Pool at Tallman State Park

When we were at Tallman State Park for the Studio School picnic in June, we went on an expedition to find the swimming pool, only to discover that it was empty.

So today the boys and I went back, via bus to Piermont, NY.

We figured we'd have the place to ourselves because it's kind of off in the woods, but there were quite a few people there.

The fun lasted less than an hour before a thunder clap compelled the lifeguards to clear the pool. We barely made it the half mile back to the bus shelter when there was a torrential downpour. We made it home alive.

Kahlua is 5

Kahlua barks too much, she has a habit of sneezing in your face from one inch away, and she can't stop herself from stealing any morsel of food that's left unattended, even if it's on the table and you've warned her repeatedly NOT to get food from the table.

But these are mere personality quirks.

She loves being petted by strangers, walks to the pet store, car rides to anywhere, wrestling on the bed, and tummy rubs.

She hates thunder and being left alone in the apartment, especially when she sees us leaving with bags. She is also not particularly fond of the cat, whom she knows is evil (but doesn't know that we know it too).

She's a great dog. She may be the greatest dog in the world.

Happy birthday, Kahlua!

Summer Kids

Free advice to couples contemplating parenthood: giving birth to your kids in the summer will save you well over a quarter-million dollars over an 18-year period. While your friends take out second mortgages for winter birthday parties at Kidville, West Side Gym, and Chelsea Piers, you can bring a few bowls of chips and a cake to the playground in July.

Jennifer and I didn't know any better. I've tried persuading her to have a few more kids, based on all the money we could save, but she's not going for it.

In the meantime, some photos from Samuel's friend Leah's mummy-themed party.



"I can touch!"


The Human Water Taxi...


Aaron is happy...


Playground cards...


Playground Moms...


Birthday Girl...

Philadelphia Trip, Day 3

As official family spokesperson in charge of adolescent fun, I was able to negotiate a compromise in which, rather than physically stop to see the Liberty Bell, we simply drove by it in a modified amphibious military vehicle while quacking with plastic duck lips.

The vehicles were known as DUCKs, by virtue of some military acronymn that didn't really make sense (e.g., the letter "D" stood for the fact that they were commissioned in 1942...huh?). Nonetheless, this enabled it to count as an historical attraction.

Finally, on the way back to NYC we made time for one more historical experience, known as Medieval Times. Everyone should experience Medieval Times at least once: there are horses and knights and jousting and swordfights and a king and a queen (she may have been a princess--the storyline was a little hard to follow).


More disturbing were the groups of boisterous grown-ups with no kids in tow, who were either celebrating birthdays or there on some sort of corporate outing. (Note: never work for a company that has corporate outings at Medieval Times.)


The dramatic climax...

Philadelphia Trip, Day 2

As we crossed the bridge from New Jersey into Pennsylvania, I said, "Woo-hoo! We're in Pennsylvania!"

To which Ethan replied, "Is this where Dracula lives?"

We spent the day at the Ben Franklin Institute, a hands-on children's museum. Again, you can see the compromises that make for a successful marriage. (It turned out to be fun.)

The IMAX theater had a domed ceiling like a planetarium. We watched a documentary about the preciousness of water in the American Southwest, narrated by--seriously--Robert Redford.


The pirate exhibit conveniently exited through a gift shop...


Samuel learns about the science of surfing...


Science is hard work...


Hotel beds were made for jumping...

Philadelphia Trip, Day 1

Seriously, lots of people would rather visit the Liberty Bell than waste the summer at a beach or waterpark. People over 75, for example.

But, you know, Jennifer and I are firmly united in our efforts to instill in Samuel and Ethan a keen appreciation of our nation's heritage, and that includes going to boring places like Philadelphia now and then.

(Full disclosure: I do, in fact, have a Master's degree in History, which some might argue was simply a way to avoid getting a job and/or continue to date college women well into my 20s. But I have the diploma, and I'm not above pointing to it in situations like this.)

Jennifer and I mutually agreed that rather than jump right into the full historical experience, we should ease into it by spending Day 1 at a beach. In this case, Ocean Grove, NJ, which actually counted as an historic attraction by virtue of the fact that it was a 19th-century Methodist community, and now has many restored Victorian homes. Enough about that. Here are the beach photos:

Jen and the boys show off the gopher hole that we built entirely out of sand...


Huggable Samuel...


Ethan's March to the Sea. (P.S. That's an historical reference.)

Lemonade Stand

Samuel and Ethan are trying to raise money to buy something called Bakugan, which, from what I can gather, are a lot like Pokemon, only much different.

So they set up shop at 82nd and Amsterdam on a sizzling afternoon and cleared an impressive $25 in just over an hour, aided by a single $10 transaction courtesy of a frat boy trying to impress his girlfriend. (Not that I'm knocking that.)