This is my rules...

Since everyone liked my last video so much, I decided to share more with you. I admit, I come across a little bit bossy in this first video.

By the way, I'm telling Mommy and Daddy to "speak your own language" since Jasper and I don't like it when they don't stick to their respective languages and Mommy tries to speak Polish and Daddy tries to speak Chinese. I also wanted to share my singing with you too. Here's my rendition of "Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed."

P.S. No comments about the haircut please.

The Ohmies

Lately, I've been playing this game where we go and watch different shows and performances. I ask Mommy or Daddy to see their ticket and then show them to their seats and give them a program and we sit and watch a show. I guess I must have been playing it all the time because on Sunday, Mommy and Daddy surprised me with tickets to go see a real show - The Ohmies! They were performing in a real theatre on 42nd Street in Manhattan and luckily, we got to see their final performance. Since someone had to stay home with Everett while he napped, Mommy and I headed off to the subway. Once we got to the theatre, there was a magical stage set up that looked like a forest. Can you see the stars in the sky? And a giant acorn too?

I was so so excited to see the show. We watched as Bella Butterfly and her little brother Carlin Caterpillar go on an adventure with their friends Gisbert Grasshopper, Ti-Do Bird, Daisy Dog and Sylvio Snake to surprise Mr. Sun. Along the way, they taught us some pretty cool dance moves and yoga poses. The best part was that I got to meet the cast at the end of the show and take a picture with them!! I hope that the Ohmies come to your neighborhood soon!

Preparing for Halloween

Since it's just about the end of September, it's time to start thinking about Halloween! Everett and I have been trying to decide what we want to dress up as this year. It's a hard decision. As we were searching around the house for ideas, we came across Yee-Ma's old fairy wings. Of course we had to try them on for size.

I think that I've decided what I want to be for Halloween. Of course I'm not going to tell you now. But Everett still can't decide. What do you think that he should be? He needs some ideas!! Help the little Everett-y!!

Carousel Connoisseurs

You know how there are roller coaster enthusiasts who go all over the world to sample all the greatest coaster rides? Well, Jasper and I are beginning to take a similar approach with carousels, and are becoming quite the connoisseurs.

You see, we've ridden carousels in places as far and wide as California, the Jersey Shore, a cruise ship in the Caribbean, and of course in our very own back yard at Prospect Park. Jasper apparently even rode one in Florence, Italy before I was born.

But this week, we discovered our new favorite carousel - the recently restored and just opened Jane's Carousel, in Dumbo, Brooklyn (which just happens to be one of our favorite neighborhoods in New York City, and this just makes it even better!) We were so excited when Daddy told us there was a new carousel close to our house, and approached it for the first time in great anticipation...

 

And when we finally got there - wow, what a sight to behold!

Not only is the carousel beautiful (and beautifully restored - the carousel was originally created in 1922 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company and first installed in Youngstown, Ohio, before falling into disrepair years later), but it is housed in an awesome modern building designed by renowned and Pritzker Prize winning architect, Jean Nouvel.

Jasper and I had a great time riding on the hand-carved wooden horses, and then goofing around in DUMBO afterwards.

Can anyone suggest other "must do" carousels for us to visit?

Talking up a storm

Everett's turned into quite a talker lately. Pretty much he talks from morning until night. I mean, he talks ALL THE TIME. I don't remember doing that. I at least allowed Mommy and Daddy some piece and quiet. Everett on the other hand, he likes to make his thoughts and wishes known to all those around him. For those of you who have requested more videos of Everett talking, here you go.

Here's what goes on...

... during the weekends around here in between our various family outings (sorry about the low quality phone pictures, but unless we know we're going out for a field trip, a phone's apparently all we've got...)

 

 

The Pigeon Finds a Hotdog!

Our action packed weekend continued today with a visit to the Brooklyn Book Festival, one of our favorite events of the year in Brooklyn. We also went last year with Dziadek and Ciocia Olga, and the year before with Ah-Boo.

The festival is "the largest free literary event in New York City", and great fun to boot. Especially fun is the Target Children's Tent, which we totally enjoyed the past two years, and again this year. Today our morning in the tent started out with some great story reading - and acting...

And was followed by a dinosaur drawing contest among some renowned illustrators, including Roxie Munro, author of "Inside Out Dinosaurs" and 14 New Yorker Magazine covers, Bob Shea, author of "Dinosaur vs. Bedtime", and Matthew Myers, illustrator of many children's books, including "Tyrannosaurus Dad."

Everett and I enjoyed both events thoroughly (while also enjoying our morning snacks.)

We were very good boys, sitting on the blankets among all the other kids, without Daddy even being with us. All this because we were waiting for the main event - an appearance by my very favorite book author in the world: Mo Willems.

Most of you probably know Mr. Willems for his most excellent Knuffle Bunny trilogy (which I have loved since forever - you might remember that I even went to see a live Knuffle Bunny show back in February), but I am an equally enthusiastic fan of the "Elephant and Piggie" series, including favorites like "Today I Will Fly", "Are You Ready To Play Outside?", and of course, "The Pigeon Finds a Hotdog!"

Finally, Mr. Willems appeared on stage, goofing around a bit, as you might expect, and read several of his most popular books for the now quite large audience.

Afterwards, there was a book signing, and Everett and I were among the first in line. Mr. Willems kindly signed one of his books for us (this was the first time I ever got an autograph from anyone!)

Mr. Willems even tried to entertain us with some goofy faces, but by then our attention was elsewhere...

Elsewhere where, you might ask? Well, here -

That's right, Elephant and Piggie in the flesh! Everett and I were both so excited to see them and get a picture together! Thanks, Mr. Willems, for bringing them along!

But the very best part of all may have been getting to pick out one new Mo Willems "Elephant and Piggie" book each to bring home at the end of the festival. I picked "Should I Share My Ice Cream?" and Everett picked "Watch Me Throw the Ball!" (surprise, surprise...)

We couldn't wait to show off our books and start reading them!

Which of course we did as soon as we got home, then again right before going to bed, and, we can assure you, will continue each night before bed for many nights to come (much to Mommy and Daddy's delight, we're sure...)

The Intrepid

This morning we went on a family field trip to Manhattan, and more specifically, to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. You see, lately Jasper and I have started to develop a keen interest in airplanes to compliment our respective passions for trains (Jasper) and cars (me.) Plus, because we are members of the New York Transit museum, we also get free admission to the Intrepid, which seems to dovetail nicely with Daddy's requirements for family field trips.

The museum itself is actually housed on the Intrepid - a World War II era aircraft carrier which is now docked in the Hudson River in mid-town Manhattan. In addition to the ship, there is a nearby submarine to explore, as well as one of the original Concorde supersonic airliners, and coming soon, one of the recently decommissioned space shuttles! That'll be some sight from the West Side Highway! 

Anyways, we've been to the Intrepid before, and even blogged about it (bonus points to anyone who can find the old blog posts with our previous visit(s) to the Intrepid so I can link them to this post...), but today was a really nice day in NYC, so it felt like a great time to revisit and spend some time on the flight deck, which is always filled with tons of airplanes and helicopters for us to check-out.

Since it was a flight deck, there was also plenty of space to run around and get some exercise.

Jasper seemed to really take that to heart, and as far as I can tell, may have started to believe that he was an airplane himself...

Our next stop was the flight control tower, where we took some time to survey the surroundings.

We even got to sit in the ship captain's chair - and Jasper even shared it with me!

 As long as we were in the captain's perch, I decided that I might as well steer the ship out to sea.

Meanwhile, Jasper took a call from the radar room, and after getting some coordinates, manned the anti-aircraft guns, just in case of attack.

But the best part of the ship may have been the hangar deck, where we got to practice our flying skills, first in a jet, then in a helicopter (which was my favorite.)

In unrelated, but equally noteworthy news, I pooped in the potty for the first time today.

Member appreciation

It was recently Prospect Park Alliance Member Appreciation Day, and since we're members, Everett and I decided that yes, we would like to be appreciated. So off to the park we went on a beautiful Summer day.

Upon arrival, our first stop was the Prospect Park Zoo, which on Member Appreciation Day opened an hour early only for members only, and since we're luckily early risers, we were among the first ones there and had the place practically to ourselves. Of course, there was the perfunctory stop at the zoo map, as much for a chance to orient ourselves as to enjoy our first of several morning snacks...

Then off to see the exhibits. My favorite was the prairie dog area, where I could get a particularly up-close view.

We continued the theme of getting down with the animals at the turtle area...

But the highlight of the zoo may have been the private sea lion feeding session just for members. Do you think the sea lion will catch that fish?

A

fter the zoo, we stuck around to enjoy other member-only activities at the rest of Prospect's Park's "Children's Corner," including at Leffert's Historic House, where we started out with drawing some dioramas of life in colonial times, when the park was actually part of the estates of the Lefferts and Litchfield families. 

Back outside, after another park-provided snack, I even tried stilt-walking (though Everett thought it was safer to just watch...)

But the highlight of the day, as it is every year, was the unlimited free rides on the Prospect Park Carousel. As you can imagine, Everett and I took full advantage of this offer...

That was fun, but whew, am I tuckered out!

I think I may need another snack!