Morning Photo Project Day ...The Last Day of School.....June 28 2010

Today was the last day of school as well as the last installment of our Morning Photo Project Series which we began in the Fall 2009. The purpose of the project was to show the kids how much they grow over the course of a school year. Both Grady & Cyrus were always interested in "when they would grow, when they would be big, etc." I told them that they were growing but they couldn't always see the change in themselves. So, I told them we would document their growth by taking a photo before school each day. This way they could see the change that everyone else sees. Well, grow they did! Not only did they grow physically, but they grew so much as people. Grady lost a handful of teeth this year, while Cyrus finally caught up to Grady in height (he had her on the weight ages ago). They are both equal in stature but stand tall as individuals. Grady is learning to read, asking tons of questions (so many so that we now call her Lil' Oprah), starting to do chores and even had her 1st sleepover. Cyrus has learned all of his letters, colors, can count to 60 and goes to school for a full-day.

It has been wonderful watching them grow. I can't believe that I am the Dad to two 5 year olds. Time sure flies when kids are in the picture. Funny how as a kid, all we want to do is be a grownup and as grownups all we want is for time to slow down. We have no control over any of it, so it's best to just sit back and enjoy the ride. Keep photo memories and stories to pass on to your friends and family. They help remind us of the importance of taking each day as it comes. 

...Calvin (Dad)

Morning Photo Project Days 113-152 May 3-June 25, 2010

Our daughter Grady...the next Julia Child

Our daughter has always been a GREAT eater. She has an appetite for things that I would never eat such as anchovies, olives, blood sausage just to name a few. When I hear parents say that their kids won't eat anything but chicken nuggets and french fries, I think that they must be from another planet. 

Grady loves to talk about food. In fact she sometimes discusses meals a full day ahead of time. "What are we having for breakfast tomorrow. I think I'll have waffles and fruit. And sausage. Can we go to Lil' Frankies for dinner?" Heaven forbid we skip a meal. It throws her whole food diary off. 

Some of her favorite foods are peanut butter & pickle sandwiches, shrimp quesadilla's, banana bread, blueberries, spicy tuna sushi, pizza (of course), beets, asparagus, brussel sprouts, sardines, rare steak (like her Dad), french fries, guacamole, chocolate, salads,  yogurt with jelly (why have it with peanut butter when you can put it in yogurt?). The list goes on an on.

For a person who is particular about food and tastes, it has been a nice change to have a child who will try anything at least once. I am no where as daring about food. I tend to order the same food all the time. Grady will switch things up and try the chicken livers. When all of the the other kids are throwing fits about not wanting to eat their beans, Grady is diving in for seconds. 

We have found something that she won't eat. Cooked broccoli. It has to be raw or she's not "havin' it." The fact that she even likes broccoli amazes me. It is not on my list of foods that I like.

Maybe one day, Grady will grow up to be a world-renowed chef or food-critic for the NY Times. "The Kumamoto oysters at Le Bernardin are fantastic, while the sea urchin risotto never seems to live up to the hype." Whatever she chooses to do with her life, I am confident that she will have tried all of the delicacies that this world has to offer. What a wonderful journey her life will be if she stays on this path. Have fun Grady and eat well.

xo......Daddy

The Answer is still........NO

Regardless of how many times we say NO, our kids continue to ask:


Why Not, when, why, but (Grady's fave), ppplllllleeeeeaaaassseeeee, just this one time, i promise never to ask again, but everyone else can, that's not fair, really?, i don't want to, i don't understand, daddy would let me, papi would let me, because, i'm not a baby, you let me before, you never let me, etc, etc, etc.


Does this continue until they go off to college? Pray for our sanity people. 


xo...calvin and tim

School's Out for Summer....Yeah

Our kids attend school in New York City and what seems like the longest school year ever has just ended. Monday 28 June was the last day of school. 11:30am dismissal. Why the Board of Education felt it necessary to torture kids and families alike by making the last day of school on a Monday for 3 hours is beyond me. I won't even begin to think of an excuse.

Anyway, school's out and summer is officially underway. Soccer, basketball, country living, b-bq, swimming pools, parks, butterflies & toads, bike riding, skinned knees, bug spray, beach days, s'mores, iced tea & lemonade, ice cream cones, watermelon, fire flies, and bug bites.

We are ready. Are you? Have a great summer from our family to yours.

xo...ctgc