mommy and daddy were on the menu.

Then it was off to hibachi, where daddy caught a meat pop fly and mommy got the rice wine alley oop.

Meanwhile, I was working on my mad chopsticks skills.

On our way home we stopped off at Daya's new place for "tee."

I'm famished. How do we get to New Fork City?

Too Pool for School

While swimming and sprinklers at school are fun, nothing compares to a few days in the water at BoMa and BoPa's. The first day we encouraged our babies to jump in and float...

...and by day two we were brave enough to do it our own selves.

Soon the problem became how to get us OUT of the pool.

Though sitting by the side of the pool was pretty fun too...especially since I'd coordinated my bikini with the parasols.

You're Fired (Up)

We both really like firefighters, and fire trucks, and firehouses. (In fact, I often since about how I Wanna Ride on a Fire Truck.) So it was no surprise that we wanted to spend the day with BoMa and BoPa at Firefighter Appreciation Weekend.

While we were able to get aboard a fire truck, the more impressive vehicles were on the sea...

No, not the row boat, silly!

The Intrepid is a WWII aircraft carrier so it was fun to get into the cockpit...

...not to mention co-piloting a copter. We love and appreciate the FDNY, but we're open to driving vehicles on land, water and air!!

So daddy, when can we have the keys to your car?

Great Grandparents and Grandmasters

Bobo and PopPop came to New York to celebrate the opening of Uncle Spencer's new venture. After "checking" that out, they made some time for us.

We could have played on Mema's board all "knight" since we were quite a "match."

Our game was interrupted when daddy gathered the "queens" (and princesses) for this four-generation photo-op. Say "Chess!"