Thanksgiving Day - Part I

Thanksgiving is brought to our family this year in 2 parts....Day 1 and Day 2. This option was given to us due to the fact that our family is sick. Again. and STILL! There is nothing like feeling and being sick to help you realize how thankful you are for good health!

We have been sick since Sunday - the crazy day when Bryson and I were sick, and Jacob was throwing up (see post from that day) and then Madeleine had the stomach bug on Tuesday night - we had everyone stay home from school on Wednesday as the coughing was going strong, and we hoped to have it clear the system so we could enjoy the parade, dinner and all the parts of a Thanksgiving celebration.

I went out last night to buy all the things for our dinner - yes it was the night before Thanksgiving and I was out trying to find food....I don't recommend that again, and yet with being in an apartment it's hard to buy food too much earlier! I was worried I had missed the chance for a turkey, as the grocery store I went to first was out, I called Costco to see if I could run by there to buy one - and they were out! I drove home by a different grocery store, and thankfully they had a few birds left. I had no idea turkeys could sell out! When I came home, the kiddos were busying to get ready for bed, excited to be up early so we could go to the parade. After they were in bed, Bryson and I were up talking and then started to pack up backpacks and getting out chairs for the parade. We decided on a plan to have him take Madeleine and stake out a place, and then the boys and I would follow a little bit after. We decided to have our Thanksgiving Dinner on Friday, so that we wouldn't have to worry about getting up even earlier to start the dinner, or to hurry home to finish it up....one event each day with how sick we all were sounded fine - and realistic.

Game plans are nice ideas - I'm just wondering if they work better on other families, because rarely do we actually do the plan that we talk about. Bryson work up feeling worse than the day before (he has some major swelling to his face, where the Dr. thought a saliva gland was clogged and a sinus infection - he gets at least one a year and they are terrible!) and so he decided to stay home and sleep in as the boys did not want to get up either....and I got up and went to the parade with Madeleine.

We left the house a little before 9am - there was no way at this time we would get great seats, let alone good standing room. We knew we'd probably not get close to the front at all, but we just wanted to see some of the balloons and check off from our bucket list that we went to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. And now that we've been - I have to say that seeing it from home is SO much better! You get better views, you don't have to wander down the maze of NYC streets trying to figure out which are closed and which are open, and you aren't standing behind crowds that are about 10 people deep to catch a view of the parade!

The best view we had of the parade was a fluke - we hopped off the subway at 57th Street and walked over to 7th Avenue where the parade was coming down & after going up and down the street twice, we ended up on the walkway part of the sidewalk, where the police officers were insistent that people continue to walk - there was no standing! That is we couldn't stand until we got caught at the red light (there were letting the traffic cross in between times of the parade) and we waited there for the light and had the best view of the balloons and floats that were coming by.

It was hard to have to move on (yet there wasn't any choice with so many NYPD officers hovering over), when I had the feeling that we wouldn't get quite the same view at another spot....and I was right. We tried walking down multiple streets and we could not get close to the parade again....sometimes we were back about 1/4 of the block - like here...thankfully the zoom on the camera got a better view than we did!

We did think that this balloon of the world was so cool - it looked like it was just floating through the streets and that there were no strings attached. We loved this one!

We finally made our way over to Columbus Circle and went inside the Time Warner building, to see if we could catch a glimpse of the parade from upstairs...which the view wasn't close, but it was a very unique view!

I love these glass stars that hang from the ceiling - at night they light up into different colors for a light show to music - we need to come back at night to see the entire show, yet they are still magnificent hanging from the atrium ceiling at any time of day!

This was a piece of artwork on the top floor that Madeleine and I loved. It has major places from around the city printed over each other - it was fun to stop and see which places we love that we could find!

After we viewed the parade from all 3 stories and realized we just didn't get the view we wanted, we went downstairs to the basement to get a hot chocolate from Whole Foods. That set us back about 40 minutes, as the machines broke while we were there and they were trying to serve about 30 people their hot drinks and it was CHAOTIC! By the time we got back outside, we saw the end of Kermit going down 59th Street....

And then we saw the little Macy's men floating along which signaled the coming of....

Santa Clause! Thankfully there was a steel post near us that opened up, so Madeleine was able to stand on it to get a better view & we watched the jolly old man wave to the crowd and shout out 'Merry Christmas'!...at least I assume that is what he was shouting, we weren't actually close enough to hear him, so it could have been 'Ho, Ho, Ho!' as well :)

After we saw the Believe balloons floating by, people turned and started to walk past us, which meant finally the front of the parade route was finally open! Madeleine and I boogied right up to the gates and positioned ourselves where everyone had left & then I looked around....everyone was moving - what was going on? It took me just a few moments to realize between everyone moving away from the parade and no more floats or balloons or people walking along the parade route....that it was done. What?! I suppose the 40 minutes spent getting a hot chocolate had something to do with that!

Although the event did not go exactly like I had thought or we had planned....that is life. We have realized with a bit of a laugh, relief at lowering some expectations and perhaps a tinge of sadness with letting some ideas go to the wayside - someone(s) in our family is usually sick during most holidays. And unfortunately, with a day like today - having a glitch in the idea is hard because you can't really recreate the event next week, or month....it's a yearly thing! We have made our bucket list of things we really want to do here in NYC, and because our time here might be trickling down if a job offer comes through - we are working to get our items checked off in case there isn't a next year option for us. Just in case :)

We did miss the boys, yet it was nice to have some time with just Madeleine and myself....and it was a lot easier cruising through the crowds with just the two of us. Bryson doesn't have a lot of patience for crowds & the way I work to get to the "perfect" spot - the way Madeleine and I moved locations the entire time we were at the parade would not have bode very well...and the boys can get a little crazy (all the time) - so as much as they were missed, perhaps in the end we each did what we all really like to do.

And now we can say CHECK off for the Macy's Day Parade. And just a note - it is worth it to do it once. Once was great. And other years are really great watching it on the couch, and seeing everything close up.

Happy 1st Day of Thanksgiving ----

and tomorrow we will have Celebration Take 2!

Life beyond the Bake Sales...

The PTA this year has been really, REALLY interesting. There is so much I could write, but I promise that someday I will write a book on it all. Or, perhaps a pilot reality show - PTA Moms....what really goes on behind the Bake Sales.

And if only we could just focus on Bake Sales! But oh no. This year, we have had parents who like to complain. A LOT. And they complain at meetings, they call in to the Dept. of Education, and then I get called into the Principals' Office. I also get called at home from the district's office....at 8pm at night. Some of the mean parents have lied to my face, and tell me they will be adult enough to say if something is wrong, and then just text the other mean person who is trying to...I don't know...destroy the PTA. Who does that?! Last week after our co-treasurer resigned, and I had to call out someone in the meeting for trying to destroy our PTA by being malicious and trying to sabotage our efforts, and then one of our Board member's mother came into our meeting to tell us that her daughter was not stealing money from the fundraiser that she wasn't giving us the money for (oh yes - all in one meeting & there was more!) --- there was finally a lull in the meeting and I started to read the revised Bylaws to the group. And I finally broke. I got up from the table and went out into the hallway and just stood there sobbing. Why bother with the PTA --- it was more like a soap opera than a group of parents that could focus on trying to help make things at the school better for all the children.

There was a rally which led to the news reports and being on TV regarding the overcrowding in our school. And there were many, many positive reports after that...but again trouble because I took pictures and used them for the media. Oops. As all other things, there is a learning curve with this volunteer position. I don't know everything, there was no official training but there are 20 pages of our Bylaws and over 40 pages of the Chancellor's Regulations that I should have memorized by now according to someone in the DOE office. I told her I am a mom first --- she didn't seem to care.

I AM getting better at managing my emotions & figuring out how to stand my ground and play the political game - but during the month of September and through mid-October most days I just really wanted to find a fire and light Bylaws and Regulations up, and just walk away and never come back. It's true.

And then there are happy days. Amazing events like the International Dinner with dozens of families came together in costume, and cooked and we danced and played games and had the most incredible time. And the Scholastic Book Fair which made twice the amount of money than any other we've had. And there has been good laughs and good friendships....and I've lost weight. Yes - the stress paid off and I could not eat breakfast for over a month and got physically sick whenever I thought about the PTA and meetings, and I think I can see my cheekbones again. So, there is definitely the silver lining to every cloud.

And there are stories like the following that made me laugh. I just read this a little bit ago, and realized I have to write about all of this that has been going on in my life. Why there haven't been consistent posts, answers to emails and phone calls returned. And the irony is that at the end of the day - I dream of resigning. I want to be "unemployed" by the PTA, however I also do not like to quit or see something through. Which is a little tricky when you dream of how you can exit out of something and make your life less stressful.

So - here you have this little story that one of my friends posted and said she thought of us when she read this....and oh yes, I see some strong similar ties. Ironically - my other friend on the PTA handed me the following quote on Monday - it says: "THE THRILL OF DEFEAT. Why an epic collapse is the best thing that can happen to a {PTA}.

How sad that we all dream of living our posts on the PTA! And without further ado....the letter as found in

http://www.newyorker.com/humor/2011/10/24/111024sh_shouts_semple

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Hi, everyone!

The Mountain Room is gearing up for its Day of the Dead celebration on Friday. Please send in photos of loved ones for our altar. All parents are welcome to come by on Wednesday afternoon to help us make candles and decorate skulls.

Thanks!

Emily

Hi again.

Because I’ve gotten some questions about my last e-mail, there is nothing “wrong” with Halloween. The Day of the Dead is the Mexican version, a time of remembrance. Many of you chose Little Learners because of our emphasis on global awareness. Our celebration on Friday is an example of that. The skulls we’re decorating are sugar skulls. I should have made that more clear.

Emily

Parents:

Some of you have expressed concern about your children celebrating a holiday with the word “dead” in it. I asked Eleanor’s mom, who’s a pediatrician, and here’s what she said: “Preschoolers tend to see death as temporary and reversible. Therefore, I see nothing traumatic about the Day of the Dead.” I hope this helps.

Emily

Dear Parents:

In response to the e-mail we all received from Maddie’s parents, in which they shared their decision to raise their daughter dogma-free, yes, there will be an altar, but please be assured that the Day of the Dead is a pagan celebration of life and has nothing to do with God. Keep those photos coming!

Emily

Hello.

Perhaps “pagan” was a poor word choice. I feel like we’re veering a bit off track, so here’s what I’ll do. I’ll start setting up our altar now, so that today at pickup you can see for yourselves how colorful and harmless the Day of the Dead truly is.

Emily

Parents:

The photos should be of loved ones who have passed. Max’s grandma was understandably shaken when she came in and saw a photo of herself on our altar. But the candles and skulls were cute, right?

Emily

Mountain Room Parents:

It’s late and I can’t possibly respond to each and every e-mail. (Not that it comes up a lot in conversation, but I have children, too.) As the skulls have clearly become a distraction, I decided to throw them away. They’re in the compost. I’m looking at them now. You can, too, tomorrow at drop-off. I just placed a “NO BASURA” card on the bin to make sure it doesn’t get emptied. Finally, to those parents who are offended by our Day of the Dead celebration, I’d like to point out that there are parents who are offended that you are offended.

Emily

Dear Parents:

Thanks to their group e-mail, we now know that the families of Millie and Jaden M. recognize Jesus Christ as their Saviour. There still seems to be some confusion about why, if we want to celebrate life, we’re actually celebrating death. To better explain this “bewildering detour,” I’ve asked Adela, who works in the office and makes waffles for us on Wednesdays, and who was born in Mexico, to write you directly.

• Emily

Hola a los Padres:

El Día de los Muertos begins with a parade through the zócalo, where we toss oranges into decorated coffins. The skeletons drive us in the bus to the cemetery and we molest the spirits from under the ground with candy and traditional Mexican music. We write poems called calaveras, which laugh at the living. In Mexico, it is a rejoicing time of ofrendas, picnics, and dancing on graves.

Adela

Parents:

I sincerely apologize for Adela’s e-mail. I would have looked it over, but I was at my daughter’s piano recital. (Three kids, in case you’re wondering, one who’s allergic to everything, even wind.) For now, let’s agree that e-mail has reached its limits. How about we process our feelings face to face? 9 A.M. tomorrow?

Emily

Dear Parents:

Some of you chose to engage in our dialogue. Some chose to form a human chain. Others had jobs (!) to go to. So we’re all up to speed, let me recap this morning’s discussion:

—Satan isn’t driving our bus. Little Learners does not have a bus. If we did, I wouldn’t still need parent drivers for the field trip to the cider mill. Anyone? I didn’t think so.

—Ofrenda means “offering.” It’s just a thing we put on the altar. Any random thing. A bottle of Fanta. Unopened, not poisoned. Just a bottle of Fanta.

—We’re moving past the word “altar” and calling it what it really is: a Seahawks blanket draped over some cinder blocks.

—Adela will not be preparing food anymore and Waffle Wednesdays will be suspended. (That didn’t make us any new friends in the Rainbow and Sunshine Rooms!)

—On Friday morning, I will divide the Mountain Room into three groups: those who wish to celebrate the Day of the Dead; those who wish to celebrate Halloween; and Maddie, who will make nondenominational potato prints in the corner.

Dear Mountain Room Parents:

Today I learned not to have open flames in the same room as a costume parade. I learned that a five-dollar belly-dancer outfit purchased at a pop-up costume store can easily catch fire, but, really, I knew that just by looking at it. I learned that Fanta is effective in putting out fires. I learned that a child’s emerging completely unscathed from a burning costume isn’t a good enough outcome for some parents. I learned that I will be unemployed on Monday. For me, the Day of the Dead will always be a time of remembrance.

BLOOM where you're planted

Last weekend we had an amazing weekend outside enjoying the beauty of the weather and our area!  On Saturday, our community here on Roosevelt Island had its' first annual Cherry Blossom Festival, with all proceeds going towards the relief efforts for Japan.  It was the most beautiful day & I love our dear friends from this country so much....they really are some of the most gracious and kind people I know!  

Booths were set up around a promenade area that we have on the island, and the children and I were able to sign names and messages to the people of Japan, learn how to fold paper cranes - folding 1,000 is a sign of good luck in the Japanese culture and all of the cranes that were folded by the community will be on display in our school.  Does anyone know how to make a mobile?!  I want to figure out how to have the cranes arranged in a floating/flying arrangement and hang down in our entry that is 2 stories high.  It would look amazing - I'm just not sure how to do it...one of those moments where you know what you want, just not how to get it exactly.  :) 

Madeleine's friend Aoi showing a group of the girls how to fold cranes...

Aoi's mom Junko has a special certificate from her country for her work in calligraphy.  She spent a lot of time making these cards that they were giving to people - asking for some donation to the Japanese Relief Fund in exchange.  Her work is beautiful!

This is Junko (left)....and I also met another Junko who is on the right :)  This is now my 4th Junko that I know from Japan - they said it's a common name, like Heather - Jennifer - etc. would be in our country!

Thankfully the Cherry Blossoms were bursting right on schedule from their predicted date through the NYC Botanical Garden.  It smelled amazing and looked gorgeous!

Bryson was working (no surprise!) and so we went from baseball back home and scooped up our friends that lived down the hall - this is Lillian....who has become like a sister/cousin/best friend to the kiddos this year.

I let the kiddos ride their scooters around for the event & Lillian was excited to try one out - by the end she was begging her parents for her own...although, why bother?  Look at this great set-up that she and Jacob figured out where they can share! :)

The following day - Sunday - we took a little adventure after church up to a spot I've wanted to visit basically since we have moved here.   Welcome to the Central Park Conservatory.  Or....NYC's Garden of Eden.  Not only was it absolutely gorgeous - it is free!!!

Bryson had been at work since Saturday at 10am - and I kept thinking that he would be able to come home during church and start to sleep.  As we were leaving for church, I had the thought that if he were to come home, we would need to be quiet...and as much as Sunday is a day of rest, we haven't really figured out how to have it be a day of quiet.  Working on that - just not there.  

I packed a snack bag and told the children that we would probably be going to a park after church.  Jacob was rather excited - and I found out he thought we were going to a park to play...and then when Madeleine and I clarified that it was a park to walk around, he was not happy at all...until we got there.  The children thought it was as beautiful as I did - we were just blown away by all the colors, flowers and overall exquisiteness of the garden.  

{the kids loved finding these baby tulips in the flower beds & were so persistent that I take a picture!}

Thankfully I was not completely on my own with the children.  We have a darling couple that lives on the island - she is my visiting teacher, and the husband home teaches with Bryson.  They don't have any children & were actually the very nice couple that watched our kids overnight in March so that Bryson & I could get away for an Anniversary celebration.  Her husband had gone into his work after church and I told her to come with us - we usually drive them to and from church...and when I told her where I wanted to go, she agreed to come along.

So, not only did I get to have an adult with me - but she took our picture AND I found out she was a film major in college and she gave me some pointers with my camera.  Double bonus - yeah!   I told her we would need to pack a lunch each Sunday, because there are a lot of gardens to see in the city and she is going to need to come with me all the time....it was so nice to have the company (and photo tips as well!)

The gardens are up at the top of Central Park - around 105th Street....to give an idea of how big the park is, they bottom of the park is at 59th....we don't usually go that far up, as our activities center around mid-town where Bryson's work and church is....so it was fun to be in a completely new part of the city.  I loved this view of the one big green space they had in the garden with the building behind - I have no idea what is in the building, but if it's apartments they look onto one beautiful scene!  

 The boys decided to stand on the edge of a fountain and get a little wet from the spray.  No biggie I thought at first...it was warm and it was only a few drops....

Then the wind picked up & I heard Bryson's laugh....

and that is when I realized he was soaking wet!...and as it was too late to do anything about how wet he was - I decided to take pictures :)

I love that boy!

...and that was our amazing weekend of blooms here in our gorgeous city that has finally found spring!!

p.s. Bryson (Sr.) did not get home until around 2am Monday morning.   He had been at work well over 36 hours & although we missed him terribly on this little trip, I told him we are definitely taking him back!  I can't wait to see what flowers they have in for the summer months!