Bronx Zoo

We went to the Bronx Zoo--amazing zoo in the middle of urban landscape. We took the subway to get there and walked past housing projects right up to the entrance of the zoo.

The kids loved it. One of the best things we saw we did not take a picture of--it was a tiger super up close and personal. He just happened to be walking right by the glass when we were standing there. His fangs were about as big and long as my little fingers!

Tiare took all of these pictures except of course the ones that she is in.

"In My Defense" or "Culture Cutri Style"

If you haven't read the post prior to this one, please do so first so that you will know why I am offering a defense on my behalf.

Ok, so here's our version of being cultured in NYC...

Eating at the Shake Shack



Just so you know how good it is, this day we had to wait in line 40 minutes to place our order




Stumbling upon this when out on a city adventure (see other posts about how these usually develop)



Exploring Grant's Tomb--ok that might not count as it is directly across the street from where we live, so there is almost no effort in going over there. Does there have to be effort involved in being cultured, or can you just happen upon culture in the course of your everyday life?



Looking for rats in the subway--well, this picture is actually at our stop on the 1 Train which is above ground, so that cuts the rat action on the tracks.



Taking artistic photos by both Chris and Tiare (these happen to be Chris')





Stuffing small children in spaces where they do not belong



Ok, at least in the above photo, we had just walked out of the Asia Society where had just finished seeing an intense exhibition of drawings by an Iranian cartoonist/satirist about the Iranian Revolution--so we had just finished doing something officially cultured before stuffing Atticus in the newspaper dispenser--it was Asad's idea! (That's Mehrsa's dad--he's at the edge of the photo).

And, finally, the ultimate cultured activity that is a MUST for me in any city worth visiting...making a faithful pilgrimage to Trader Joe's



Now, I think that I have explained the arduous journey one takes when going to Costco from the City (see post about Chris' birthday cake). The only other journey that matches the rigor and devotion required is going to Trader Joe's with four kids on the subway after a full day at the Bronx Zoo. But, Mehrsa and I were up for the task! Look at Tiare's face to see how the four kids held up. We had a total of about 8 bags as I remember it. But, 8 bags in New York when you are not having your groceries delivered means 8 bags stuffed into whatever contraption that you happen to have that has wheels--in our case a double stroller, but we did still have to leave room for the one of four children who does still qualify as an infant and can't walk. The other three had no chance of mercy, we kicked them out of the stroller and made them walk. The yummy Trader Joe's food was worth all of the sacrifices!

Bad Blogger, Bad Mother?

Well, I am a bad blogger in the sense that I haven't been posting or checking the blog in so long. I'll make up for that soon hopefully.

The second accusation is up for a vote--am I a bad mother? Here's the story...we were supposed to meet Chris at the Met--I've already been without the kids or Chris. I really thought that the kids would enjoy seeing the Super Heroes Costumes and Fashion exhibition, but of course first I wanted to get my nails done--I can never pass on a cheap mani/pedi seeing as at home in Utah they are so expensive. So, my very patient children sat in the nail shop like angels as I got my feet and hands done (for those of you who don't mani/pedi, that's about a two hour long process including drying time--which is a must!).

Anyway, we get a frozen yogurt as a reward for their patience and set off across Central Park heading toward the Met. They are complaining right away that they don't want to go to a museum! Yeah, yeah I reply and we keep heading east. We enter the park at 72nd--pass the people still mourning John Lennon--and do our best to navigate north east. Well, after walking for a while we ask someone and realize that we are now in the 60's--so we've gone south east instead.

All along, the kids are still reminding me that they want to do something fun--not go to a museum. Now, does everyone know that in a former life, I was a museum educator? So, their comments are particularly bothersome to me. I manage to quiet my desire to launch into a lecture on the value of art, and retort instead, "Well, what would be fun in your opinion?" Without pausing for a second, Tiare responds, "I want to go to the Disney store, and then go to Toys 'R Us." All of that anti-consumerism Chris preaches in his documentaries certainly hasn't dampened the consumer spirit in our children--true Americans!

I know that you are dying to hear my reply, so I'll just admit flat out that I then said, "Ok, let's go." We hop on a bus down 5th Ave. and pop out smack dab in the middle of the highest version of retail on earth--we are already very familiar with this section of town as we have made a total of three pilgrimages to the American Girl doll store and at least two to FAO Schwartz.





On this trip we hit the NBA Store, the Disney Store, and then manage to fight our way through Time Square at rush hour to complete our venture to Toys 'R Us and ride the indoor ferris wheel.



At the end of the day, I can confidently say that it was a blast! Way funner than going to the Met! I'll just take the flack later when the kids return to school and their teachers ask them which museums they went to in New York!

Memorial Day in Goshen, NY

We went to Goshen which is where Mehrsa's parents live. Amazing that it is only about 2 hours out of the city, but it is a world away--rural, undeveloped, green, etc. We went hiking, rode the ATV, road the dirt bike, ate amazing Iranian food, and relaxed! It was so fun!! Thanks Baradaran family!!

Hiking:















ATVing:



YES, Atticus is driving it all by himself!!



YES, Tiare is driving it all by herself. FYI--I hated riding that thing--it made me motion sick!! I might have also hated it because I was totally out of control of the situation--you know the whole 8 year old driving thing--joy for the daughter, tough on the control freak mother!



Relaxed with our great friends:



Wrestling with Jared on the tramp--you know we are in the suburbs if there is a tramp in the backyard!



Narima, Mehrsa's mom. She is such a very interesting woman and an amazing cook too!



Lulu doing her Lulu look--oh we love her so and Cyra too!

Tiare ROKS!

Self titled self portraits by Tiare









For anyone out there who has lost some of that wonderful self esteem and confidence that comes from an enlightened 8 year old perspective on your body, here's a quote to help us get back to what it was like when we were 8 years old and knew that we ROKED (that's rocked spelled Tiare's way):

"Why, I say, should I ever have bitterly blamed [my body] for such trifles as I have blamed it for: for having too much flesh in this spot, too little muscle in that, for producing this wrinkle, that sag, that gray hair, or this texture? Dear body! My dear body! It has gone about its incessant business with very little thanks."--Janet Burroway (quoted in June's Oprah Magazine).

A Typical Day

Usually, and I use that word very loosely, we start out trying to do some homework. Who knows if the kids will be ready for 2nd and 3rd grade respectively, but I am sure that they have gained some great life experiences outside of the Provo Valley.



The kids have always been pretty creative, and having less toys I think has increased this--they are also just bored a lot, and then fight for lack of anything better to do. But, when it is peaceful and I see the fruits of their various creations--rubber band necklace, signs posted throughout our building about a brownie party they've organized, etc. it is pretty good. Last night was the talent show up at church in Harlem. Atticus displayed one of his surf sketches--rendered in bright orange crayon, and Tiare turned off her tickle and let our friend Jared try to tickle her. It was a great talent show--every thing from my kids to people singing who really have performed on Broadway to amazing tap dancing young men.



We spend a fair amount of time in the parks near our house. A definite activity for those without yards! Good tax paying dollars at work, and boy do Manhattaners pay taxes!!





Vending machines--a definite perk in the kids' opinions to living in the I-House. Pestering for a dollar becomes a ritual each time we pass. I am reading the book In Defense of Food and thinking that nothing in that vending machine actually qualifies as food!



Wandering the city finding cool things to see and do is definitely part of our typical day here.


We usually start out around 1 p.m. or so, and then magically never get home until around midnight--obviously bedtimes are a thing of the past in this life.



We have found ourselves up in Spanish Harlem at an amazing Puerto Rican restaurant and celebrating a saints day at a church where they sing on the sidewalk, way down in the Village eating at our favorite Cuban food place that literally is no bigger than a large hallway, in China town looking for cheap stuff, and wondering around by NYU eating great crepes. We have noticed that it is either the rich white people like down in the Village or the black or brown people who actually take their kids to restaurants (thus, the mention of eating places either up high or down low). Anything in between seems to be kid-absent! Once were went out to dinner in Hell's Kitchen area--you'd think that we had brought two elephants to dinner with us. It was pretty funny. Each area here has it's own character. When we were at that Puerto Rican place, Tiare commented how loud it was in there, and then she said it was because people were drinking alcohol. It was pretty hilarious. I'd add in the general Latin voice level mixed with New York attitude and you've got one loud restaurant!!