Gov Island and Photoville

The last weekend of September, we finally made it to Governor’s Island. It was the last weekend it was going to be open. It was a beautiful day! We just made the ferry from Pier 6 and took the 5 minute ride over to the island. We hadn’t been there since it first opened, before Sienna was born.

A nice view!

A nice view!

On the boat.

On the boat.

When we got there, Sienna checked out the cool treehouse!

When we got there, Sienna checked out the cool treehouse!

YvesOldRide
OldRide2
Dragon

Fete Paradiso was there. These are vintage carnival attractions brought over from France. I loved it!

Fete Paradiso was there. These are vintage carnival attractions brought over from France. I loved it!

RingTossGame

Aside from the rides, they also had games. The ball throw was open and Sienna didn't get any balls in but won a lollipop anyway. The ring toss wasn't open. I loved they way these looked!

Aside from the rides, they also had games. This was the ball throw. Sienna didn’t get any balls in but won a lollipop anyway. The ring toss wasn’t open to play. I loved the look of everything!


We rode the old time bicycle ride together.

We rode the old time bicycle ride together.

Sienna took this photo of us. We also did further exploring around the island. They are working on developing more and plan on having more areas open for visitors next year. I can't wait to go again! Hopefully we won't wait so long to visit and go more than once.

SIenna took this photo of us. We also did further exploring around the island. They are working on developing more and plan on having more areas open for visitors next year. I can’t wait to go again! Hopefully we won’t wait so long to visit and go more than once.

We ran to catch the boat back as it was only running hourly. I wanted to check out Photoville. A gallery of photographs displayed in shipping crates. Really cool!

We ran to catch the boat back as it was only running hourly. I wanted to check out Photoville at Pier 6. It was a gallery of photographs displayed in shipping crates. Really cool!

Not everything was displayed in the shipping crates. This artist had their images printed on what looked like acetate, put on boxes and displayed on poles. Really cool!

Not everything was displayed in the shipping crates. This artist had their images printed on what looked like acetate, put on boxes and displayed on poles. Really cool!


Smilebooth was there, a photobooth, so me and Sienna, the hams that we are, tried it out. I’m bummed that our photos cannot be seen online. For some reason, the date we were there is not online. So here is a screen capture of our hamminess.
Screen shot 2013-11-17 at 11.09.34 AM

Welcome Atlas!

On September 25 at around 8pm, Yves gets a call from David saying that Amy has been having contractions all day! The baby’s due date was October 12th! So I rush over there to bring them to the Birthing Center, which is very close to our house. Get a text and photo the next morning at around 7:30. It’s a boy! Atlas Derrick John was born at 7:05 am. The procedures at the Birthing Center are different than at a hospital where you only stay about 5 (or7?) hours after giving birth. They were able to leave around 1pm. Amazing!! I picked them up and drove them home. I couldn’t believe Amy was up and moving so soon.

The new family!

The new family!

Just 5 hours old!

Just 5 hours old!

Loved how he was holding onto my shirt!

Loved how he was holding onto my shirt!

Aunt Natalie (Atlas’ grandma) wasn’t due to arrive until October 1st. I picked her up and brought her over there. She stayed with them for about 3 weeks to help out. I’ll have a more specific post about her visit later.

Hi Grandma!

Hi Grandma!

JP also came to visit for about a week.

JP also came to visit for about a week.


Yves and Atlas.

Yves and Atlas.

Because I got a letter home from Sienna’s school about someone having Chicken Pox, I wanted to wait 2 weeks (incubation period) to make sure she was ok. She was vaccinated for it but with the newborn, didn’t want to take a chance. Then she had a minor cold (mostly just stuffy nose) that I didn’t want to expose Atlas to so Sienna didn’t get to meet her cousin until almost a month after he was born.

Amy helps Sienna hold Atlas.

Amy helps Sienna hold Atlas.

Sienna and Atlas

Sienna and Atlas

Here is a bib and onesie I made for Atlas. I asked if he was named after the Greek God and they said it was partly that but also because they had traveled around the world a lot together. Plus they liked the sound of the name.
AtlasOnesieBib

I look forward to watching Atlas grow and getting to know him more!

Oppossum!

So the day started off normally. Walked Sienna to school, did some exercises in the basement and was getting ready to do some shopping at the market. I walk toward the car in the driveway when I stop dead in my tracks. A freaking oppossum was sleeping in the driveway! And it looked pretty darn big! I quietly get into the car and hope that it wakes up and leaves by the time I get back home. Of course, not before I took a picture of it and posted it on my FB page! HA!

First photo.

First photo. Doesn’t it look like it’s sleeping to you?


While shopping, I check some of the comments from the photo. A friend asked if I was sure it was sleeping….Shit! It didn’t even dawn on me that it might be dead! Another friend posted an article of how some “genius” city official thought it was a great idea to bring in oppossums to take care of the city’s rat problem. Now there are just as many oppossums as there are rats! The articles were back in 2010 so I am actually surprised this was my first run in.

So, lo and behold, the rat oppossum, was still there in the same exact position. Of course, this didn’t stop me from parking the car as far away from it in the driveway! From the top view, with the position of it’s back leg, he was definitely deceased!

Opp2

After a call to 311, I find out that since it is on private property and shows no signs of it having rabies (like how would I know anyway? It was dead!), I had to dispose of it myself. I needed to put a sign on the bag stating there was a dead animal in there so the DOT can cremate it. Yeah, ok.

I was not going to put myself through the trauma of disposing it so I waited for Yves to come home. Of course, I recorded it, as requested by Laura, at a safe distance away.

Getting rid of the Oppossum from Lisa on Vimeo.

Sienna wrote the sign.

Sienna wrote the sign.

Birthdays and Loose Tooth

SylvieBD2

SylvieBD1

Sienna’s best buddy outside of school is Sylvie and it was her 5th birthday. Her birthday is the day before Yves’. We celebrated with a BBQ and Hello Kitty ice cream cake at their house. Sienna also had her first sleep over at their house that night! Sylvie slept over our house a couple of weeks before and that was her first one too. Apparently, Sienna didn’t miss us at all!

Here we are singing! Password is secret.

Happy Birthday Sylvie from Lisa on Vimeo.

Found this beautiful caterpillar in their yard.

Found this beautiful caterpillar in their yard.

Before picking up Sienna the next day, we went to lunch at Lioni's, a great hero place in Bensonhurst. Here is the "Leonardo DiCaprio" hero. Eggplant, roast beef, fresh mozz, stuffed peppers, sundried tomatoes and mayo!

Before picking up Sienna the next day, we went to lunch at Lioni’s, a great hero place in Bensonhurst. Here is the “Leonardo DiCaprio” hero. Eggplant, roast beef, fresh mozz, stuffed peppers, sundried tomatoes and mayo!

Sienna's first adult tooth had been growing in behind her baby tooth. She was encouraged to  keep loosening it with her tongue. After the sleepover, it got real loose (they were playing some game and she bit down on something, I didn't really want to know!) We were eating tortilla chips and she got one stuck in her tooth, went to the bathroom and came out with the tooth in her hand. She pulled it out!

Sienna’s first adult tooth had been growing in behind her baby tooth. She was encouraged to keep loosening it with her tongue. After the sleepover, it got real loose (they were playing some game and she bit down on something, I didn’t really want to know!) We were eating tortilla chips and she got one stuck in her tooth, went to the bathroom and came out with the tooth in her hand. She pulled it out!


It's so small!

It’s so small!

Celebrating Yves' birthday at my parent's house. First we went to an Indian restaurant for dinner and then had cake at their house. I bought him a carrot cake at Villa Bate. MMM

Celebrating Yves’ birthday at my parent’s house. First we went to an Indian restaurant for dinner and then had cake at their house. I bought him a carrot cake at Villa Bate. MMM

First day of First Grade!

Sienna returned to school on September 9. Sienna wasn’t looking forward to it but I was! Over a month has passed and I’m happy to report that she is very happy in school. She even told me she loves school! I don’t know what this girl did with Sienna but I’ll borrow her for now. LOL. Here are some photos from the first day!

The traditional sign in front of the house.

The traditional sign in front of the house.

Posing in front of school with her best bud.

Posing in front of school with her best bud.

Lots of familiar faces and some new ones. There are 30 kids in her class and I think only about 11 are boys.

Lots of familiar faces and some new ones. There are 30 kids in her class and I think only about 11 are boys.

Following their new teacher into school.

Following their new teacher into school.

She drew this portrait of herself. I love it! Of course she is holding a piece of candy. LOL. I don't know what happened to her nose, tho!

She drew this portrait of herself. I love it! Of course she is holding a piece of candy, sporting her new short haircut and pierced ears. I don’t know what happened to her nose, tho! LOL.

Summer 2013

01SiennaMust
02SylMust
03NicoMust

Mustache Fun at our first BBQ of the summer season!

Mustache Fun at our first BBQ of the summer season!

Sprinklers!

Sprinklers!

My 44th birthday dinner at a favorite, Tanoreen!

My 44th birthday dinner at a favorite, Tanoreen!


Lopsided birthday cake because my mother almost dropped it. HA!

Lopsided birthday cake because my mother almost dropped it. HA!


Joy took me out for my birthday to Fletchers BBQ. This is the lamb shank. Tasty but nothing outstanding.

Joy took me out for my birthday to Fletchers BBQ. This is the lamb shank. Tasty but nothing outstanding.

Wedding card for Heather and JW!

Wedding card for Heather and JW!

Free summer bowling, managed to go once!

Free summer bowling, managed to go once!

Finally made it to Rockaway Beach! Awesome beach.

Finally made it to Rockaway Beach! Awesome beach.

Nom nom nom. One of the best pizzas I've had! New Park Pizza in Howard Beach.

Nom nom nom. One of the best pizzas I’ve had! New Park Pizza in Howard Beach.

The first dance at the wedding! Held in the Hudson Valley. It was beautiful.

The first dance at the wedding! Held in the Hudson Valley. It was beautiful.

Fun at Rockefeller Park in the city.

Fun at Rockefeller Park in the city.

Luna Park

Luna Park


Coney Island!

Coney Island!

Me and Starr and the Wonder Wheel!

Me and Starr and the Wonder Wheel!

Big smiles at Red Mango.

Big smiles at Red Mango.

Lady Liberty

Lady Liberty

Central Park Zoo penguins

Central Park Zoo penguins

Dylan's Candy bar. There's candy in the stairs, Mommy!

Dylan’s Candy bar. There’s candy in the stairs, Mommy!

Attempting to turn the cube during Summer Streets

Attempting to turn the cube during Summer Streets

Feeding the llama at White Post Farms

Feeding the llama at White Post Farms

Playing house with Vinny at White Post Farms

Playing house with Vinny at White Post Farms

I got to go to Bead Fest in Philadelphia!

I got to go to Bead Fest in Philadelphia!

Took a soldering class with the fabulous Kate Richbourg!

Took a soldering class with the fabulous Kate Richbourg!

Sienna requested her ears pierced and we got them done at the doctor's.

Sienna requested her ears pierced and we got them done at the doctor’s.

She also wanted a short haircut! My baby is growing up so fast!

She also wanted a short haircut! My baby is growing up so fast!