LAST DAY OF SCHOOL


















Well today is Raul the Jewel's last day at at Lefferts Gardens Montessori. There's a lot to say about such an amazing place but more on all that some other time, not now. It was getting hard thinking about what to write on the last day, so instead here's a pic of Raul on his first day in the place, back in November 2005.

Thanks everyone—teachers, parents, friends!

"FLIER FLIES!!!"


















Last night we parked on dead end street in leafy Ditmas Park and waited til dusk for fireflies. We saw one while driving thru the neighborhood the night before, and Raul was excited to see it light up in the air (Dad was excited to see them in Brooklyn, remembering catching them with cousins during summers spent in Chillicothe).

So we went back tonight, equipped with a net, a magnifying glass and a large pickle jar. And caught some! Dad showed Raul the budding entomologist how to swoop bugs up with a net and get them in the jar unharmed. We ended up with a lot! But they weren't lighting up in the jar that much, maybe they were sad or afraid to be in there. It was a lot better to open the jar and let them fly off our fingertips. We think they made it home for dinner—we ate ours pretty late but it was worth it.

Thanks to Gabe the kid from the neighborhood on the BMX for helping us catch some.

SHORT SCOOTER STORY


















The kid game isn't all osmotic learning and birthday parties. Being 3 1/2 is hard work! Case in point this past weekend Raul went to a party and a bunch of kids had scooters there. Aside from checking the clowns and a couple footraces, small man spent the entire four hours teaching himself how to ride like his older friends Eniola, Sonhai and Chase. Then Gabriel showed up—with a Hot Wheels-branded scooter!!—with front suspension!!!—and made it all the more fun. There's been a scooter sitting around at Mom's house, but suddenly Raul had the motivation to learn to RIDE.

And learn he did...ride he did! He practiced at home later that day, and again the day after (with a couple tips from Dad's friend Wes).

Then this morning he woke up, got ready for school, carried his backpack and scooter downstairs, opened the front door and said, "Man oh man Roxanne, what a beautiful day!" And with that he got on the scooter and rode down the sidewalk all by himself.

FIVE FOR FATHER'S DAY



















No breakfast in bed, no brunch! On Father's Day we were up really early to get to an appropriately-themed race in Central Park. Dad surprisingly did his thing running miles in 27:4something and showed he might just be on his way back into shape—later Freddy said he looked like he was going a lot slower than he actually was.

The highlight of course was Raul getting down in his second race ever—the 3-4 year old age bracket in the kids category. Not quite five miles—not quite 50 meters!—Runnin Raul sprinted the whole way in the kind of race where the real prize is not falling down and skinning your knee. The medal at the finish line is just an extra bonus!

Later Dad asked him, What were you thinking about during your race?. And Raul replied, "Nothing, Daddy. I was just focused!"

Thanks to Fred for the support, shouts to Mom, Abi, Bobby, Trish, Harmon and the baby for coming out!

WE DID IT AGAIN: VAPOR TRAIL 07

IN THE PLACE TO BE


















Lefferts Gardens Montessori did it big at Sesame Place yesterday. The school takes a trip all the way to Langhorne, PA each year to ride the rides, splash around in the water park and eat delicious fried food—and this year was no exception...so much so that we retraced our exact same route from 2006, hitting the Vapor Trail roller coaster and two water rides before Raul and his buddy Gabriel decided on impromptu naps in the lunch line. Special shout-out to Gabriel's dad Gary for making the trip...mom Sherron back in Brooklyn since they're expecting another baby Bennett in September.

Raul's take: I had so much fun and that was really really good. And I was being really really brave, too. When all of us splashed in the pool at the end of the water slide—that was my favorite part!

Since we were in the water a lot of the day we didnt take so many pics. Couple of Gabe, Genesis and Jada, though, Jada in the summertime cabana caftan!

3...2...1...SESAME!!!
























Raul and the crew at school have been (literally) counting the days left til the annual trip to Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA. Well, it's tomorrow rain or shine.

Here's what last year's trip looked like, Raul, Gabriel and Genesis (and their moms) on the Vapor Trail roller coaster...and we survived, so...

TRACKS AND TRACKS



















Whew tonight Dad and Raul went out to the Red Hook track again. Lil Tracknut ran three-and-a-half laps, stretched, then took 5 attempts in the long jump pit. Then played soccer (and got mad when Dad told him to stay away from the older kids practicing javelin).

Of course when it came time for Dad to work out with Jorge, Felipe and Gil it started to rain...then downpour. Raul sat out the summer storm in the car, but Dad did his thing in the rain. We'll see what kind of shape he's in the Sunday at the Father's Day race in Central Park. There's a kid's fun run too...so you can already guess who's super excited.

By the time we got home and in bed to finish the second half of John Henry, the story of the steel-drivin man (more tracks!) was the perfect end to the day.

JUST PLAYIN


















We're housesitting for a friend who has a piano.

TAXI!!!!!!


















One of Raul's favorite things about going to Fairway supermarket in Red Hook—in addition to hitting the cheese samples with his mom and nearly getting thrown in the lobster tank by his dad—is going out to the back patio area and looking for NYC water taxis. There's actually a dock right there! But we haven't hailed one yet, Dad said maybe next week we'll see if that actually happens.