Block Party!

I almost forgot! This past Saturday was the official 3rd Street Block Party.  

Grandma India was in town for Sawyer's first birthday so she got to enjoy it with us.  AND, in a very splendid twist, Great-Grandma Lynn just happened to be flying home from Brazil to Maine and missed her connection at JFK at the same time that Grandma India was arriving at JFK from Maine. Great-Grandma Lynn's cellphone battery was dead so she couldn't call anyone. But Grandma India suspected that Great-Grandma Lynn might miss her connection so, on a hunch, she went to just check at the gate and LUCKY US!!!

So, Grandma Lynn spent the day with us too and met Sawyer for the first time.

The weather was perfect and we spent the whole day out of doors.  Sadie had a wonderful time playing in the street with her friends Natalia and Jane.  And Sawyer hung out with his buddy Eduard, with whom he shares a birthday.

It was really wonderful.

Sawyer is ONE!

Sunday was Sawyer's FIRST BIRTHDAY!!! 

Our little man is ONE year old.  So incredibly exciting!!!

To celebrate, we threw him a little birthday party in Prospect Park.  We found a shady spot up on a hillside just at the top of a lovely grassy hill and we set up our party.  Lots of friends came and they brought their parents.  We had pizza and watermelon and cupcakes and lots more.  It was the real deal.  We threw a First Birthday Party for our boy!  It was a wonderful day.

The Birthday Boy!

Sadie with Natalia and Michael - and that's Jack hidden behind Natalia's slice of pizza.

Corinna and Eduard (Natalia's Mama and brother) - note that Eduard was born the very same day as Sawyer so it was his birthday too.  But his party isn't until next weekend.  Happy Birthday, Eduard!

Michael and Yumi

Natalia chasing bubbles

Momo, the source of bubbles.

Jack!

Dear friend Michelle.

Ollie!

Sadie! The Birthday Boy's happy sister.

Sawyer checking out Zooey's bike.  Just like his papa.  Hooray.

Arash and Momo

Sadie and Zooey

An intense game of Bocce ensued.

Momo and Toshiro

Our nature girl.

Pazel!

Oh! And Grandma India came down for the occasion.  

Self-explanatory

Sawyer's first cupcake! He got it all over his face and seemed to like it.

I really like my family.

Toshiro

Sadie contemplates her cupcake.

Toshi contemplates the bocce balls.

Sawyer enjoyed a slice of the sweetest yellow watermelon.  And LOOK, no hands!  He's standing on his own!

Cailin's new fella Justin and Yumi.

I am a proud papa!

as is Michael.

and Arash.

Eduard! Just a few hours older than Sawyer!

My birthday monkey climbs his first tree!

Our Sawyer really is a sweet kid.

Ferry Ride

Sadie has been excited all week to go on the ferry (possibly because it sounds like fairy). Today was the day- subway to Whitehall, then a round trip to Staten Island. We saw lots of helicopters taking off from lower Manhattan, a coast guard speed boat with a big gun on the front, and a "pirate ship" (it did look like one). Oh, and the Statue of Liberty. And a nice man let us stay on the ferry for the return trip instead of disembarking for 5 minutes.
Back in Manhattan, we took another train to meet Papa at work. We waited outside with Batman, then all walked to lunch together. Papa took us to a wonderful bakery that someone had the genius idea to create inside an Arcade connecting two streets. Sadie figured out that the tables must fold up at night. The pizza was incredible. Sawyer went nuts for the crusts (yes, he was there too!).
We were all very tired at the end of the day, as you can see in the last picture. Good day!