Sunken Meadow Park

A few Sundays ago, our friends & neighbor, Alek & Aneta invited us to Sunken Meadow State Park for a picnic & also to celebrate their son Olivier's birthday. We've never been to the park before, but it was huge, very family oriented, and it even has a beach with a boardwalk. We would definitely go back to the park someday.

Our hosts: Alek & Aneta-they're expecting a little girl next month!

Serena trying to steal the grapes while no one is watching.

She got some grapes from us anyway which she loves!

The guys walking the trail right behind our picnic area. Devin asked me if there were bears on the trail before he went inside-what a city boy!

Ian, Devin & Olivier pretending to chop down the tree.

Church Picnic

A few Saturdays ago was our church picnic at the Prospect Park. One of the guys, Darryn brought his dogs, Roscoe & Bella along whom Devin loved. So we tagged along to the dog pond at the park where Devin watched the dogs played in the water. It was a long day, but we all enjoyed ourselves. On our way home we stopped in Brooklyn Heights to grab dinner & found some good eats. What a terrific day!

Devin at the dog pond-I had to keep reminding him the pond was for dogs only, not little boys. I removed his shoes though so he could at least stick his feet in the water.

After lunch, he fell asleep in the tent that we brought with us. He found a stick for Roscoe that he wouldn't let go-he said it's for the dog pond later. So he fell asleep with it.

Balloon game-object of the game: step on someone else's balloon till it pops-last one standing with an inflated balloon wins. Andrew played, but somehow he popped his own balloon.

Serena's first picnic...

Birthday!

July 4th-we celebrated Serena's first birthday along with our nephew, Kyle's birthday (7/5), since my sister Connie was in town with her kids. Although it was just a family celebration, fairly low key but so much fun. Serena was under the weather (she was recovering from "pink eye" on both eyes), but she was enjoying herself. I had to try to put her down for a nap 3 different times before she finally gave in. What a special day!

Serena's Elmo ice cream cake.

Multi-layered jello with pineapple 8 (Kyle was turning 8) with Kyle's ice cream cake-Jeff Hardy (wrestling dude) & Serena's Elmo cake.

Kyle, the birthday boy opening presents and his sister Sylvia taking pictures.

Serena opening presents with cousin Sandy's help.

Taking pictures-the grown-ups trying to get a smile from the kids...

...the end result.

End of School!

Devin finished his first year of school on June 25th. He completed PK3(nursery school) with a few bumps in the road but HE DID IT! He received a certificate of completion & he

told his teacher, Mrs. Rivera that he would ask us to frame it for him. His class had a end of the year picnic at Astoria Park & I tagged along with Serena as a chaperone. I was surprised how well behaved these kids were. I witnessed first hand at how Devin wanted to be picked to do something-he RAISES his hand...quietly! Wow. I'm so proud of him!

Having ice-ee together...Mrs. Rivera is sitting on the top far left with the pink short sleeve top.

Hanging with one of the teacher's aide-Ms. Lucy.

Lunch Time

Happy 11 Months!

Wow! Time goes by so quickly. I know I say that every time when I post Serena's monthly pictures but I feel like I was just pregnant!

At 11 months, Serena walks independently, she finally decided to let go of our hands, little by little (like 2 or 3 steps at a time) at around 10 months or so. Now a days, she is trying/learning to walk up & down the stairs. She's basically eating everything that she's allowed to eat, but I still feed her the baby oatmeal cereal for breakfast & multigrain cereal along with something else for lunch. I usually feed her pasta for dinner & some kind of meat (whatever meat Andrew & Devin are having for dinner). She doesn't eat a lot, but she does like to try everything I feed her. I can't till she turns one next month! Woohooo!

"Mommy-I-don't-feel-well-please-don't-take-my-picture" face.

"OK-maybe just one more."

"Well, if you don't mind my runny nose-go ahead, take another one. I'll even smile for you."

Serena walking.

Like Brother, Like Sister (11)

It is the time of the month again...what is similar between these 11 months old pictures when taken for both, is they were both under the weather. Hence, I didn't capture much of their usual smiling faces...

Serena @ 11 months

Devin @ 11 months

Fishing Festival

A couple of Saturdays ago, we went to the First Annual Fishing Festival by the Hudson River & West Harlem. It was an family affair where arts & crafts tents were set up and a band playing bluegrass music. There were a lot of park rangers there educating all the visitors about the different species of fish you can find in the salt water based Hudson River. Then we were trained to use the fishing rod (mine & Devin's first). We really were hoping to catch something but with just half an hour time slot to fish, we caught nothing, not even an old shoe. We were going to sign up for another time slot, but we were getting hungry & it started to rain. Oh well, maybe next time. 

The band getting ready to play.

Devin decorating a tile.

Andrew made a necklace for Serena at the A&C table.

Fishing...

Eating...at Dinosaur BBQ